Kana is a voice actress whose career spanned nearly three decades, best known as the voice of Ran Mori in Detective Conan. She died on April 18, 2026, at age 61, and her role has been permanently succeeded by Akemi Okamura.
Voice actress Kana, known professionally as Wakana Yamazaki, died on April 18, 2026, at age 61 following an illness. Her agency Aoni Production announced in February that she would pause activities for medical treatment. She was best known as the voice of Ran Mori in the long-running anime series Detective Conan, a role she held since the series premiered in 1996. The Detective Conan production staff confirmed that Akemi Okamura, who had filled in since March 14, will permanently succeed her as the voice of Ran Mori. Creator Gosho Aoyama released a statement mourning her loss.
Beyond Detective Conan, Yamazaki voiced Meiko Akizuki in Marmalade Boy, Koan in Sailor Moon R, Nene in the Samurai Warriors game series, and Nojiko in One Piece. She received the Kei Tomiyama and Kazue Takahashi Award at the 19th Seiyuu Awards for her contributions to the profession. A funeral was held by close relatives. The cast and staff of Detective Conan, along with figures across the anime and game industries, posted public condolences on social media.
Two other stories in the coverage involve casting announcements for the Kirio Fan Club anime and the Witch on the Holy Night film, but neither story mentions Kana or Wakana Yamazaki. Those stories are unrelated to her career or death.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every fact links the story it came from.
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DMM TV announced three new cast members for the second season of the live-action Happy Kanako's Killer Life series on Friday. Hikaru Takahashi plays Nana, Aoi Morikawa plays Ado, and Sayu Suzukawa plays Yui, all assassin colleagues of Kanako. Non and Taisuke Fujigaya reprise their lead roles, and Tsutomu Hanabusa returns to direct and co-write the scripts.
Kana announced at Anime NYC on Friday that it licensed six manga titles for English release through 2027. The slate includes Children of the Afterlife, Happy at Home, Good Morning Leon, Why We Fall in Love, Pumpkin Night, and Soon the Fog Clears. Release dates span from May to November 2027.
The latest POKÉTOON short, Wartortle and the Continuation of Summer, is now streaming on the official Pokémon YouTube channel. Kana Hanazawa voices the long-lived Wartortle, with Tasuku Hatanaka as Rikuto's father Gaku. The story follows a boy visiting his grandmother's island and meeting a Wartortle with moss on its shell. Fans are praising Hanazawa's performance, with the work trending on X.
The Pokemon official YouTube channel released the new POKETOON short Kameil to, Natsu no Tsuzuki on August 12. The story follows a boy named Rikuto who visits his grandmother on an island and meets a long-lived Kameil whose tail color differs and whose shell has moss. The animation was produced by Studio Colorido and Studio Churutto, with Seigo Yamashita directing.
DMM TV announced the second season of the live-action Happy Kanako's Killer Life series will debut on September 17. Non and Taisuke Fujigaya reprise their roles as Kanako and Sakurai. Tsutomu Hanabusa returns to direct and co-write the scripts. A new key visual was also unveiled.
The television anime of Nao Iwamoto's Marronnier Okoku no Shichinin no Kishi manga revealed its first promotional video, main visual, cast, and October 3 premiere on NHK Educational. Kengo Takanashi, Makoto Tanikawa, Haruki Ishiya, Satoshi Inomata, Kiyoto Mizuno, Taishi Murata, and Reiji Kawashima voice the seven knight brothers. Kiyoko Sayama directs at J.C. Staff.
Atlus announced on July 27 that the stage play "PERSONA3 the Weird Masquerade ~Blue Awakening~" will stream for free on YouTube for a limited time. The production is the seventh installment of the company's End-of-Month Fun Project, timed to the 20th anniversary of Persona 3 and the 30th anniversary of the Persona series. Two versions exist: one starring Kana Asumi as the female protagonist Kotone Shiomi, and one starring Shouta Aoi as the male protagonist Sakuya Shiomi. The female protagonist version goes live on July 31 at 18:00 JST and runs through August 13 at 17:59 JST. The male protagonist version starts August 1 at 18:00 JST and ends August 14 at 17:59 JST. Both are hosted on the official ATLUS GAME MUSIC YouTube channel. Separately, a Persona 3 20th anniversary sale discounts Persona 3 Reload up to 60 percent on the PlayStation Store until July 29 and 40 percent on the Nintendo eShop until August 10.
