Episode 25 of TV anime 「名探偵プリキュア！」(Meitantei Precure!), which aired on July 19, finally answered the question fans had been debating for weeks: the new Precure warrior Cure Éclair is none other than Hōwa Kurea (帆羽くれあ).

About Meitantei Precure!

Meitantei Precure! is the 23rd entry in the long-running Precure franchise, set to begin broadcasting on February 1, 2026. The story follows Akechi Anna, a 14-year-old second-year middle school student from Makoto Mirai Town, who is mysteriously transported back in time to 1999. There she meets Kobayashi Mikuru, a girl her own age who dreams of becoming a great detective. Together they transform into the “Detective Precure” to help people whose precious belongings have been stolen, standing against the phantom thief gang known as Phantom (怪盗団ファントム).

The “Who Is Cure Éclair?” Campaign

Beginning with Episode 21 on June 21, the show ran a four-week campaign titled 「キュアエクレールの正体は誰!?」 (“Who Is Cure Éclair?!”), presenting four candidate characters:

• Hōwa Kurea (帆羽くれあ)
• Kurusu Eriza (来栖エリザ)
• Kaneda Rei (金田れい)
• Ieiri Shiruku (家入しるく)

The accompanying fan vote drew more than 250,000 entries, generating enormous buzz across the fandom.

The Team Is Now Four — But Mysteries Remain

Episode 25 not only confirmed Cure Éclair’s identity but also introduced her companion fairy Shushutan (シュシュタン) for the first time, bringing the Precure team to a full four members. However, several major questions remain unanswered — including why Cure Arcana Shadow (キュアアルカナ・シャドウ) is aligned with Phantom, and what her true intentions are in confronting Cure Éclair. The story is set to accelerate further from here.

Celebration Events

To mark the reveal, a special 「号外風サマーガイド」 (extra-edition-style Summer Guide) will be distributed around the Yokohama Minato Mirai area on July 25. Campaigns including 「キュアエクレールはだれかな？シールゲットキャンペーン」 and 「プリキュアマコトジュエル サマーキャンペーン」 will also launch simultaneously. Full details are available on the official website.

Comment from Hasegawa Ikumi (Voice of Cure Éclair / Hōwa Kurea)

On Learning She Had Been Cast

Hasegawa said that even though she had auditioned, she never imagined she would actually be voicing a Precure character — so the news came as a genuine shock. Almost immediately after finding out, she was told to keep it secret from everyone, including her fellow cast members, leaving her head spinning with confusion. She had to suppress the urge to share the news with friends and supporters, and now that the announcement is finally out, she says she is probably excitedly telling everyone she knows.

What She Loves About the Precure Series

For Hasegawa, the appeal of Precure lies in the coexistence of cuteness and coolness. Being both a heroine and a hero at the same time is precisely what makes the characters so aspirational and captivating, she says.

Her Impression of Cure Éclair / Hōwa Kurea

Hasegawa describes Kurea as the most “big-sister” figure among the four Precure, someone who is perceptive and intelligent, and above all, a person who genuinely empathizes with others. She says she focuses on conveying Kurea’s warm and gentle presence in her performance, and encourages fans to pay attention to the contrast that appears when Kurea transforms into Cure Éclair.

On the Campaign and the Difficulty of Keeping Secrets

“Once the campaign started, I was counting down the days to this announcement. All the other candidate characters were so appealing that I had no idea what kind of reaction was waiting for me — as I write this comment, I’m a bundle of nerves. But that’s exactly why I’ve been pouring more love into Cure Éclair than anyone else, so that everyone can love her too. At the recording studio I had to keep my identity hidden the whole time — making sure my co-stars didn’t figure it out was tough, but it was also a lot of fun! (laughs)”

Looking Ahead

Hasegawa closed by saying that Hōwa Kurea is a girl she herself admires, and that admiration gives her confidence she can bring the character to life compellingly. She has been quietly building up her energy all this time, and is ready to give everything she has to make Meitantei Precure! shine even brighter with Cure Éclair now in the mix.