original:『キミとアイドルプリキュア♪』Blu-ray vol.1 購入者限定スペシャルイベント✨オフィシャルレポート到着！
On Saturday, January 17, 2026, the You and Idol Pretty Cure♪ Blu-ray Vol.1 Purchase Bonus Special Event was held at Session Hall Suginami in Tokyo. The five cast members who took the stage were: Misato Matsuoka, voice of Cure Idol / Uta Sakura; Minami Takahashi, voice of Cure Wink / Nana Aokaze; Natsumi Takamori, voice of Cure KyunKyun / Kokoro Shiu; Yoshino Nanjo, voice of Cure Zukyun / Prirun; and Miharu Hanai, voice of Cure Kiss / Meroron. With the series finale just around the corner, excitement among the Kira-Kiranranz (the series’ official fan name) was at an all-time high. The event spanned a full two hours, serving as a precious opportunity to look back on the series through in-depth discussion. This report covers all the highlights from the day.
■ Opening: Cast Introductions and Their Honest Feelings
Introduced by Marou Terasako, the familiar MC for Pretty Cure series events, the five cast members made their entrance. They acknowledged the penlights and merchandise held aloft by the Kira-Kiranranz, then each delivered their greetings and character introductions to thunderous cheers from the audience. The reactions from the cast and the crowd alike made the palpable anticipation for the upcoming discussion impossible to miss.
At the top of the event, the cast opened up about their feelings as the series was down to its final two episodes. "It’s so lonely I can barely accept it," shared Nanjo. "It’s such a strange feeling," said Takamori. "I’m right there with all of you, looking forward to every new broadcast," added Takahashi. Matsuoka, however, shared a different take: "I haven’t really felt the loneliness yet." She went on to explain her honest feelings: "When we finished dubbing, I was absolutely heartbroken. But every week, I watch the anime with the same heart as the Kira-Kiranranz, so the loneliness hasn’t really hit me yet. That said, when I imagine the finale airing, I feel an overwhelming wave of sadness. I’m terrified of how I’ll feel once the final episode is broadcast." Hearing this, Nanjo confessed: "I’m already slightly in the throes of post-series blues. I keep thinking ‘if I watch it, it’ll be over’, so I can’t even bring myself to watch it live anymore." She drew a laugh from the crowd as she added, "Though I end up watching it on streaming right after anyway." She also shared that when the key visual for Detective Pretty Cure! arrived early via the official Pretty Cure LINE account, she was instantly captivated by how cute it was, while also thinking "Wait, not yet!" She added, "It made me realize that all the senior cast members from past Pretty Cure series must have felt exactly this way." She also revealed that she’d recently been tuning her voice at home to make sure she could still nail Prirun’s voice, saying she was grappling with the fear that Prirun might fade away from her. Even so, she shared that she’d found herself naturally slipping into Prirun’s voice backstage that day, proving that Prirun was still very much alive and well within her.
■ Joy and Delight Felt Through Song
The event progressed through a series of themed discussion segments, the first of which was "About Our Musical Activities". Centered on topics unique to You and Idol Pretty Cure♪—a series brought to life by a diverse lineup of distinctive songs—the conversation unfolded as the cast looked back on memories from recording sessions and live performances.
Matsuoka touched on Cure Idol’s stage number Unison of Smiles♪, recalling: "The staff joined in for the call and response parts. I got to sit in on the recording, sat in the director’s chair, and said ‘That was perfect!’ into the talkback mic—that’s my very first memory of our musical activities (laughs). It really felt like we were all building You and Idol Pretty Cure♪ together." She also revealed that she often finds herself singing the other cast members’ songs, particularly Cure Wink’s stage track Blinking Staff, which prompted Takahashi to exclaim "That makes me so happy!" One of the series’ unique charms is its lineup of songs that shine with the distinct personality of each character, and Takahashi shared that she’d initially worried about Blinking Staff. "It doesn’t have any call and response sections, so I was a little anxious about how audiences would receive it." But after seeing fans enjoying the song and dancing along at live shows and events, she said she felt a renewed sense of "I’m so glad I sang this!"The chance to hear the cast’s singing live came at the special live event You and Idol Pretty Cure♪ LIVE 2025 You&I＝We’re IDOL PRECURE, held on Saturday, October 18, 2025 at Pacifico Yokohama National Hall. In addition to being tied directly to the anime’s main story, the show featured unprecedented production elements, including the Idol Pretty Cure characters appearing on stage alongside the voice cast, with direction that synced perfectly with the cast’s live performance. Takamori shared that with the Pretty Cure characters singing right beside her, she felt the profound emotion that "we are two halves of a whole". As the cast looked back on memories from the day, they also shared a behind-the-scenes story about the creation of the spoon microphones used by Prirun and Meroron during the live show. Nanjo and Hanai also shared their first impressions upon receiving their duet stage song Awakening Harmony, along with a funny behind-the-scenes story that they initially didn’t even know how to pronounce the song’s title, drawing laughter from the audience. Hanai described Prirun and Meroron’s other duet Nakayoshi J♡YFUL, saying: "It’s a song that feels like a snapshot of my daily conversations with my dear sister (Prirun), like we’re reading a picture book about the two of us. I think it’s a track that perfectly captures the essence of 'PriMero'."