The television anime adaptation of Mochimaru Sakaki's light novel series The World's Strongest Witch: I'm Starting My Free Life in a World Where Only I Can See the Online Strategy Guide has revealed two new cast members and an October 7 premiere date. Kana Hanazawa and Maria Naganawa join the previously announced cast, and the anime will air on Tokyo MX, BS11, TV Aichi, and MBS.
Yostar will release two new ASMR works for the mobile and PC RPG Blue Archive on July 27 at 0:00 JST. The 10th volume, "Sun, Moon, Words, and You (Seia ASMR)," features Seia voiced by Atsumi Tanezaki. The 11th volume, "It's Sensei's Fault, You Know? (Miyo ASMR)," features Miyo voiced by Kana Hanaishi. The announcement was made during the Blue Archive 5.5th Anniversary Live Broadcast on July 26. A 10% discount sale on both new and existing ASMR works will run on DLsite until August 23. The ASMR series has been expanded approximately every six months since its launch.
The fourth season of the KonoSuba anime, titled KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World! 4, was announced at the "Colorful" 10th anniversary event on July 26, 2026. The season is set to air in 2027. Studio ENGI will handle the animation, taking over from the previous studios that worked on earlier seasons. Takaomi Kanasaki returns as chief director, while Manabu Kurihara, who previously directed The Detective Is Already Dead, steps in as the new director. Makoto Uezu returns to oversee series scripts, Koichi Kikuta returns for character design, Yoshikazu Iwanami returns as sound director, and Masato Kōda returns to compose the music. The event also revealed an "ultra teaser visual" and a 10th anniversary video featuring a new arrangement of Machico's song "fantastic dreamer" from the first season. The third season aired in April 2024, and the sequel was first teased after the Bonus Stage OVA in March 2025.
Kadokawa's Comic Newtype announced on July 16 that manga artist Ka Sakana will launch the manga adaptation of Ghost Mikawa's novel Mercenary Sisters on Tuesday. The story follows two unrelated sisters, a rookie and a veteran mercenary, surviving in a conflict zone. Mikawa originally published the novel on Kakuyomu in June 2025, with a print edition by Kadokawa in July 2025.
The Nijisanji unit ChroNoiR, composed of VTubers Kuzuha and Kanae, marked its 8th anniversary on July 17, 2026, with a new digital single and a set of commemorative illustrations by three high-profile creators. The song "Endless showtime" was released digitally at midnight, with a music video premiering later that evening at 21:00 JST. The track was written by Penthouse vocalist and guitarist Shintaro Namioka, with lyrics by Takuma Ohara and arrangement by ha-j. The lyrics depict two people in an empty theater who receive a standing ovation, framing the bond between the unit and its fans. Separately, three celebratory illustrations were published by Abetsuka, a manga artist for "Sousou no Frieren"; Toshiyuki Itahana, character designer for the "Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon" series and "Final Fantasy IX"; and D.K, character designer for "NieR Replicant" and "NieR Gestalt." The illustrations drew reactions from fans on social media, who noted the quality of the collaborations. The anniversary marks eight years since the formation of ChroNoiR, a unit that has been active within Nijisanji since 2018.
Koki Kanai, representative producer at IP content trading company uyet Inc., will speak at a free online webinar hosted by PC specialty store Dospara on August 12, 2026. The webinar, titled "Streaming Workshop for Building a Loyal Audience," targets streamers and VTubers and will focus on turning first-time viewers into regular listeners. Kanai, who has produced numerous VTuber talents and agencies, will cover topics including character branding, viewer relationship building, and long-term streaming mindset. The event is part of Dospara's Creative Production (DCP) program, which supports creative activities of Dospara members. Kanai has been involved in the VTuber industry since 2018, when he helped launch the VTuber business at ANYCOLOR Inc., the company behind the Nijisanji project. He currently develops new VTuber-related business at uyet, including promotion, marketing, and support services, and has collaborated with organizations such as JA Zen-Noh and The Asahi Shimbun for live commerce events. The webinar is limited to 500 participants on a first-come, first-served basis, and registration requires a free Dospara membership. Dospara's DCP program also offers archived videos, contests, and a Discord community for participants.
