Hello everyone, we have now entered the other end of the tunnel. Cure Eclair is Kurea Howa, voiced by Ikumi Hasegawa in the hit anime, Star Detective Precure. You may have heard of it before!
Now Hasegawa is very similar to a certain core staff member on the production in that she can’t stop talking to the press for these interviews. We might have a few of those additional interviews on the site soon!
Until then, read this interview that’s right in front of you!
Translation by “nui”, Editing by me – Interview with Ikumi Hasegawa was originally published on animatetimes in July 2026. Link: https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1785735320
animatetimes Interview – Ikumi Hasegawa
The TV anime Star Detective Precure has unfolded an action-packed story focusing on each of the four Cure Eclair candidates. As viewers came to their own conclusions, Episode 25, “The True Identity of Cure Eclair,” finally revealed that the shrouded Cure Eclair is Kurea Howa.
At animatetimes, we interviewed Ikumi Hasegawa, who plays Cure Eclair and Kurea Howa. We asked her about the feeling of becoming a Precure, the tension when recording the first transformation scene, Kurea’s inner strength, and her future with Luluka.
“You’re good at lying!” Days of hiding Cure Eclair’s true identity
Interviewer: First, please tell us how you felt when it was decided that you would voice Cure Eclair.
Ikumi Hasegawa: It’s only recently that it started sinking in. When my manager told me I passed the audition, I was of course happy and surprised. But I was immediately told, “Please keep it a secret. Don’t tell anyone.” At that time, I was also told the names of the other main cast members, so from then on, I spent my days with the feeling that I had to hide it. I had participated in dubbing sessions several times as Kurea Howa, but since she didn’t transform yet, I really didn’t have any real feeling about it.
Starting around the recording of Episode 26, where her identity was revealed and she transformed for the first time, I began to feel that I had truly become a Precure.
Interviewer: How was the reaction of the cast members of the Star Detective Precure team?
Hasegawa: There were some who knew and some who didn’t. The Precure members and the fairy voice actors knew from midway through, but Yuuki Kaji, who plays Jett-senpai, and those playing the Phantom Thieves didn’t know anything until the very end.
While I was at the recording booth as Kurea, everyone was theorizing, “Who could Cure Eclair be?” (Laughs). Right before we entered the arc to find Cure Eclair’s identity, they were talking during breaks saying, “Who is it, who is it?”, but once the identity search story started, glances like “Is it Kurea?” started flying around more and more for each episode. During breaks, I was bombarded with questions, so I spent my time evading them smoothly. I think the members who didn’t know found out probably after the recording of Episode 24.
Interviewer: So they really weren’t informed until the very last minute!
Hasegawa: We usually get the script for the following week’s episode on the day of recording, so anyone who read the Episode 25 script would know. But since I wasn’t in Episode 24, they actually told everyone at the studio, “The identity is revealed in the Episode 25 script, so don’t open it here. Wait until you go home and look at it alone.”
So, I don’t know what kind of reactions everyone had the moment they read that script, but when we gathered for the next Episode 25 recording, it was like, “It was you!” (Laughs)
Actually, Yuuki Kaji asked me questions almost every time, saying things like, “Howa-san, you are a bit suspicious!” Since I kept dodging that, when we met face-to-face for the first time at the Episode 25 recording, he said, “You’re so good at lying!” (Laughs)
Interviewer: Your acting skills were being tested even outside of dubbing.
Hasegawa: Rather, they were tested more outside of dubbing! (Laughs) Because I was lying a lot. But it was a lot of fun.
Interviewer: You were on the side holding the mystery.
Hasegawa: Yuuki Kaji reacted with a feeling of “I was tricked!”, so it felt good. (Laughs)
Interviewer: How did you view the reactions of the TanPre viewers?
Hasegawa: The viewers are sharp. She appeared in the opening from the very first broadcast, right? Even at the stage where she hadn’t spoken yet, it seemed like some people thought, “Maybe this person is Cure Eclair.” I can still understand it after watching Episode 2, but without even hearing her voice or knowing who plays her, it’s amazing that people watched that footage and felt suspicious.
Interviewer: In the official reasoning and voting project, Kurea attracted attention as a promising candidate from the beginning and stayed in first place until the end. On the other hand, the other candidates also had elements that made people think, “Maybe she’s Cure Eclair!”
Hasegawa: Things were laid out to make people think, “Kurea looks like Cure Eclair.” Since I knew it was me, I thought, “That’s her!” but in Rei-san’s episode, it also developed in a way that made people think, “Maybe it’s Rei-san.” Furthermore, the construction of Episode 25 is insanely clever, isn’t it? I thought that even when reaching the episode where her identity is revealed, it could still mislead people. I called it the “Eclair Roulette.” (Laughs)
Interviewer: Eclair Roulette. (Laughs)
Hasegawa: You really don’t know who Cure Eclair is until the very end. In the middle of Episode 25, it really looks like it’s Kurea, but then she says, “It’s not me.” Right after that, it makes you think, “Wait, is it Rei-san?” I bet everyone watching was spinning in circles going, “Wait, this one? That one? Huh?”. It’s an amazing script.