Listening and nodding along, Nanjo praised the track effusively: "It brings slow, warm tears to my eyes. We have so many upbeat, cool songs in the lineup, but when I experience the uniquely refreshing worldview and vocals that only Cure Wink can deliver, it always moves me to tears." Incidentally, Takahashi shared that she also often finds herself humming Cure KyunKyun’s stage song Heart Revolution, with Nanjo adding that the chorus is so difficult she often ends up just humming it instead of singing the lyrics. Takamori laughed as she added: "When I first heard it, I was shocked at how fast the lyrics were and froze up… but as I kept humming it at home, I kept singing it faster and faster, and when I finally listened to the original track again, I thought ‘Oh, it’s actually a bit slower than this’."
In fact, the creation of the Prirun and Meroron duets started with a rather tentative conversation from the production team, who said "We’d love to make these, but we’re not sure yet". Nanjo expressed her gratitude to the production staff for their passion that brought the songs to life, then added: "I know it might be a long shot, but I’d also love to hear a quirky denpa song where they only say 'Pri' and 'Mero'", which was met with enthusiastic cheers of agreement from the audience.
■ Heart-Fluttering "Oshi Activity" Talk
The next segment centered on the themes of "idols" and "oshi (favorite idols/characters)". Nanjo and Hanai bonded over their shared love of animals, chatting enthusiastically about their dogs and cats. The rest of the cast reacted with "That’s wonderful!" when they shared the story of Hanai going to a cat café with her family and Nanjo.
Nanjo also revealed that You and Idol Pretty Cure♪ itself has become her ultimate oshi, with Hanai adding: "This might be the first time I’ve ever bought this much merchandise for my own character." Takahashi shared a story about visiting the Pretty Cure Pretty Store, and how she ended up leaving with far more merchandise than she’d planned. She also spoke passionately about her own secret favorite idol, saying "Idols are my reason for living, my reason to breathe", explaining that their existence is her daily motivation, and also talking about her attention to visual presentation.
Beside her, Matsuoka and Takamori kept playfully stepping back and insisting the other go first, drawing amused laughter from the crowd. Takamori revealed that she displays her You and Idol Pretty Cure♪ merchandise on her household Shinto altar, and also named Sōji Itao as her long-time oshi. Flustered that she was the only one who named a specific person, she shared that he was her "first love" at around 6 years old, telling stories about him and her memories of attending his fan appreciation events.
Matsuoka, meanwhile, named "babies" as her long-time favorite, speaking about her deep affection for her much younger younger siblings.
● Kira-Kiranran-Worthy Behind-the-Scenes Stories
The five cast members have spent an entire year together through dubbing sessions, events, and more. This segment focused on the themes of "Impressions that changed while working together" and "Stories we can only share now".
Matsuoka shared a story about Takahashi buying five of the You and Idol Pretty Cure♪ Pretty Cure Breath toys for the cast. Despite the items being random blind box designs, Takahashi had managed to get a unique one for every single cast member with no duplicates, much to the shock of everyone in the group. The miracle didn’t end there: later, Setsuji Sato, voice of Zackery / Zacklin, brought the same merchandise, and by pure chance, it was the only remaining design the group didn’t have—meaning they ended up with the complete set of all 6 designs. With a bright smile, Matsuoka said: "I couldn’t help but feel a special bond between us from that incredible luck."
Nanjo spoke about Hanai, sharing that when they’d worked together at a different recording site in the past, she’d had an image of Hanai as a consummate professional craftsman—but after working together on this series, she found her to be like a little sister, saying her impression had done a complete 180-degree turn. In response, Takahashi shared a story about when she’d seen Matsuoka as a big sister figure. The conversation then shifted to memories of the entire cast visiting the You and Idol Pretty Cure♪ collaboration café, filled with stories that highlighted just how close and deeply bonded the cast had become.
