With JAM Concert stages’ return for its 2nd consecutive year for Cosplay Carnival, fans gave it a huge welcome as we also celebrate the event’s 10th year anniversary. As this year’s concert guest artists went from 2 to 3 this year from Who-ya Extended, Halca, and Naomi Payton, and the previous article highlighting Who-ya Extended, this article would be highlighting Japanese musician Halca.
Halca is a Japanese musician affiliated with Music Ray’n and signed to SACARA Music. She was the opening act for the Chico with HoneyWorks 2017 tour. In 2018, she released her first single, “Kimi no Tonari”, the title track of which was used as the closing theme for the anime series “Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku”. Her music has been featured in “Ace Attorney”, “Rent-A-Girlfriend“, and “Kaguya-sama: Love Is War“.
Now, let us share what transpired in the exclusive interview by Cosplay.PH along with other media partners for Cosplay Carnival 2026 last March 29, 2026.
Halca and her overseas performances
This time, we had the chance to be the first to talk and ask Halca about her experiences as an artist. Our correspondent Brien had the chance to interact with Halca for this interview.
B: Fans have started to discover you through your performances abroad. Do you have a favorite memory from meeting fans overseas?
Halca: “There are a lot of times in events overseas where security would be able to accompany her and she would be able to explore around the convention itself which usually is not allowed in Japan even if we have security, we are not allowed to go out in the con itself. But in overseas, I have the opportunity and I am very happy to see how the con is. In addition, sometimes when I go out , the fans are able to see me which makes me happy when they say “Oh, its Halca!” and it lets me know that people actually know me and be able to see me in the convention.”
“During the autograph sessions, I was able to interact with fans and I was able to know how they discovered me like which anime and its always leaves an impresssion on me.”
After this question, its now the turn of the different members of the media to ask Halca.
Question: As an artist who has performed in Japan and overseas, what would you say has been your fondest memory while performing?
Halca: “For overseas, the most memorable was when I performed for an outdoor stage in Saudi Arabia. The reason why it was memorable because during that day it was raining outside and the concert was supposed to be cancelled due to rain and lightning. But because there were a lot of fans waiting for me, the director gave an OK to continue on with the performance.”
“As for my fondest memory in Japan concerts, it would be my first solo concert, before the live I was very nervous or a bit worried that it wouldnt go well but 30 seconds before the concert started where I started hearing the claps of the audience, I suddenly realized that all the people in the venue came to see me which made me more excited and boost my energy for the concert.”
In-depth talks with Halca on her career, her inspirations, and more.
Question: What was your initial reaction when you were informed that your debut single, Kimi no Tonari, was used as the ending theme for an anime movie?
Halca: “I thought it was a prank, initially (lets out a laugh). One of the reasons why I thought it was a prank because I took the audition back in 2013 and her debut in 2018 so there was a big time gap. Then the staff that worked during my audition days and debut time was actually the same, so I was wondering whats the difference between when I took the audition and when I debuted. It’s the same people so I had that doubt in me but I was very happy.”
Question: Who would you acknowledge as the person who got you into performing?
Halca: “The person would be YUI, thats Y-U-I, who sang the ED Theme song for “Fullmetal Alchemist”, which is the song “Again”.”
Question: Which of your songs best describe you as an artist today and why?
Halca: “The two aren’t typically anime tied up songs, the first one is called “Hot Potato” which is my latest release, and the other one is “Hontou Shouganai”. The reason why both of these songs are memorable is because I was the one who wrote the lyrics, and both of these songs I was able to talk about my uncool side and breaks them in a very comp manner. But despite all those uncool sides, I still think thats make me, me, and thats why I think these songs are essential to me.”
“The other one is the Anisong which was used as the Ending theme for the anime “Mono”, Weekend roll which I also wrote the lyrics for. The anime Mono portrays or uses a lot of cameras in the sense that they use a lot of pictures and videos to keep memories in shape in tangible tape, and even before I met Mono, I already have this vague thinking that I like to preserve memories in forms of pictures and videos. Because of Mono, I think Mono was able to portray this thought of mine very well which made the it very memorable to me.”