Interviewer: It truly was an amazing script. I also got to read the script, and it was such a thrilling development that I got confused midway.
Hasegawa: Right? (Laughs) Even though I knew it was me, when I read Episode 25’s script I was given a bit ahead of time, I once thought, “Wait, isn’t it Kurea?” (Laughs) I almost got tricked even though I knew her identity, to the point where I felt anxious and thought, “I was told it’s Kurea, but…?”
I bet the viewers felt an even stronger “What?!” I haven’t been able to see the reactions after the broadcast yet, so I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone’s thoughts.
“I’m really going to be a Precure” The realization born from the first transformation
Interviewer: Please tell us again how you felt when you read the scripts for Episodes 25 and 26.
Hasegawa: Because we had to record the character songs ahead of time, I asked the staff, “I’d like to know what happens next,” so they gave me the scripts a bit ahead of everyone else. I sat down and read a bit past Episode 25 all at once by myself.
When I read the Episode 25 script, I really had no idea what was happening. (Laughs) I was misled to the point that even I, who knew, didn’t understand. (Laughs) It was surprising and a very confusing episode.
As for Episode 26, I knew beforehand that Cure Eclair was strong, but when I read the version properly depicted as a story, I was surprised, thinking, “She was a kid who went this far.” Plus, Usonoir-sama’s situation also moves in a big way, right? I didn’t know about that part.
Interviewer: Surprising facts surrounding Usonoir’s identity were also revealed! An involuntary “No way!” escaped my mouth. (Laughs)
Hasegawa: There was a lot of information, wasn’t there? (Laughs) Combining it with the animation made it even more surprising. Episodes 25 and 26 really had a ton of information.
Interviewer: How was it acting out the transformation scene starting with the words “Top of Lily Fragrance”?
Hasegawa: It was a feeling of, “It’s finally here, the transformation scene!” After all, when you think of Precure, you have the image of transformation. When I did the V-check (video check before dubbing), it was still nowhere near complete. Some music was included, but the footage was still at a stage where you couldn’t really tell what was happening. Even so, I was moved, so seeing the transformation bank was probably when the feeling of “I’m really going to do Precure” was strongest.
However, the day of the dubbing was nervous after all. Those of you watching the show will probably hear it while sound effects and music play along, but at the recording studio, naturally, we say our lines in a quiet state. Tension exists not just for transformation scenes, but for dubbing itself, but this time it was my first transformation, and moreover, before me, Anna and Mikuru had scenes transforming into Cure Answer and Cure Mystique respectively…
build note: In case folks don’t know what bank means. BANK animation is any animation that is re-used repeatedly over the broadcast of a show. Animators handling it can show off their skills to the fullest and it also reduces the amount of new footage needed in later episodes of the show.
Interviewer: Did you view the transformation sequences of the two of them with a different perspective than before?
Hasegawa: Yes. Until then, I had seen Cure Answer and Cure Mystique’s transformations many times, and the two of them showed me completed transformations. I used to watch them leisurely thinking, “Amazing!” or “So cool, so cute.” But once I was in the position of transforming myself, there was pressure and tension about doing it right after their wonderful transformation bank. I stood in front of the mic feeling very nervous. The two of them nailed it coolly as if nothing happened, but receiving that, I was doing it by trial and error, thinking, “Is this right?”
Interviewer: Were there any directions given?
Hasegawa: It’s the difficult part of transformation bank, but no matter how different the preceding and following developments are every time, the transformation bank footage itself is the same, right? No matter how painful the situation before the transformation is, or how much fighting spirit is involved, you have to lead it into the usual transformation bank.
During my first transformation, I leaned too heavily into the emotions of the scene right before it, so I yelled “Open!” with a ton of energy. But because of that, they said there was a bit of a gap with Cure Eclair’s transformation bank footage.
I got the direction saying, “Her facial expression turns out like this, so it would be helpful if you could do it while keeping that in mind,” and that’s how I recorded my voice. I felt that matching the footage while also capturing the feelings up to that point was extremely difficult.
Interviewer: Recording has progressed, but have you gotten used to recording transformation bank?
Hasegawa: I’ve gotten used to it more than at the beginning. But as I mentioned earlier, even if the footage is the same, I think it’s fine for the feelings to have some differences.
Interviewer: Rather, those differences each time are wonderful.