■ Looking Back on the Most Memorable Episodes
From here, the discussion delved deep into the main anime series. The cast each shared their feelings about their chosen "most memorable episode" from the 47 episodes that had aired at the time of the event.
Matsuoka chose Episode 31: The Center of Idol Pretty Cure!?, which explores the question of why Cure Idol is the group’s center. She shared that she was deeply struck by the advice from Kaito Hibiki, and Cure Kiss’ line "Will you stay in the center for us, like the sun?". Her eyes lit up as she said: "It made me want to see an Idol Pretty Cure where every single one of us is the center." That line prompted Nanjo to speak from the heart: "From our perspective, it’s only natural that Cure Idol and Uta are in the center. Even so, she was seriously thinking ‘What if Cure Wink was the center? What if Cure KyunKyun was the center?’. Her purity is so dazzling that she doesn’t even realize we’re all thinking ‘Why are you even talking about this now?’. That straightforwardness is exactly who Cure Idol is, exactly who Uta is. And Misato-chan, who speaks these words without a single doubt, is exactly why she is Uta. She’s the perfect leader." Matsuoka blushed slightly, but smiled brightly and said: "Thank you, that makes me so happy. But I really do want to see an Idol Pretty Cure where every single one of us is the center!" Her genuine sincerity was exactly like Uta herself, perfectly proving Nanjo’s words true.Takahashi added: "With Cure Idol in the center, this becomes an idol group where every single person’s individuality is accepted and celebrated." She went on: "If Cure Wink was the center, it might have a more graceful, elegant atmosphere. If Cure KyunKyun was the center, it might be full of endless energy. But idols are all about accepting every part of who you are, and that’s what makes each of our individualities shine." The rest of the cast reacted with warm agreement, saying "That was such a beautiful thing to say."
Takahashi chose Episode 22: Idol Pretty Cure VS Zukyun Kiss!?. She explained that this episode brought out a new side of Nana through her interactions with Meroron, and that she was overjoyed by the moment she and Meroron connected through the poem during the cooking battle. For the event, she had even written down the full text of the poem from that scene and read it aloud for the audience.
She shared: "I feel like that moment we connected through the poem is what started my full-on oshi activities for Meroron." She also added that this episode was special because it came right after a somber period where Prirun had lost her memories, saying "It made me so happy to see everyone having fun and smiling again."
Takamori introduced Episode 26: Kyun is the Best Skill!, calling it "a textbook-like story that lets you understand the very core of Kokoro". She noted that the episode’s title is also featured in the lyrics of Heart Revolution, and recalled: "I had a sudden realization that this phrase was a gift from Kokoro’s late father, and that connection hit me like a ton of bricks." She also spoke about Episode 14: To Mom ~ A Message From the Heart ~, which centers on a Mother’s Day story. She revealed that the flashback scene of Kokoro’s birth in the episode’s climax had no lines written in the script. On the day of dubbing, when she heard the gentle voices of Kokoro’s mother and father cooing "Kokoro, Kokoro", her emotions completely overflowed. "I felt how she was raised in such a loving, happy family. It made perfect sense why Kokoro grew up to be such a strong, warm-hearted girl," Takamori said. As this episode had brought many viewers to tears during its broadcast, many fans in the audience were seen gently dabbing at their eyes as they listened to Takamori’s story.
Nanjo picked a scene from Episode 37: New Power! The Idol Heart Ribbon!, specifically the moment right before the battle with the Dark Lander, where Prirun lifts Uta’s hand to encourage her. She noted that Prirun had watched Nana take Uta’s hand to encourage her in the show’s opening sequence, saying: "I think Prirun learned how to encourage people in her own way from that moment." Building on that analysis, she revealed that she had ad-libbed a soft "Pri" line in the opening sequence, even though it wasn’t written in the script.
She also shared that there had been a period where she struggled with whether she was properly portraying Prirun’s innocent, carefree nature. But when she saw the pure, genuine reaction of the fairies from Kirakira Land when they saw the Idol Pretty Cure’s introductions in Episode 44: The Secret of Kirakira Land!, she had a revelation: "This is who Prirun was in Episode 1 and 2." She explained that she realized the parts of her performance she’d felt were missing were actually the result of Prirun’s growth, as she’d come to Hanamichi Town as a blank slate and grown into an older sister figure. "I hope everyone was able to feel Prirun’s growth in Episode 37," she said, before adding with a laugh: "Sorry for how heavy my love for Prirun is."
