Naomi Payton visited the Philippines for her guest appearance at the Japanese Anime Music concert at Cosplay Carnival 2026, and we had the honor of interviewing her right before the show. The Japanese voice actress and singer is known for voicing Sumire Heanna in Love Live! Superstar!! She debuted as a musical artist in 2023 and released her fourth single, “Negai Prologue,” in 2025.
anime corner and a few other media outlets were graced with a sneak peek into her music and voice acting, her inspirations, the difference between solo and group performances, and her experience with her Filipino fans.
Parts of this interview have been lightly edited for clarity.
On Perseverance and Inspirations to Stay Creative
First off, Naomi shared that the best part of being a singer and a voice actress is being able to express herself through her voice and her songs. Whether she voices a male or female character, she thinks that it is a good opportunity. When asked about describing her personality and her drive, she said:
“ [If I were to describe myself in one word,] it would be ganko (stubborn). I’m the kind of person who, once I decide on something, I never want to give up until I achieve it. Even when I experience hiccups, when I feel down times, or when I want to quit, I tell myself I can’t say that. I have to finish it through and find a way to reach the end. So if I had to describe myself in one word, I think it would be stubborn.”
Naomi also shared that the creative process is actually a very difficult thing to do. When asked about how she approached creating music, she said:
“Since debuting in 2023, I have released 3 singles and experienced four live performances. I was really able to make many memories with my fans, but I want to continue to be active energetically from now on. This summer, I will also be releasing my first album.
Regarding creative activities, I thought that music is a very difficult thing to make. There are various rules, things you have to be careful about, and many things you have to think about. I try to explore it. And even with all the struggles, when I think about the fans who are waiting for me and my music, I feel the will to complete my songs.”
Naomi noted that one of her biggest inspirations in pursuing her career today is AKB48 and Momoiro Clover. She shared that way back in elementary school, she thought that idols were wonderful, and that she wanted to become one someday. Another source of her inspiration is the Precure anime.
Experiencing Nerves as a Solo Performing Artist
We then asked Naomi about the difference between her group and solo performances.
“I feel tense whenever I perform solo. I look around the stage, and there’s no one there, just me. It’s different from performing with a group, where I feel a sense of security. But when I see the audience waiting and cheering for me, I feel a different kind of reassurance that gives me the will to power through my live performance until the end.”
When asked if she had a regimen before her performances, she said, “I write or draw a heart mark on my hand and then swallow it. It’s like a good luck charm I use to calm my heart so that I feel less nervous.”
She also shared that when she talks on stage to her fans, the language barrier can be tricky, so she does her best to interact and communicate with a smile, body language, and hand movements. She also studies English, but in countries where English is not the main language, she tries to learn the local language so she can connect with her fans.
Naomi added that she enjoys meeting fans because she always loved reading their messages on social media, so hearing their voices in person is the best thing for her.
Visiting the Philippines and Message to Fans
Naomi shared that she was very happy to know that she had a lot of Filipino fans overseas. When asked about her reaction, she said, “I’m really happy, and I thought, I hope I can come and meet everyone someday.” She added that when she found out that she was performing soon in the JAM Concert, Naomi was very thankful and honored for the lovely chance to finally visit the Philippines.
Naomi said that she knew that Cosplay Carnival was going to be full of cosplayers, so she was especially excited for this part of the convention. Everyone was arriving in their best get-ups, so she knew that she also wanted to do her best in the JAM concert. She cheerfully added that she was excited to see if there would be cosplayers in the audience later.
For her message to her Filipino fans, Naomi said, “Thank you for waiting for me.” She shared that this was her first visit to the Philippines since her debut and that she is very thankful and happy to be in the country.
Lastly, when asked what her message is to her fans all over the world, she said:
“My short answer is, I love you, I love everyone, all around the world, forever. I’m thankful that even though there’s a language barrier, everyone tries to know and study Japanese to support me. Even with the language barrier, you still found me and continue to support me. When I see that, I feel very warm, and I want to convey that I’m very thankful for that.”
We’d like to thank Naomi for coming to Manila, Philippines, for Cosplay Carnival 2026, and for taking the time to do this interview with us! Follow her on X (Twitter) and Instagram.
Thank you as well to Cosplay.ph for having us at Cosplay Carnival 2026. Visit the Cosplay Mania Facebook page and X (Twitter) for more updates on their future anime and cosplay events.
Interview Assistance: Ken Pueyo, William Mescallado
Photos via Cosplay.ph
Disclaimer: anime corner is a media partner for Cosplay Carnival 2026
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