The historical action manga "Hana no Keiji: Kumo no Kanata ni" is currently on sale on Kindle with 50% points back on all 18 volumes. The series, based on the life of Warring States eccentric Maeda Keiji, is known for its popularity in pachinko machines and memorable lines. The sale applies to the complete series.
Manga creator Nyoijizai, known for Harukana Receive, launched a new series on Kadokawa's Dra Dra Sharp# magazine. The story follows newlyweds Yuto and Asuka, a professional volleyball player and team captain who agrees to abstain from sex until a tournament ends. The series began last Saturday, shortly after Nyoijizai ended Cinderella Athletes in February.
VTuber Criminology Classroom Kanae-sensei has launched two perfumes, MORNING start and NIGHT cool, now available at the Village Vanguard online store. The fragrances were developed under Kanae-sensei's supervision, with scents designed for different times of day: a floral fruity morning scent and a citrus floral evening scent.
DMM TV announced a second season of the live-action series based on Toshiya Wakabayashi's manga Happy Kanako's Killer Life. The new season debuts in September 2026 on DMM TV. Non and Taisuke Fujigaya return as Kanako and Sakurai. Tsutomu Hanabusa returns to direct and co-write the scripts.
ANYCOLOR announced on July 9 that the Nijisanji unit ChroNoiR, consisting of livers Kanae and Kuzuha, will release a line of 8th anniversary goods on July 17 at 6 PM JST through the Nijisanji Official Store. The lineup includes 13 types of merchandise: acrylic stands, random can badges, random photo-style cards, charm keychains, mini tin can sets, acrylic magnets, canvas boards, glasses, posing plushie clothes, Nijipa pajama pouches, Kukking! mini figures, and produce goods for each member. The Kanae produce set costs 15,000 yen and includes a pancake maker and Roto plushie; the Kuzuha set costs 13,000 yen and includes a parasol and handy fan. A pop-up store, the ChroNoiR 8th ANNIVERSARY POPUP, will run from July 17 to August 5 at LIGHT BOX ATELIER in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo, with free admission via lottery. Online purchases of 3,000 yen or more include a random clear coaster bonus (6 types). At the pop-up, venue-exclusive pancake-style baked sweets (3,300 yen) and an original shopper (550 yen) are available, with a random label-style card bonus per 3,000 yen spent. The pop-up also features key visual reproductions, life-size panels, and a smart photo service. Admission lottery applications are open from July 9 6:30 PM to July 11 11:59 PM via official LINE.
Shochiku Games opened pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch download version of Yog-Sothoth's Garden on July 9, ahead of its July 23 release. The game, a hotel management simulation and romance adventure set in the Cthulhu Mythos, was originally released on Steam in October 2023 in Chinese and English. It has sold over 500,000 copies worldwide and holds a Very Positive rating from more than 10,000 Steam user reviews. The Switch version is priced at 1,980 yen for the download edition, with a 10 percent discount until July 22. Physical editions cost 2,970 yen for the standard version and 4,400 yen for the limited first edition. To mark the pre-order start, a special promotional video narrated by voice actress Kana Asumi was released. The video introduces the game's mix of cute heroines and madness, including the SAN value mechanic that decreases sanity for profit. The PV is available on the Shochiku Games YouTube channel until October 2026. The Steam version will also receive a Japanese language update on the same day.
