Minori Chihara


Minori Chihara is a Japanese voice actress and singer who has had roles in several anime series. She is well known for her voice role as Yuki Nagato in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and Leon in The iDOLM@STER, while in her musical career, she has been signed under King Records and Lantis. She was born in the city of Utsunomiya, Tochigi and was raised in Saitama. She was affiliated with the talent agency HoriPro International.

Career

;2003
  • From April to September, Chihara served as the assistant to Mariko Kōda's OBC radio program Kōda Mariko no GM, a position she gained through an audition. She won first place at the Seiyū Grand Prix Club and the right to work in the avex artist academy.
  • In October, she was chosen as one of the top 4 finalists for Pony Canyon, Inc.'s Voice Artist & Singer Audition「VSオーディション2003」 sponsorship contest, but did not win the grand prize.
;2004
  • From April to September, debuted her voice acting career as Aya Natsume in Tenjho Tenge.
  • In December, she began her blog "minorhythm" and at the same time, released her album Heroine
;2005
  • In April, she began work as a host personality for the internet radio program Oshiyaberi Yattemasu along with Masaya Onosaka and Miyu Matsuki as the Thursday group.
  • In May, she began hosting both radio programs Avex presents Chihara Minori no Makenai Radio and Avex presents Chihara Minori no Ikenai Radio.
;2006
  • Her book minorhythm, based on her blog of the same name, is published in March.
  • Chihara voiced the role of Yuki Nagato in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya for the first time.
  • On July 8, she performed with Aya Hirano and Yūko Gotō at Animelo Summer Live 2006 Outride concert.
  • In July, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya's ending theme single "Hare Hare Yukai" sung with Aya Hirano and Yūko Gotō reached gold status.
  • In November, received the Radio Kansai Award along with Yūko Gotō
;2007
  • On January 24, released the single "Junpaku Sanctuary", ending a two-year hiatus from her personal singing career.
  • On March 18, performed in the Suzumiya Haruhi no Gekisou concert.
  • In May, began the radio program in conjunction to her blog called Radio Minorhythm on Wednesdays as part of the Lantis web radio lineup.
  • On June 6, released the single "Kimi ga Kureta Anohi".
  • From June 29 to July 2, appeared at Anime Expo 2007 along with Aya Hirano and Yūko Gotō at Long Beach, California as a guest of honor.
  • On July 7, performed in the Animelo Summer Live 2007 Generation-A concert.
  • On August 16, held a press conference that was broadcast to 115 storefronts across Japan to announce three important news items: the release of her new album Contact on October 24, her tour Live opening on November 18 as part of her birthday concert, and the release of her PV collection DVD slated for December 2007.
  • On December 26, released the PV DVD Message 01. A follow-up track to the album Contact titled "Contact 13th" was bundled with the DVD as an extra CD.
;2008
  • On March 26, released the single "Melty Tale Storage".
  • On April 1, her official fanclub m.s.s. was opened.
  • On August 6, released the single "Ameagari no Hana yo Sake"
  • On August 30, performed at Animelo Summer Live 2008 – Challenge day 1, including a duet with Masami Okui.
  • On November 5, released the single "Paradise Lost"
  • On November 26, released the album Parade
  • On December 7, performed in the Dream Stage concert at the Fancy Frontier convention held in Taipei, Taiwan.
;2009
  • On March 29, performed in the Lucky Star Concert Called Lucky Star in Budokan -Anata no Tame Dakara- / らき☆すた in 武道館 あなたのためだから.
  • From April to October, she again played the role of Yuki Nagato in the Rebroadcasting of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.
  • On April 29, performed at the Suzumiya Haruhi no Gensō held at Tokyo Kosei Nenkin Kaikan with music by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and Philip Chu as conductor.
  • On May 3, performed at Ga-Rei Zero – The Live at Shibuya-AX.
  • On June 3, released the single "Tomorrow's Chance".
  • On July 12, performed in her first ever South East Asian concert in DaiCon 「DaiCon-大コン-」, Multimedia University, Cyberjaya in Malaysia.
  • On August 22, performed at Animelo Summer Live 2009 Re:Bridge day 1, including a duet with Yui Horie.
  • On December 23, released the single "Precious One".
;2010
  • On February 4, released the PV DVD Message 02.
  • On February 6, she once again played the role of Yuki Nagato in The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya.
  • On February 17, released the album Sing All Love.
  • On February 24, released the single "Yasashii Bōkyaku"
  • On April 10, released the PV DVD Message 03.
  • On July 21, released the single "Freedom Dreamer"
  • On August 7, released the limited single "Ittōsei"
  • On August 29, performed at Animelo Summer Live 2010 Evolution day 2, including a duet with May'n.
;2011
  • On February 9, released the singles "Defection" and "Key for Life"
  • On April 4, released the PV DVD Message 04
  • On July 6, released the single "Planet Patrol"
  • On August 27, performed at Animelo Summer Live 2011 rainbow day 1, including a duet with Yukari Tamura.
  • On October 19, released the single "Terminated"
;2012
  • On February 29, released the album D-Formation
  • On March 21, released the single "Celestial Diva"
  • On July 11, released the single "Zone//Alone"
  • On August 26, performed at Animelo Summer Live 2012 Infinity day 2, including a duet with Chiaki Ishikawa.
  • On October 24, released the single "Self Producer"
;2013
  • From October to December, played the role of Mitsuki Nase in Beyond the Boundary.
;2014
  • From April to June, played the role of Miku Izayoi in Date a Live II.
;2015
  • On April 3, she once again reprised the role of Yuki Nagato in the spin-off series The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan.
  • On April 8, she played the role of Kaori Nakaseko in Sound! Euphonium.
;2021
  • On April 3, she announced her retirement from singing.
  • On December 26, she performed her last concert Minori Chihara the Last Live 2021 Re:Contact.
;2022
  • On March 31, she announced that she has left HoriPro International.
  • On April 1, she opened the YouTube Channel Minorhythm.
;2023
  • On August 4, she performed her resume concert Chihara Minori LIVE 2023 We are stars!.
;2025
  • On March 1, her resume digital single "Message" was released.

