[Exclusive Interview] Leon Niihama (新浜レオン) at Japan Expo Malaysia 2025

[Exclusive Interview] Leon Niihama (新浜レオン) at Japan Expo Malaysia 2025

Leon Niihama Brings the Soul of Enka to Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, 2025 – Japan Expo Malaysia 2025 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) welcomed a special guest this year: Leon Niihama (新浜レオン), the rising star of Japanese enka and kayōkyoku music. 

A Return to Malaysia

In an exclusive interview with WLJack.com during the expo, Niihama revealed that Malaysia holds a special place in his memories:

“This is my first time since my debut, but I’ve actually visited Malaysia before as an exchange student in my high school years. A lot has changed—especially the aerotrain, which wasn’t here last time!”

His excitement was evident, and fans could feel the warmth of his reconnection with Malaysia—not just through his music but through his fond recollections of the country.

Falling in Love with Local Flavours

Of course, no trip to Malaysia is complete without indulging in the nation’s iconic food. For Niihama, Nasi Lemak stood out as a clear favourite:

“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 five more later.”

The light-hearted confession reflected his genuine appreciation of Malaysia’s culinary culture, adding a personal touch to his journey here.

Enka as a Mission

While many young artists might lean toward pop, Niihama has firmly embraced enka, inspired by his father who was also a professional enka singer.

“Yes, I am an enka singer, which is basically 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 grateful for opportunities like 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.”

For Niihama, enka is more than a genre—it’s a cultural legacy he hopes to globalize, bridging both generations and borders.

Detective Conan Collaboration & TikTok Fame

Niihama’s latest major project has gained international attention: his song “Fun Fun Fun”, the 73rd ending theme of the legendary anime Detective Conan. Alongside the track came the now-famous “Waki Waki Dance”, a cheerful choreography that has gone viral across TikTok.

“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.”

This unique blend of tradition and modernity embodies Niihama’s artistic vision—bringing enka into spaces where new audiences can discover its charm.

A Message for Malaysian Fans

When asked about his hopes for fans in Malaysia, Niihama spoke sincerely:

“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.”

His heartfelt performance at Japan Expo Malaysia 2025 was more than entertainment—it was a cultural exchange, a gift of heritage and emotion.

Leon Niihama’s visit to Malaysia was more than a performance—it was a reunion with old memories, a celebration of cultural flavours, and a heartfelt sharing of enka with new listeners. With his family legacy, passion for tradition, and innovative collaborations, Niihama continues to stand as a bridge between Japan’s musical soul and the global stage.

【独家专访】新浜レオン在 2025 日本博览会马来西亚站

将演歌的灵魂带到马来西亚

2025年7月，新浜レオン（Niihama Leon） 来到吉隆坡会展中心，参与 Japan Expo Malaysia 2025，为马来西亚的观众带来一场充满感动的现场演出。自2019年5月1日令和元年出道以来，这位年轻的演歌与歌谣曲歌手凭借充满感情的嗓音与对传统音乐的热爱，迅速赢得了大众的喜爱。

久别重逢的马来西亚

在接受 WLJack.com 独家专访时，新浜透露自己与马来西亚有着特别的缘分：

“这是我出道以来第一次来马来西亚，但其实我在高中时曾经作为交换学生到过这里。变化很大啊，尤其是现在有了 Aerotrain，那时可是没有的呢！”

他满怀喜悦的表情，让人感受到他对马来西亚观众的真挚情感。

爱上大马美食

除了舞台表演，新浜也毫不掩饰对马来西亚美食的喜爱，其中 椰浆饭（Nasi Lemak） 更是令他难以忘怀：

“上次来马来西亚时我也吃过椰浆饭，但那时候没能好好享受，所以印象不深。这一次我终于可以尽情品尝啦！早餐已经吃过一次了，我打算再吃五份呢！”

这番轻松的分享，展现了他对本地饮食文化的亲切喜爱。

坚持演歌的初心

新浜之所以选择演歌，而非流行路线，背后有着深厚的家庭影响：

“是的，我是一名演歌歌手，这是一种传统而充满灵魂的音乐风格。我的父亲是一名专业的演歌歌手，从小我就耳濡目染，受到了很多启发。我也很感激能有机会为《名侦探柯南》创作歌曲，把这种音乐介绍给年轻一代。虽然我也可以选择流行路线，但我更希望把日本的传统文化分享给世界各地。”

对他而言，演歌不仅是个人梦想，更是一份文化使命。

名侦探柯南合作 & TikTok 热潮

他最新的代表作就是为 《名侦探柯南》演唱第73首片尾曲《Fun Fun Fun》。歌曲伴随的 “Waki Waki Dance” 更是在 TikTok 掀起热潮，受到大小朋友的喜爱：

“能和《名侦探柯南》合作真的很棒。歌曲叫 Fun Fun Fun，我们还特别为 MV 编了 Waki Waki Dance。大人和小孩都能一起跳，反响非常好。尤其是在 TikTok 上的舞蹈挑战，更是吸引了很多人参与。”

这种将传统与潮流结合的方式，正好体现了他希望让演歌走向世界的努力。

给大马粉丝的寄语

谈到对马来西亚粉丝的期望，新浜真挚地说道：

“我相信还有很多人对演歌不熟悉，我希望能够继续分享这门音乐的美，让更多人慢慢去欣赏它。”

新浜レオン在 Japan Expo Malaysia 2025 的亮相，不仅让演歌粉丝大饱耳福，也让更多人初次接触并喜爱上这种音乐。凭借家族传承、个人热情与创新合作，他正成为演歌走向国际的重要桥梁。

Keywords: #WLJACKDOTCOM : #WLJACKDOTCOM #LeonNiihama #新浜レオン #JapanExpoMalaysia2025 #JEM2025 #DetectiveConan #Enka #Kayōkyoku #KLCC #MalaysiaEvents

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Published by WLJack.

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