Miharu Hanai

Miharu Hanai, a native of Chitose, Hokkaido, was born on 8 February 1998.^[1][2] After being unsuccessful in her dream of joining the Takarazuka Revue, which she originally wanted to do because she "really likes singing and expressing herself in front of people", she decided to pursue a career in voice acting after watching the anime K-On!.^[3] She then studied acting at International Media Gakuin [ja];^[3] after her graduation, she joined IAM Agency,^[4] remaining with them until 31 January 2025.^[5]

In February 2017, Hanai was cast as Sassa Kurasaki in Armed Girl's Machiavellism.^[6] She later voiced Non in Rainy Cocoa side G (2019), Lierre in Dropkick on My Devil! (2020), Twin Turbo in Umamusume: Pretty Derby (2021), and Shiori Yamaga in Selection Project (2021).^[1][7][8][9] In May 2021, she was cast as Fumio Chitose/Yellow in Hairpin Double, the thirtieth-anniversary animated short from the Okayama International Circuit.^[10] In 2022, she voiced Margarita Surprise in GrimGrimoire OnceMore, Pekesura in My Isekai Life, and Mel in Smile of the Arsnotoria.^[11][12][13] In 2023, she voiced Reine von Silford in Chronicles of an Aristocrat Reborn in Another World.^[14]

Hanai voices Tomoe Murakami in The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls, a sub-franchise in The Idolmaster franchise. Since then, she has performed as a singer on several Idolmaster music releases, including the 2020 single "The Idolmaster Cinderella Starlight Master for the Next! 07: Gaze and Gaze", which charted at #7 in the Oricon Singles Chart), and the 2021 single "The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls Starlight Master Gold Rush! 08: Evil Live", which charted at #16 in the Oricon Singles Chart.^[15][16] She also stars as Urū Miyazaki in Harmony of Mille-Feuille, an a capella mixed-media project.^[17]

Although it had been rumored for some time due to their similarities,^[18] Hanai and her sister Aina Suzuki had not disclosed their familial relationship to prevent any signs of nepotism.^[19] However, on 30 November 2023, it was confirmed at the press conference announcing their roles in the upcoming anime A Journey Through Another World that they were sisters;^[19] she was also announced as the voice actor for Elena.^[20]

Hanai is a certified 5th dan folk singer and a 4th dan shamisen player.^[1] She and Suzuki began practicing folk music after being instructed by her grandfather, and they spent at least seven years in the Shōseikai circle, winning several folk song contests.^[21] Hanai has won several competitions in the national, regional, and local levels, including in Esashi oiwake, Hokkai bon'uta  [ja], jinku, and kudoki  [ja].^[1]