Hasegawa: I think so too. I’m sure everyone has the awareness to capture the feelings of that episode where possible within the fixed expressions and footage. Recently, I’ve been acting while thinking about that too.
Interviewer: Cure Eclair’s transformation gives a very dramatic impression.
Hasegawa: That’s right. The theme of Cure Eclair’s transformation bank is ballet movements. The atmosphere changes completely from Answer and the other two, bringing out so much elegance and splendor that it makes you stare in fascination. I haven’t seen the completed footage yet either, so I’m looking forward to it.
Interviewer: And Cure Eclair is very strong, isn’t she?
Hasegawa: She really is. I think it turns into a battle scene that no one who watched up to Episode 25 could imagine. It feels like a combat style you wouldn’t expect much from the one named Kurea Howa. I think everyone will be quite surprised. She’s super cool. Surprisingly, she’s the strongest so far. (Laughs)
Interviewer: But she also has a slight weakness.
Hasegawa: That’s right. That’s what’s cute about her. Kurea seems like someone who could manage her energy properly, right? If her weakness is keeping up with speed, you’d expect her to be the type to pace her energy during a fight to make up for it, but she absolutely can’t. (Laughs) I thought, “How interesting!” It felt like becoming a Precure broadened her range as a character a lot. I think she’s an interesting character.
Interviewer: Kurea normally is also a very wonderful character. She looks a bit laid-back, but she has a solid inner core.
Hasegawa: That’s right. You might think she’s a fluffy big sister type, but she’s a girl with the strength to straight up convey what she feels and thinks. I think the parts that make her a Precure have been oozing out little by little in previous episodes too.
Interviewer: Did you intend to express those “Precure-like parts” in your acting?
Hasegawa: Honestly, I didn’t think about trying to change anything consciously. It just happened naturally. In fact, Episode 23, “Kurea, Sleuthing, And Ice Cream,” which was depicted while searching for Cure Eclair’s identity, actually showed that kind of part too. When Luluka directly pressed her to hand over the photo to the Phantom Thieves, Kurea had a scene where she clearly said, “I can’t hand over that photo.”
Interviewer: It was a cool performance.
Hasegawa: Even then, I wasn’t acting while conscious of Kurea’s inner strength. I didn’t think at all, “Let’s say it strongly like this character,” or “Let’s say it coolly.” But when I watched the broadcast, I felt it was very different from usual. I had a discovery watching it myself, realizing I was naturally able to carry my feelings up to that point within the flow of the story. I felt that even without being conscious of it, playing Kurea naturally leads you there.
Shushutan Appears! A story of Kurea and Ruruka that no one knows yet
Interviewer: Shushutan also appeared in Episode 25.
Hasegawa: Regarding Shushutan, I think everyone could feel her presence bit by bit starting from the “Who is Cure Eclair’s identity!?” project stage. She suddenly appeared in Episode 25, and suddenly it’s Karin Isobe. (Laughs)
While searching for Cure Eclair, I think many people predicted, “Maybe Shushutan is also among the candidates,” but she was completely different. However, many people also predicted that the scrunchie Kurea wears might be Shushutan. I was watching thinking, “As expected, that’s amazing observation skills.”
Interviewer: I’m also looking forward to seeing how Shushutan will play an active role from here on.
Hasegawa: Yes. From here on, I want everyone to get to know what kind of girl Shushutan is more and more.
Interviewer: At the end of Episode 26, there were also ominous words from Luluka.
Hasegawa: From the stage of searching for Cure Eclair, it was apparent that something had happened between Kurea and Luluka. Therefore, many people probably thought that once Cure Eclair’s identity was known, she would have a good relationship with Luluka again and they would work together as a foursome.
However, it doesn’t seem to be the case. Luluka actually didn’t want Cure Eclair to revive. Since it develops into her staying on the Phantom Thieves side from here on, I think everyone is surprised and paying attention, wondering, “How is it going to go from here?”
Interviewer: I never expected there would be yet another twist right there.
Hasegawa: Exactly. It doesn’t get CUREtto solved at all. (Laughs) That’s the interesting part.
Interviewer: To begin with, there are still many mysteries about what kind of girl Kurea is.
Hasegawa: While people were theorizing about Cure Eclair’s identity, some people noticed, but out of the four candidates, Kurea is the only one whose personal side hasn’t been revealed at all. The other girls are drawn in a way that lets you relatively understand what kind of people they are and what kind of environment they’re in, but for Kurea, almost nothing has come out other than the fact that she’s a pastry chef.
The reason for that is because there are things that can only be shown through depicting the story with Luluka. From here on, stories that let everyone get to know the person named Kurea Howa will unfold, so I have the feeling of wanting everyone to watch it soon.
