[Exclusive Interview] Manaka Inaba 稲場愛香 @ Japan Expo Malaysia 2025

Kuala Lumpur, 2025 – Fans of J-pop were treated to a rare gem at this year’s Japan Expo Malaysia 2025 (JEMY 2025), as rising Japanese soloist Manaka Inaba made her long-awaited Malaysian debut. Held at the bustling Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) from 18–20 July, this marked not only her first performance in Malaysia—but her first-ever international showcase.

In this exclusive interview with WLJack.com, the former Hello! Project idol shares her impressions of Malaysia, her growth as a soloist, and what this memorable experience meant to her.

First Time in Malaysia: “Everyone’s so warm!”

Q: Is this your first time in Malaysia? How has the experience been so far?
Manaka Inaba:
“It’s my first time here, and although the flight was long, I was very happy to meet all my Malaysian 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.”

From the moment she arrived, Manaka was embraced by excited fans—many of whom had been supporting her since her Country Girls and Juice=Juice days. The artist was clearly touched by the warm welcome and local hospitality.

 Food Adventures: Satay & the Curious Case of Durian

Q: Have you received food or tourist attraction recommendations from Malaysian fans?
“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.”

Manaka’s mission in Malaysia? Eat like the locals. She happily indulged in pineapple and watermelon, and teased fans that she might be brave enough for durian soon!

First Overseas Stage: “I was nervous, but amazed!”

Q: How do you feel about performing at Japan Expo Malaysia this year? Is this your first overseas appearance?
“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. Some even flew in from Japan!”

Her set included hits from her solo releases such as “Pink Temperature” and “Atteoteki LOVE”, as well as nostalgic favorites from her Hello! Project days. Fans—both Malaysian and international—cheered her on with coordinated chants and heartfelt messages.

From Group to Solo: A Journey of Growth

Q: You first debuted 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 because I don’t have my members to rely on, but I do my best.”

Despite the challenge, Manaka shared that the solo path has allowed her to discover her own voice—and Malaysia was a special place to reflect on that journey.

Message to Malaysian Fans: “I want to bring Japan to you.”

Q: What do you hope Malaysian fans take away from your performance here at Japan Expo Malaysia 2025?
“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.”

Throughout her stay, Manaka Inaba showcased more than just vocal prowess—she brought a genuine openness to Malaysian culture, eager to learn, connect, and grow. 

[专访] 独家专访：稲場愛香首次亮相 Japan Expo Malaysia 2025！

吉隆坡，2025年 —— 对J-pop粉丝来说，今年的 Japan Expo Malaysia 2025（JEMY 2025）无疑是一次特别的盛会。日本新生代实力女歌手稲場愛香（Manaka Inaba）在本次活动中带来了她的马来西亚初登场，同时也是她的首次海外演出

。

活动于7月18日至20日在热闹的吉隆坡会议中心（KLCC）举行，而这位前Hello! Project成员在接受WLJack.com独家专访时，也与我们分享了她对马来西亚的第一印象、作为个人歌手的成长，以及此次演出的意义。

首次来马印象：“大家都好热情！”

问：这是您第一次来马来西亚吗？目前为止的体验如何？
稲場愛香：
“这是我第一次来这里，虽然飞行时间有点长，但我很高兴能够见到支持我的马来西亚粉丝，也很荣幸能参与今年的Japan Expo。我已经尝试了一些当地的东西，但还想在接下来有时间的时候多多探索。”

从她抵达的那一刻起，许多粉丝就热情地欢迎她——不少人更是从她Country Girls及Juice=Juice时期就开始支持她。稲場显然被这份热情与本地人的友善所感动。

美食初体验：沙爹与榴梿的考验？

问：有没有收到马来西亚粉丝推荐的美食或旅游景点？
“沙爹！我和团队一到达马来西亚就吃了沙爹，真的很好吃！味道比我想象的甜，但我很喜欢。我也尝试了一些当地水果，不过还没有试过榴梿，也许之后会挑战看看吧。”

为了更贴近本地文化，稲場愛香主动品尝了本地的凤梨和西瓜，并笑称或许会在这几天内“鼓起勇气挑战榴梿”！

首次海外演出：“紧张又感动！”

问：您在今年Japan Expo Malaysia的演出感觉如何？这是您第一次海外演出吗？
“当我得知自己可以参与这个活动时，我真的超级激动。这是我第一次在海外演出，原本还担心会不会没有太多粉丝来观赏，但看到那么多人来支持我，我真的很开心。有些人甚至是从日本飞过来的！”

她的演出包括个人作品如《Pink Temperature》、《圧倒的LOVE》，也不乏一些Hello! Project时期的经典曲目。现场粉丝无论来自本地还是海外，都用整齐的应援和深情的应援语给予她最大的鼓励。

从团体到个人：成长的旅程

问：您从Hello! Project成员转型为个人歌手，这个过程如何？
“一切都很不一样。在团体里，必须时时顾及成员之间的配合，要取得平衡。而作为Solo歌手，就只有我一个人，我必须学习如何表达自己的意见，为自己发声。演出时也会有不同的压力，因为没有团员在身边支援，但我一直努力做到最好。”

虽然独立发展的过程不容易，稲場表示她在这个过程中找到了真正属于自己的声音，而这趟马来西亚之旅也是她自我成长的重要节点。

给马来西亚粉丝的话：“我想把日本带给你们。”

问：您希望马来西亚的粉丝在这次Japan Expo Malaysia的演出中获得什么？
“我希望大家能通过我的歌曲、还有Hello! Project的作品，感受到日本的美。我希望我传达的讯息能够启发大家。”

在整个马来西亚之旅中，稲場愛香不仅展示了她的歌唱实力，也展现出她对本地文化的开放态度。她渴望学习、交流并从中成长，让人留下深刻印象。

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Published by WLJack.