Nao Toyama, the popular voice actress known for iconic roles like Chitoge Kirisaki in "Nisekoi," Ruka Sarashina in "Rent-A-Girlfriend," Rin Shima in "Laid-Back Camp," and Suma in "Demon Slayer," dropped a bombshell at her solo concert yesterday (February 9): she's taking a temporary hiatus from her music career starting next year, which marks her 10th anniversary as a singer. But it wasn't all tears! She also surprised fans with the exciting news that she'll be holding a concert at the legendary Nippon Budokan on her birthday, March 11, 2027.
While Toyama initially debuted as a voice actress, her star power truly soared with roles such as Kohsaka Yukiho in "LoveLive!" and Mizuki Kawashima in "The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls." She also lent her voice to Reina Prowler as part of Walküre in "Macross Delta." In November 2016, she officially launched her singing career, going on to release two albums and several singles, all to considerable success.
During the concert, she tearfully announced to her fans, "Next year, as I celebrate my 10th anniversary as a singer, I've decided to take a break from my music activities." She confessed, "My music career is like a part of my life. I've always strived to find more joy, to bring even more incredible works to everyone, and I've carried that feeling with me until now."
However, she candidly shared her evolving mindset: "Whether it's voice acting or singing, I demand myself to give my absolute all and set incredibly high standards. But as I get older, it feels like I'm constantly battling against time. I've slowly come to realize that if I keep pushing myself in the same way, I might eventually leave behind regrets of not having given my complete best somewhere."
She reassured fans that her voice acting career will continue without interruption. The Budokan concert on March 11, 2027, her 34th birthday, will serve as a grand finale for this chapter of her solo music journey. Toyama also clarified that there's no set timeframe for her hiatus: "How long I'll be resting, I honestly don't know myself. Whether it's 5 years or 10 years, that's still undecided."
While her solo music career is set to pause next year, it's no secret that Nao Toyama's voice acting schedule is incredibly demanding. Her high popularity means she's inundated with anime roles every year, making it genuinely challenging to juggle both careers simultaneously.
However, fans will still have opportunities to hear her sing through her character roles in projects like "LoveLive!" (Kohsaka Yukiho), "The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls" (Mizuki Kawashima), and even "Uma Musume Pretty Derby" (Mejiro McQueen), all of which involve live performances. As for her solo music, it seems we'll just have to wait and see when she decides to make her grand return!