Yuki Wakai

Early life

Yuki Wakai, an only child,^[2] was born on 30 October 1995 and is a native of Gifu Prefecture.^[3] She became an anime fan in junior high, becoming interested in the Higurashi When They Cry anime after a friend of hers invited her to watch the show together, in part due to its Gifu Prefecture setting.^[4] Becoming a fan of the Bleach character Tōshirō Hitsugaya, she became interested in voice acting after learning that he was voiced by a woman, Romi Park.^[4]

While attending high school, Wakai performed street shows in Nagoya, carrying an electronic piano in her uniform.^[5][6] Despite being part of a unit for these performances, she "wrote [her] own lyrics, composed [her] own music, and sang them".^[5] As Wakai later recalled, the music, which she found at the time embarrassing in hindsight, "made [her] realize how important lyrics and melodies are, something you can only write at that time".^[5]

Iris and Pretty Rhythm

Wakai entered the Avex-sponsored kids' contest Kira Challenge during her second year of junior high school, winning the grand prize and attending Avex's training school the following year.^[7][8][9] After passing the Avex/81 Produce Anison Vocalist Audition, she became one of the founding members of Iris.^[10] As she recalled, her pre-debut training camp was "pretty strict" and their voice acting classes "were really tough for [her]", and having little knowledge of anime, she struggled with conversations there.^[9] In 2016, she won the Seiyu Awards Singing Award as part of Iris at the 10th Seiyu Awards.^[11]

Wakai starred in PriPara alongside the other members of Iris,^[10] voicing Leona West.^[1] She reprised her role in PriPara the Movie: Minna Atsumare! Prism Tours,^[12] the 2016 stage musical PriPara: Minna ni Todoke,^[13] and the 2025 crossover movie Aikatsu! × PriPara the Movie: A Miracle Encounter!.^[14] Throughout the Pretty Rhythm franchise, she also voiced Sara Midorikawa in Kiratto Pri Chan^[15] and Yurari Saionji in King of Prism: Shiny Seven Stars (2019).^[16]

Music career outside of Iris

Wakai performed "Destiny Sky", the ending theme song for Kingdom; it was released as a single by Dive II Entertainment on 7 November 2012, making Wakai's solo debut.^[17] She has also served as a member of the musical group D-selections [ja].^[18]

Wakai also works as a solo musician under the name Yuki (友希), an alias she also used as a lyricist and composer for Iris.^[19][20] She had forgone her childhood dream of being a singer-songwriter when she settled for Iris, but reconsidered after staff encouraged her; however, she initially struggled for recognition due to her association with the idol group.^[21] She released her solo debut single "No More" in 2021.^[22] In October 2024, she performed "Hello! My Dream", her solo debut concert.^[20] Her solo debut album Main Dish will be released on 29 October 2025.^[21]

Voice acting and radio career

Wakai made her voice acting debut in the 2013 anime series Kingdom,^[23] before starring as Miton in Mahou Shoujo Nante Mouiidesukara.^[24] She starred as Itsuki Sumeragi in Kakegurui (2017–2019).^[25][26] She also starred as Maria von Messina in Wise Man's Grandchild^[27] and Mai Tadakusa in Yatogame-chan Kansatsu Nikki;^[28] she was selected for the latter she was originally from Gifu Prefecture and matched the character's image.^[29] She starred as Naoko Naruse in the 2021 anime Let's Make a Mug Too^[30] and was part of the anime' Mug-Mo tie-in musical group.^[31] Her other starring roles include Hikari Jogasaki in Teppen—!!!,^[32] Mamoru in My Wife Has No Emotion,^[33] and Riku Sorano in Princession Orchestra.^[34] Since 2025, she has starred as Miharu Kiryu in Witch Watch.^[35]

In March 2022, she and Akane Takayanagi started co-hosting the CBC Radio show Takayanagi Akane / Wakai Yuki no Yaodagane.^[36]

Personal life

Wakai cites Chiaki Ito as her idol.^[37]

Wakai was once part of a handball club.^[38]

Television animation

Original net animation

Animated film

Video games

Stage musical