Hanayo Koizumi (Yurika Kubo)

Artist

コイズミハナヨ(クボユリカ)

Hanayo Koizumi is one of the nine school idols of μ's, the in-show idol group at Otonokizaka High School in the TV anime Love Live! A painfully shy first-year student, she initially struggles to find the courage to chase her dream of becoming an idol, but her encyclopedic knowledge of the idol scene and her quiet determination gradually pull her onto the stage. Affectionately nicknamed "Kayo-chin" by her friends, she is also famously devoted to white rice, a quirk that has become a running joke across the series. Her arc, in which a timid fan transforms into a confident performer, is one of the most heartwarming threads in the original Love Live! story. She is voiced by Yurika Kubo, a Japanese voice actress who is also part of the real-world voice cast unit μ's that performs the group's songs at its celebrated live concerts. Kubo's tender, unassuming voice captures Hanayo's nervous sincerity perfectly and has made her a longtime fan favorite.