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12 Idolm@ster SideM Voice Actors Test Positive for COVID-19 in Past Week

The talent agency 81 Produce announced on Friday evening that voice actor Shunya Hiruma (The Idolm@ster SideM's Kazuki Tsukumo) has been diagnosed with the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The talent agency Yu-Rin Pro announced that same evening that voice actor Tomohito Takatsuka (The Idolm@ster SideM's Minori Watanabe) has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

Hiruma took a PCR test on August 14 that came back negative, and he had no fever or other symptoms at the time. However, he took another test on Tuesday that came back positive. He is recuperating under the guidance of a health care center and medical professionals.

Takatsuka took a PCR test on Tuesday after being notified of a probable close contact with someone with COVID-19. While awaiting the results at home, he developed a fever on Thursday. He received the positive test result on Friday. He is now undergoing treatment and followup observations under the guidance of health care and medical facilities.

Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on Wednesday that "The Idolm@ster SideM 6th Live Tour ~Next Destin@tion!~ Side Hokkaido" concerts originally scheduled for Saturday and Sunday have been postponed.

The following voice actors in The Idolm@ster SideM franchise confirmed this week that they have tested positive for COVID-19:

• Takehiro Urao (The Idolm@ster SideM's Daigo Kabuto) developed a fever early Monday morning, took a PCR test, received the positive test result, and has since been undergoing treatment and followup observations
• Takeru Kikuchi (The Idolm@ster SideM's Yūsuke Aoi) developed a fever, received the positive PCR test result on Tuesday, and has since been undergoing treatment and followup observations
• Yūko Sanpei (The Idolm@ster SideM's Ryō Akizuki) developed a fever on Tuesday, took a PCR test, received the positive test result on Wednesday, and has since been undergoing treatment and followup observations
• Takuma Nagatsuka (The Idolm@ster SideM's Jun Fuyumi) took a PCR test on Wednesday, received the positive test result, and has since been undergoing treatment and followup observations
• Shōya Chiba (The Idolm@ster SideM's Hayato Akiyama) developed a fever and took a PCR test on Wednesday, received the positive test result, and has since been recuperating at home
• Toshinari Fukamachi (The Idolm@ster SideM's Genbu Kurono) took a PCR test on Tuesday after a possible close contact with COVID-19, developed a fever on Wednesday, received the positive test result on Thursday, and has since been recuperating at home
• Shōhei Komatsu (The Idolm@ster SideM's Ren Kizaki, Show By Rock!! Stars!!' Hacchin) developed a fever and took a PCR test on Tuesday, received the positive test result on Wednesday, and has since been recuperating at home
• Kento Hama (The Idolm@ster SideM's Ryu Kimura, A3!'s Tachi Nanao) took a PCR test on Tuesday after a possible close contact with COVID-19, received the positive test result on Wednesday, and has since been recuperating at home
• Takeaki Masuyama (The Idolm@ster SideM's Suzaku Akai) took a PCR test on Tuesday after a close contact with COVID-19 at work, received the positive test result on Thursday, and has since been recuperating at home
• Hiroshi Watanabe (The Idolm@ster SideM's Natsumi Sakaki) took a PCR test after a possible close contact with COVID-19, received the positive test result, and has since been undergoing treatment and followup observations

Except for Kikuchi, all the cast members above are among the 19 performers who would have appeared at the postponed Hokkaido concerts this weekend. Yoshiki Nakajima (The Idolm@ster SideM's Jiro Yamashita) received a positive COVID-19 test result on July 22. Chisa Suganuma (The IDOLM@STER Shiny Colors' Mamimi Tanaka) developed a fever and took a PCR test on Wednesday, then received the positive test result on Thursday.

Update: Junta Terashima (The Idolm@ster SideM's Takeru Taiga) said on Friday that after learning of his co-stars' positive COVID-19 test results, he took an antigen test on Tuesday and a PCR test on Wednesday, and both came back negative. Shugo Nakamura (The Idolm@ster SideM's Teru Tendō) reported on Saturday that the PCR test he took on Friday came back negative.

Sources: Ken Production, Yu-Rin Pro