Fiok Lee's fantasy romantic comedy manga Seven Sleeping Beauties (Shichinin no Nemuri-hime) is receiving a television anime adaptation scheduled for a 2027 debut. The announcement was made on July 7, 2026, via a new website that also released an ultra teaser visual and a commemorative illustration by Lee. The anime will be produced by Studio Gokumi and AXsiZ SMASH, with Mankyu directing. Keiichiro Ochi is handling series composition and scripts, and Masaru Koseki is designing the characters. The main cast features seven voice actresses portraying the sleeping princesses: Aya Yamane as Flora, Yoshino Aoyama as Kiara, Miku Itō as Claire, Ayasa Itō as Mia, Kana Ichinose as Charlotte, Fūka Izumi as Yūka, and Rina Kawaguchi as Eliza. The story follows Alec, the third prince of the Kingdom of Rudbeckia, who travels to the small kingdom of Amaryllis after a witch's curse puts its people to sleep. He must awaken the seven princesses with a kiss, but when they all wake up, the rest of the kingdom remains asleep, forcing the prince and princesses to live together while searching for a way to break the curse. The manga began serialization in Kodansha's Monthly Afternoon magazine in March 2023, and its 12th compiled volume is set for release on July 16, 2026.
The official website for the anime of akuji Katō's The Demons Are Planning Something Good comedy manga revealed the cast, additional staff, a visual, and a 2027 television debut. The cast includes Junichi Suwabe, Wakana Kuramochi, and Haruka Shiraishi. Takuya Asaoka directs at TNK, with Kazuyuki Fudeyasu on series composition and Hiraku Kaneko on character design. Yen Press licenses the manga.
The official website for the television anime adaptation of Haka Tokura's Magical Buffs: The Support Caster is Stronger Than He Realized! light novel series released a new promotional video on July 4. The video and accompanying announcement revealed three additional cast members: Akeno Watanabe as Camilla, Masaaki Mizunaka as Chronos, and Wakana Kuramochi as Rita Heinkes. They join previously announced leads Reiji Kawashima as Wim Strauss and Hana Hishikawa as Heidemarie. Crunchyroll confirmed at its Anime Expo 2026 panel on July 3 that it will stream the series and also showed an English-subtitled version of the trailer. The anime is set to premiere in January 2027. It will air on Tokyo MX, MBS, BS11, and 17 other channels, and will also be available on Netflix. Hideki Okamoto is directing the series at J.C. Staff. Takao Yoshioka is handling series scripts, Yu Murakami is designing the characters, and Yuki Hayashi, Luke Standridge, and Asa Taylor are composing the music. Seven Seas Entertainment has licensed the light novel and its manga adaptation for English release.
Writer Ichiha Hiiragi and artist mimita will launch a new manga titled Kanade-kun no Shugorei Yarimasu! on Shogakukan's Manga ONE service on July 15. The story follows a high school girl who becomes the guardian spirit of her idol, a pianist. Hiiragi revealed the project was delayed by a rear-end collision accident.
COVER Corporation announced the first official concert delay view screening of Takanashi Kiara and Ninomae Ina'nis' "Drawn to Dawn" and a free screening of "hololive English 3rd Concert -All for One- Day 1" at Hyper Japan Festival 2026 in London from July 24-26. Tickets for the paid screening go on sale June 25.
The light anime adaptation of Hokuhoku Yakiimo and Kusabi Kurokawa's manga revealed its second teaser, ending song, and four new cast members. The series premieres July 7 on TV Kanagawa, with streaming on d Anime Store and Anime Times in Japan.
The television anime adaptation of nonco's manga "Mistress Kanan Is Devilishly Easy" has been green-lit for a second season. The announcement was made on the anime's official website on Sunday, June 20, 2026, immediately after the first season's finale aired. Character designer Akari Minagawa drew a commemorative illustration to mark the news. The first season premiered on April 4, 2026, on Tokyo MX and BS11, and is streamed by Crunchyroll with an English dub. The manga, which began serialization in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine in June 2022, has released 13 compiled volumes in Japan as of April 16, 2026. Seven Seas Entertainment will release the manga in English in omnibus format starting July 2026. The story follows Kanan, a demoness who infiltrates a human high school to feast on souls, but ends up in a relationship with a human boy, experiencing love for the first time. The first season was directed by Yasushi Muroya at Studio KAI, with series scripts by Rintarō Ikeda.
The staff for the television anime of Byū's Let's Go Kaikigumi manga released a full trailer, key visual, opening theme song, and a new cast member on Saturday. Kana Hanazawa joins as Yukinko. The horror comedy anime premieres July 5 on TBS and affiliates.
