New data reveals that Idol Akari Kitou, the voice of Nezuko in the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba anime, lost followers after her romantic relationship came to light.
According to Anime Senpai, Kitou started dating fellow voice actor Yuya Hozumi in 2021. Having an intimate relationship is forbidden in Idol Culture as it's negatively perceived by fans, and the consequences can be seen in the recent sales numbers of Kitou's songs, which have significantly underperformed. For example, her song "Kimi no Tonari de," which appeared in the Adachi and Shimamura anime, sold roughly 6200 copies during its first week. However, her newest release, "Dear Doze Days" -- which features as the ending theme of the new series, Chillin' in My 30s after Getting Fired from the Demon King's Army -- has only sold 2140 during its first week.
Demon Slayer's Akari Kitou's Idol Career Is Over
Several online commentators have shared their thoughts about Kitou's relationship and its impact on the Idol. One stated, "I think there is nothing left but to admit that her career as an idol is over," while another posted, "It is the natural result. As expected, you cannot underestimate the economic power of otakus."
While Kitou's Idol career may be over, her voice acting career appears stable. During the winter 2023 anime season, she played not only Radey from Chillin' in My 30s after Getting Fired from the Demon King's Army but also Iwanaga Kotoko in the second season of In/Spectre and Konoe Kanata in Nijiyon Animation. She will also reprise her iconic role as Nezuko in the upcoming third season of Demon Slayer, which will debut in April.
What is Demon Slayer?
The dark fantasy manga by Koyoharu Gotouge first appeared in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump, with its final chapter published in May 2020. The story follows Tanjiro Kamado, a thoughtful and kind-hearted boy who lives peacefully in the mountains with his family. However, his entire life changes after his parents are slaughtered by demons and his sister, Nezuko, is transformed into one. Gotouge's story has greatly resonated with readers; the series has sold 150 million copies globally, making it one of the best-selling manga of all time.
The anime adaptation by Ufotable premiered in April 2019. Like the manga, the show has been a major success. Notably, it's currently in the running for multiple prominent categories at this year's Crunchyroll Anime Awards, including Anime of the Year and Best Animation.
The Demon Slayer anime is available on Netflix, Hulu and Crunchyroll.
Source: Anime Senpai