Hanai introduced Episode 32: Pri! Mero! Dream School Life!, saying "This is my absolute favorite episode." Her voice brightened as she shared that after Meroron was trapped in a dark capsule, only freed by the power of the Heart Kirari Lock, the "dream school life" the episode depicted was only possible because the bond between the five of them had grown unshakable—and that it was "just pure fun from start to finish". Looking back on the classroom scenes and other moments, she said: "This was the first time I was ever able to go into a dubbing session with a completely empty mind. It felt like I was making up for all the youth I never got to experience all at once." She also touched on how Meroron, who had once been dismissive of cheering for others, was able to cheer for Student Teacher Mochida after learning that the power of support truly reaches people. "I was happier than anything to see her grow into someone who wants to make people shine bright and full of joy," she concluded.
■ The Cast’s Boundless Love for Kimipuri
The next theme was "The People Around Idol Pretty Cure", where the cast discussed their relationships with characters outside the main group.
The first name brought up was Junichi Suwabe, voice of Tanaka (affectionately known as Tanakān). The entire cast, led by Nanjo, spoke in unison about how deeply he loves You and Idol Pretty Cure♪.
Takahashi commented that for Nana, Hamori (Uta’s younger sister) is a key figure, someone like a guardian angel. She shared that she and Tomoko Iida, voice of Hamori, share the same hobbies, and that she always looked forward to seeing her at recording sessions.
Matsuoka also spoke about the depictions of the Sakura family throughout the series. She shared that she grew closer to Hiroya Egashira (voice of Uta’s father) and Sayaka Kitahara (voice of Uta’s mother) over the course of the series, saying: "It felt like I gained another family in my life." She also touched on the fact that the final chorus of Uta’s song Everyday♪UTA-OH!! includes the names of her entire family, including the family dog Kyutaro, saying "I love this detail so much" with clear affection.
The conversation also shifted to the villainous Chokkiri Gang, with the cast sharing plenty of laughs. Takamori recalled: "We had more strategy meetings for them than anything else every week at dubbing." Nanjo revealed behind-the-scenes details: "There were so many ad-libs that never made it to the final broadcast, and it was so hard to keep a straight face." She also revealed that she, Masaaki Yano (voice of the Dark Lander), and Setsuji Sato had formed an "Ad-lib Alliance", much to the surprise of the rest of the cast. The entire group also expressed their admiration for Yano, who intentionally kept a respectful distance from the main cast in keeping with his villain role, calling his dedication "incredible". It was a segment that truly showcased the warm, joyful bond between the entire cast.
● A Sneak Peek at the Highlights Leading to the Climax
As the event neared its end, the words "Final 2 Episodes: Here’s What to Watch For!" appeared on the monitor, and the previously lively stage fell silent for a moment. Even in that silence, the depth of the cast’s love for the series was palpable.
After a moment of thought, Takahashi chose her words carefully: "These final two episodes are incredibly memorable for us, but we want all of you to experience them with fresh eyes, so I’m struggling with what to share. All I can say is, please just watch them. I truly believe these final two episodes live up to the title You and Idol Pretty Cure♪." Nanjo echoed her agreement wholeheartedly.
Matsuoka then shared: "I was absolutely blown away by the creative choice to invite Dark Ine to a live show, rather than ‘defeat’ her." Takamori added: "I was shocked by the direction the final episode takes." Each cast member spoke with careful, deliberate words, their deep affection for the series shining through every line. Hanai teased, speaking as Cure Kiss: "There’s a line at the end that will give you chills", building even more anticipation for the series climax. To close out the event, each cast member delivered a heartfelt message to the Kira-Kiranranz. The final message was delivered by Misato Matsuoka: "What we talked about today is only a tiny fraction of the stories we have. There are so many more moments full of our love for Kimipuri. When we all talk together, I just want to share every single one of them, and it made me realize once again just how much You and Idol Pretty Cure♪ means to me. There’s a sadness that once these final two episodes air, it will all be over… but I also appeared in the previous series, Wonderful Pretty Cure!. After we finished recording the finale of this series, I remembered how the cast of Wonderful PreCure welcomed me with open arms and big smiles. I want to become a reliable senior, just like they were for me. That’s why I want to greet the final episode with a smile."
She continued, pouring every ounce of her heart into her request: "I have a personal favor to ask all of you: please never forget You and Idol Pretty Cure♪. Please rewatch it over and over again on Blu-ray, for years to come."
If you rewatch the series while recalling the stories shared at this event, you are sure to make new discoveries. We hope you will revisit the bright, joyful time delivered by the Idol Pretty Cure, again and again. You and Idol Pretty Cure♪ Blu-ray Vol.3 is scheduled for release on Wednesday, March 25, and Blu-ray Vol.4 is scheduled for release on Wednesday, May 27.
Text by Mari Sakai