Becoming a part of Precure history. Supportive thoughts for Cure Eclair and Kurea
Interviewer: By the way, Hasegawa-san, you previously appeared in Delicious Party Precure too, but what kind of presence does the Precure series have for you?
Hasegawa: Delicious Party Precure was when I properly came into contact with a Precure work for the first time. Of course I knew about Precure before then, and I saw things through the net like, “This is the kind of work this season,” but I didn’t have the opportunity to dive deep into it due to circumstances.
Entering the studio for Delicious Party Precure was when I first learned what Precure is. However, because it was during the COVID-19 pandemic, we never recorded together at all. I didn’t see the acting of the main cast members at the studio at all. Even so, we passed each other during split recordings or talked with people whose times overlapped in the waiting area, so I could feel the atmosphere of the site just a tiny bit.
It’s a work built over a whole year, and furthermore, the Precure series has a long history that continues beyond just that one year. I got to watch from the sidelines, even if just a little bit, the united atmosphere of the staff and main cast members trying to fulfill that year. At that time, I felt that if I could be deeply involved in such a work as a voice actress and actor, it would be wonderful and would build up my own strength. That’s why I was so happy to be involved in Precure as a main cast member this time.
Interviewer: How did you feel when you first saw Cure Eclair’s design?
Hasegawa: Oh, she’s too cute! Not just Cure Eclair, everyone in Star Detective Precure is truly cute. Everyone has different wonderful qualities, so they are all so cute you can’t choose just one, and you end up staring in fascination.
Since character designer Akane Yano has taken care of me in another work in the past, I had the feeling of, “As expected of Yano-san!” I was extremely happy to be able to participate in a Precure where Yano-san handles the character design. I had the joy of being able to work together again and lend my voice to a character designed by Yano-san.
From an early stage, a few Cure Eclair merchandise items were already out, weren’t they? Since I got them too, I’ve been displaying them at home all this time. I display them in a place where my eyes fall on them, and they are truly so cute that I look at them every time I pass by. They have a wonderfulness that makes you spellbound no matter how many times you see them. It’s troubling because it fits my tastes too much. (Laughs)
Interviewer: I suppose you could say it’s the ultimate reward for a voice actor.
Hasegawa: I’m truly happy to be able to voice such a cute girl. The costume is also very detailed. Maybe because Cure Eclair is a bit older than the other three, her design shows her legs, giving her a different kind of cuteness and maturity.
From here on, everyone will finally be able to watch Cure Eclair moving in animation. Until now, there were only standing illustrations, so I think many people were wondering, “How will this girl move?” Being able to watch that every time makes me happy, and I think it will make everyone happy too.
Interviewer: I felt that both Kurea and Cure Eclair suit Hasegawa-san perfectly.
Hasegawa: I’m happy. Eclair’s appearance is on the later side, but I always felt the excitement of the work, and I thought it was amazing that the buzz didn’t end and something kept being talked about up to this point. Cure Eclair herself doesn’t appear for even a single second until Episode 24, right? Even so, the word “Eclair” continued to be talked about the whole time. I was watching while thinking it’s something I’m very grateful for as a cast member. I feel like I’m playing this role in a truly blessed environment.
Interviewer: The true relationship between Hasegawa-san and Cure Eclair might be starting from here on.
Hasegawa: That’s right. It feels like it finally started.
Interviewer: What kind of presence do you think Cure Eclair and Kurea will become for you from now on?
Hasegawa: I wonder. But just as Kurea stays close to the hearts of the people around her, I want to stay close to Kurea as well. Kurea regained her memories and has a past spent together with Luluka. And yet, when she finally revives, Luluka is somehow on the Phantom Thieves side. For Kurea too, it’s a painful situation where she doesn’t know what to do right now.
Kurea is strong and more mature than the other girls, so she doesn’t show her weak parts much. That’s why I want to play her while imagining even her suffering that doesn’t come to the surface and the thoughts that aren’t depicted in the story, staying close to Kurea.
Interviewer: Of course looking forward to future developments, we are also looking forward to the 2nd ED.
Hasegawa: The ED is amazing, you know. I watched it a little ahead of time, and it’s extremely good. (Laughs) The atmosphere changes from the first half ED, and it’s gripping, or rather, moving.
I was also thinking, “I want to watch Cure Eclair in the ending soon. I want to mix in with everyone,” so I have the feeling of, “Finally!”
Interviewer: I want children to look forward to it too. Even though what you can talk about is limited at this point, is there anything you want to convey if only this?
Hasegawa: After all, the relationship between Kurea and Ruruka… As I mentioned earlier that I’m reading the script a bit ahead, an important episode arrives for the two of them. I read that at a cafe, and it was so gripping it almost made me tear up. I want to tell everyone, “Please be prepared.”
