Interview: Japanese Artists Manaka Inaba & Leon Niihama On Performing For Japan Expo & Trying M'sian Dishes

Hype Malaysia

7 days ago

The 6th edition of Japan Expo Malaysia was recently held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. The three-day event, which ran from 18th to 20th July and was officiated by His Excellency Shikata Noriyuki, Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia, brought together over 50 exhibitors along with a line-up of Japanese artists and performances under one roof.
Speaking of artists, we had the opportunity to interview some of them on the launch day. In our first session, we sat down with singers Manaka Inaba and Leon Niihama, who spoke about their first experience in Malaysia and their excitement at performing for the festival.
1. Is this your first time in Malaysia? What has the experience been like so far?
Manaka Inaba: It's my first time here, and although it was a long flight, I was very happy to meet all my fans and be part of this year's Japan Expo. I've already tried a few things, but I'm looking forward to exploring more once I have the time.
Leon Niihama: This is my first time since my debut, but I've been to Malaysia once for an exchange student program during my high school years. A lot has changed. I was very surprised about the aerotrain, which was not there before when I last came here.
2. Have you received food or tourist attraction recommendations from Malaysian fans?
Manaka Inaba: Satay! My team and I had satay when we arrived, and it was so good! The ones we had were sweeter than I thought, but I loved them. I've also tried a lot of the local fruits here, but I've yet to try durian, so we'll see how that goes.
Leon Niihama: The last time I was here, I had Nasi Lemak, but I couldn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to, so I didn't remember the taste much. This time, I get to savour the dish as much as I like! I had it for breakfast, and I plan to have 5 more later.
3. For Inaba, how does it feel to be part of Japan Expo Malaysia this year?
I was absolutely thrilled when I found out I'd be part of the event. It's my first performance overseas, and I was a little worried that not many fans would turn up—but I'm so happy that so many came to see me earlier.
4. You first debut as a member of Hello! Project before going solo. What was the transition like?
Basically, everything is different. In a group, you have to think about your members, so it's all about finding balance. As a solo artist, it's just me, and I had to learn the importance of expressing my opinions as myself and for myself. There's also a different kind of pressure in terms of performances cause I don't have my members to rely on, but I do my best.
5. Leon, could you tell us more about your musical style and what inspired you to pursue this direction?
Yes, I am an Enka singer, which is basically equivalent to the traditional or soulful genre of music. My father was a professional enka singer, so I grew up with it. He has inspired me a lot musically. I'm also very grateful to have received opportunities such as creating songs for 'Detective Conan', which allows me to introduce this style of music to a younger audience. I could've chosen a pop route, yes, but I wanted to share this part of Japanese culture with the rest of the world.
6. Speaking of 'Detective Conan', could you share more about the new ending theme for the latest film?
Collaborating with 'Detective Conan' has been a fantastic opportunity. The song is called 'Fun Fun Fun', and we also did a dance for the music video called the Waki Waki Dance. You can see both children and adults dancing together, and the feedback has been really positive. The dance challenge has also taken off on TikTok, with lots of people joining in.
7. What do you hope Malaysian fans take away from your performance here at Japan Expo Malaysia 2025?
Manaka Inaba: I want people to feel the beauty of Japan with not just my own music, but also Hello! Project's songs as well. I hope the audience will feel inspired by the message I'm trying to convey.
Leon Niihama: I believe there are still many people who aren't familiar with enka music, so I want to keep sharing the beauty of this genre to help more people learn to appreciate it.