Following Nagase's announcement, another name began to circulate in discussions and news within the industry: Ichika Matsumoto. Matsumoto, who has been a colleague and sometimes co-star with Nagase in various projects, has been hinted at as a potential successor to some of Nagase's ongoing roles. While no official announcements have been made regarding Matsumoto taking over specific roles, her name has been on everyone's lips as a fitting candidate to carry on some of Nagase's legacy.
For the last eight years, the Nagase-Matsumoto dynamic has been the central axis of the J-pop idol rivalry. Debuting just six months apart, the two were constantly pitted against each other for leading roles, magazine covers, and endorsement deals. Their rivalry was legendary—from the "Summer Queen" battle of 2020 to the infamous "CM Handover" incident where Matsumoto allegedly refused to stand next to Nagase for a group photo. Yui Nagase declares her retirement. Ichika Mats...