Kana Nishino performs the opening theme song "Power of Love" for the second cour of Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 3: Adopted Daughter of an Archduke. Moka Kamishiraishi, as adieu, performs the ending theme "Wanna me." The anime premiered on April 4 and airs for two consecutive cours on Yomiuri TV and NTV. Crunchyroll streams the series with subtitles and an English dub.
KADOKAWA will hold a pop-up shop at Yurakucho Marui in Tokyo from June 20 to July 5, 2026, commemorating the release of Kana Ishida Art Collection 3 graduation. The shop will sell new goods featuring illustrations from the art collection and past light novel covers. Items will also be available on Kadostore after the event.
Good Smile Arts Shanghai is releasing magnet-equipped deformed figures of Madoka Kaname and Homura Akemi from Puella Magi Madoka Magica under the Huggy Good Smile line. Pre-orders are open at AmiAmi for 1,620 yen each, with a December 2026 release date.
MechWolf Productions released 'Gastova: The Witches of Arkana,' a dot-eye side-scrolling action game inspired by 'Mega Man,' 'Metroid,' and 'Wonder Boy.' Players control the guardian witch Gastova, defeat corrupted fellow witches, borrow their powers, and collect costumes and wands. The game is available on Steam for 1,700 yen, with a 25% launch discount until June 23.
The Japan Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association (CEIPA) held the Grand Ceremony for Music Awards Japan 2026 on June 13 at Toyota Arena Tokyo. Sakanaction's "Kaiju," the theme song for the TV anime "Chi: Chikyuu no Undou ni Tsuite," won Best Anime Song. It was the band's first anime theme song. Lead vocalist Ichiro Yamaguchi said during the ceremony that the manga's author, Uoto, pushed for the band to be involved. Sakanaction also won Song of the Year, Best Rock Song, Best Music Video, and Best Rock Band/Solo Artist, among other awards, totaling eight wins. Kenshi Yonezu's "IRIS OUT" from the "Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc" won Best J-POP Song and swept Best Japanese Song in Asia, Europe, North America, and Latin America. Mrs. Green Apple won Artist of the Year for the second consecutive year, plus Best J-POP Artist and the Fandom Special Award. HANA won New Artist of the Year. The Best Original Score for Animation went to the "Lazarus" soundtrack by Kamasi Washington, Bonobo, and Floating Points. Ado won Largest Live Audience (International). The awards event, now in its second year, had over 70 categories voted on by more than 5,000 music industry professionals.
The main promotional video for Bungo Stray Dogs Wan! 2 features the full cast of the spin-off series and previews the ending theme song "Bokura ~Ryunosuke Akutagawa Ver.~" performed by Kensho Ono. The anime begins airing on TOKYO MX and other channels on July 2, 2026, with streaming on d Anime Store the same day. The first season will also be rebroadcast starting July 2.
CloverWorks revealed the cast and characters for its original omnibus anime film Grotesqqque on Saturday. The 14-person cast includes Kana Ichinose, Maaya Uchida, Rie Kugimiya, and four members of Nogizaka46. The film, directed by Atsushi Nishigori, will open in 2026 and comprises three stories with different worldviews.
Good Smile Company has opened pre-orders for a Nendoroid of Takanashi Hoshino in her battle form from the game Blue Archive. The figure, listed on Amazon.co.jp at 7,130 yen, includes a shotgun, shield, auxiliary pistol, and three face plates: composed, serious, and embarrassed. It stands about 100 mm tall and is scheduled for release on November 30, 2026. The prototype was handled by Hora with production cooperation from Nendoron. Separately, Good Smile also began pre-orders for a Nendoroid Surprise trading figure set featuring six Blue Archive characters: Shiroko, Hoshino, Nonomi, Serika, Ayane, and Shiroko*Terror. That set costs 10,450 yen for a box of six, with a release date of January 31, 2027. Both items are available through Amazon.co.jp as of June 5, 2026.
Takanori Higuchi, who played Kaoru Kino/Another Agito in Kamen Rider Agito, announced on June 5 via X that he has joined PLAN-D, the agency headed by co-star Jun Kaname. Higuchi recently reprised his role in the anniversary film Agito: Supernatural War, released April 29.
