The official website for the BanG Dream! announced some troubling news recently. Satomi Akesaka will graduate from the franchise’s Roselia band at the Roselia Fan Meeting 2018 event at the Culttz Kawasaki venue on September 17.
Akesaka’s agency Amuleto revealed she will be leaving due to sudden hearing loss which doctors diagnosed her with. The condition would make it difficult for her to continue performing and rehearsing with the band. Akesaka will still be able to continue her voice acting career outside of the BanG Dream! franchise.
Satomi Akesaka voiced Rinko Shirokane in the franchise, the timid keyboardist of Roselia. The company will recast Rinko Shirokane, including for the BanG Dream! Girls Band Party mobile game. The character’s new voice will be announced as soon as the company makes a decision.
Amuleto reported that Ms. Akesaka experienced sudden hearing loss twice in March. She was able to recover from those incidents with early treatments, but doctors stated it would be difficult for her to continue performing without danger of recurrence.
With this news, two of the five original members of Roselia will now be replaced with new performers. Yurika Endo, the original voice behind Lisa Imai, retired from the entertainment industry in May due to worsening health. Yuki Nakashima was recast as Lisa Imai.
SOURCES: BanG Dream! Official Website, Amuleto Official Website, Ms. Akesaka Image via Comic Natalie, ANN