    Personal life

In May 2020, Weekly Flash reported that Chihara was in a six-year relationship with violinist, who was married at the time. Muroya and Chihara admitted to the relationship, though Muroya claimed they ended their relationship in 2016.

Filmography

Anime (films, TV, and web)

  • Samurai Gun, Ohana
  • Tenkuu Danzai Skelter Heaven, Ayaka Matsumoto
  • Space Symphony Maetel: Galaxy Express 999, Arena
  • Tenjho Tenge, Aya Natsume
  • *Reprised in Tenjho Tenge: Ultimate Fight
  • Mars of Destruction Kurita Aoi
  • My-Otome 0~S.ifr~, Raquel Mayol
  • The Law of Ueki, Memory
  • Fushigiboshi no Futagohime, Lulu
  • Major, Ayane
  • Binbō Shimai Monogatari, Unnamed girl
  • Humanoid Monster Bem , Mitsuki Kisaragi
  • Lemon Angel Project, Erika Campbell
  • Lovedol: Lovely Idol, Hina Hōjō
  • The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Yuki Nagato - Reprised in
  • *Lucky Star OVA
  • *Nyoro~n Churuya-san
  • *Suzumiya Haruhi chan no yûutsu
  • *The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya
  • *The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan
  • Murder Princess
  • Kyo no Gononi, Tsubasa Kawai
  • Claymore, Awakened Being in Ep. 12
  • Da Capo II, Shirakawa Nanaka
  • Dragonaut -The Resonance-, Toa
  • Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight!, Band leader in Ep. 11
  • Ikki Tousen: Dragon Destiny, Chouhi Ekitoku
  • *Reprised in Ikki tousen: Extravaganza Epoch
  • Lucky Star - multiple roles
  • *Minami Iwasaki
  • *Herself in Ep. 12
  • *Waitress, Yuki Nagato in Ep. 16
  • Minami-ke, Chiaki Minami
  • Over Drive, Takeshi Yamato's little sister
  • Saint October, Seiran in Ep. 6
  • Shinkyoku Sōkai Polyphonica, Matia Machiya
  • Venus Versus Virus, Sumire Takahana
  • Wellber no Monogatari: Sisters of Wellber, Rio
  • Ga-rei -Zero-, Kagura Tsuchimiya
  • *Reprised in Tokyo ESP
  • The Tower of Druaga, Coopa
  • Needless, Kuchinashi
  • Saki, Tōka Ryūmonbuchi
  • Umineko no Naku Koro ni, Sakutarou
  • Chu-Bra!!, Nayu Hayama
  • The Qwaser of Stigmata, Teresa Beria
  • Occult Academy, Mikaze Nakagawa
  • Yumeiro Patissiere SP Professional, Maize
  • Mitsudomoe, Airi Ogata
  • Asobi ni iku yo!, Lawry
  • Nurarihyon no Mago, Sewagakari no Medanuki
  • Rio: Rainbow Gate!, Dana
  • A Channel, Kimiko Kitō
  • *Reprised in the OVA A Channel +smile
  • Oniichan no Koto Nanka Zenzen Suki Janain Dakara ne!!, Ran Yatagai
  • Horizon on the Middle of Nowhere, Horizon Ariadust
  • C³, Konoha Muramasa
  • Hyōka, Yuri Kōnosu
  • Busou Shinki Moon Angel, Strarf Mk.2/02
  • Queen's Blade Rebellion, Yuit
  • Saki Achiga-hen episode of Side-A, Tōka Ryūmonbuchi
  • So, I Can't Play H!, Dalnia Earheart
  • Busou Shinki –, Strarf Mk.2/Hina
  • Oniichan dakedo Ai sae Areba Kankeinai yo ne!, Anastasia Nasuhara
  • Sparrow's Hotel, Sayuri Satō
  • Beyond the Boundary, Mitsuki Nase - Reprised in the movies:
  • *Beyond the Boundary: I'll Be Here – Past
  • * Beyond the Boundary: I'll Be Here – Future
  • Phi Brain: Puzzle of God, Rätsel
  • Saki, Tōka Ryūmonbuchi
  • Nobunaga the Fool, Ichi-hime
  • Date A Live, Miku Izayoi
  • Rail Wars!, Noa Kashima
  • Cross Ange, Miranda Campbell
  • Girl Friend Beta, Mahiro Natsume
  • Hibike! Euphonium, Kaori Nakaseko
  • Violet Evergarden, Erica Brown
  • My Hero Academia, Camie Utsushimi
  • Princess Connect! Re:Dive, Tomo / Tomo Mikuma
  • Smile of the Arsnotoria the Animation, Lidel