The anime adaptation of Mayo Momoyo's light novel series Always a Catch! has cast Kana Hanazawa as the mysterious woman Zaira, who appears to hold a grudge against Maria. The character debuted in the 10th episode, which aired on Thursday in Japan.
An experiential exhibition for the TV anime "Kiriwo Fan Club" will run from June 26 to July 6, 2026, at GALLERY X BY PARCO in Shibuya PARCO, Tokyo. Titled "Kiriwo Fan Club no Fan Club Kiriwo Fan Club Exhibition," the event lets visitors experience the youth group drama of characters Aimi, Nami, and their friends from a fan's perspective. The space recreates the classroom of Ekoma High School, with installations featuring notable lines from the work. Limited-edition goods available only at the event include an "Oshi-dedicated Gaze Snap," a "Toute Bromide Case," and an "Ema with Things You Want to Do with Kirio-kun" capsule toy. Original collaboration products with creators connected to author Chikyū no Osakana Ponchan will also be sold. Three admission ticket tiers are offered: a basic ticket with a "ticket card," one adding a "serial number membership card," and a 3,000 yen limited ticket (100 available) that includes a "Daifuku Yaro Mascot" in addition to both cards. The exhibition is open daily from 11:00 to 21:00, with last entry 30 minutes before closing; the final day closes at 18:00.
Anime Feminist published a review of the first episode of Mistress Kanan is Devilishly Easy, a new anime adaptation of the ongoing manga. The review describes the premise: the thousand-year-old Gourmet Devil Kanan comes to Earth to devour souls, targeting high school student Youji Kyougi, but he misunderstands her intentions and declares them boyfriend and girlfriend. The reviewer finds the high school setting uncomfortable given the heavy focus on fan service and teenage sexuality, noting that Kanan looks sixteen despite her age. The review compares the dynamic unfavorably to Kakegurui, calling the execution rote. It also notes that the manga is twelve volumes and counting, localized by Seven Seas, but predicts the anime will not get a second season. The reviewer expresses disinterest rather than hatred, saying the joke grows stale quickly.
Voice actress Wakana Yamazaki, best known as the voice of Ran Mori in the long-running anime series Detective Conan, died on April 18 at age 61 following an illness. Her talent agency Aoni Production announced in February that she would pause activities for medical treatment. Yamazaki voiced the character since the series premiered in 1996, a role she held for nearly three decades. The Detective Conan production staff confirmed that Akemi Okamura, who had filled in since March 14, will permanently succeed her as the voice of Ran Mori. Creator Gosho Aoyama released a statement saying, "To think I'll never hear that gentle, comforting voice that was always there again... it's so sad." Yamazaki also voiced Meiko Akizuki in Marmalade Boy, Koan in Sailor Moon R, Nene in the Samurai Warriors game series, and Nojiko in One Piece. She received the Kei Tomiyama and Kazue Takahashi Award at the 19th Seiyuu Awards for her contributions to the profession. A funeral was held by close relatives. The cast and staff of Detective Conan, along with figures across the anime and game industries, posted public condolences on social media.
The Kirio Fan Club anime has added three new cast members: Yoko Hikasa as young Kirio, Yui Kanari as his childhood friend Nozomi, and Yu Serizawa as Yua. The characters debut in the eighth episode on May 21. The rom-com series premiered on April 2 and streams on HIDIVE.
Ufotable revealed on Saturday the returning voice cast and character visuals for the anime film adaptation of Type-Moon's visual novel Witch on the Holy Night. Haruka Tomatsu reprises her role as Aoko Aozaki, Kana Hanazawa returns as Alice Kuonji, and Yusuke Kobayashi voices Soujyuro Sizuki. The film is scheduled to open in 2026. The original visual novel, first released in Japan in 2012, is set in the late 1980s and follows Aoko, a high school student reluctantly apprenticed to the witch Alice, alongside the transfer student Soujyuro. A fully voiced HD remaster of the game launched on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch in December 2022 and on Steam in December 2023. The PS4 and Switch versions have sold over 150,000 copies worldwide. The film was first announced in December 2021. Ufotable is handling animation production. A key visual was released in March 2026.