“Just to give an idea how much I love taking pictures and videos I have around 300 thousand pictures in my phone.” (Laughs as the official interpreter translates the part of how many pictures she has)
Question: Who or what is your biggest inspiration?
Halca: “One of my personalities is that I have a cheerful personality, which you can feel that from my singing voice and the way I speak. I hope that even people who dont know me can feel it from me, even if I’m just standing, that I can radiate the energy or the cheerful aura. So in able to do that, I study fashion, and as you see my hair its very bright, and its why I hope for it.”
Question: What do you think makes an anime opening or ending memorable to viewers?
Halca: “The music team also does their best to create very good songs for the
anime. But, when the animation matches the sound of the music, like for example, there’s a special effects and you can see someone jumping on the screen in the animation, I think that it gives a very strong impression on the people watching it. And it makes them want to watch it more, because, you know how when the beat and the visuals match, it leaves a good feeling to you, right? So it makes you want to watch it more, and also leaves a very cool impression of the anime song and the anime itself.”
Question: As a veteran AniSong singer, what do you usually do to prepare before recording an AniSong?
Halca: “I try to be as normal as possible. Like doesn’t do anything special. I put my feelings when I do the recordings, but sometimes doing something different from the usual makes me a bit scared, or like “Oh no, this is not what I wanted,” like that kind of thing. That’s why I usually just keep my normal self and just be my normal self when I do recordings.”
“My favorite food is actually spinach bread, and near the studio where they do the
recordings, there’s a place that sells spinach bread, so I usually buy that before she goes to the recordings, and also drinks this herb tea called Fruit Cone.”
Question: What’s one dream collaboration you’d love to make happen?
Halca: “There’s a lot of actors – actually, a lot of artists that I want to collab with. First, I would like to collab with ASCA, who also belongs to the same label SACRA Music. We’ve actually eaten together and had a live collaboration before, but I want to be able to do something more physical, like have a song together. I’m also a fan of ASCA before, that’s why I want to have this collaboration.”
“The second artist is Makino Yui, which started when I listened to the song “Aria”. It was the first time I actually physically cried when I listened to the song. There was also a time that I was listening to Makino Yui so much that I couldn’t sleep without listening to her voice.”
“The third artist that I want to collab with is Meg Rock. She’s known for songs like
specifically from “Renai Circulation”, which she wrote the lyrics for. She’s from the song “Catch You Catch Me” which is used for “Cardcaptor Sakura” (First Season Opening Theme). I love the songs Meg Rock specifically sings, writes lyrics, and her songs. I actually love Meg Rock very much, and I want to sing a song that Meg Rock has created someday.” (She lets out a giggle as she was explaining this part so fast)
“For the movie of “Love is War” anime, I was in charge in singing one of the songs within the anime. But the main theme song of the movie, Meg Rock was the one who actually composed the song. Probably every connection, Meg Rock started following me, probably because I was the artist in charge of the insert song, and sometimes Meg Rock would like some of my tweets, which makes me very happy because I think that Meg Rock is like a god.” (She also let out a giggle after talking about Meg Rock more, and there were more giggles as the interpreter translated her answer to the question)
Question: What’s the most memorable fan interaction you’ve had so far?
Halca: “As for my memorable interactions with fans, it’s also a bit similar to my answers earlier, where I had the concert in Saudi Arabia and my first concert in Japan. But another one is when I had my first debut anniversary, I had an event where there was a talk, there was a singing corner. I was a bit pressured by the schedule because there was a lot happening. But, suddenly I heard the crackers pop, and turns out it was actually a surprise prepared by the staff and the people who came to the event who wanted to celebrate my first anniversary. Seeing those fans being so happy, to be able to celebrate my first anniversary made me very happy. Also seeing the fans happy, we’re very happy.”
Question: Your performances are very bright and energetic. What’s your “secret” to keeping that level of energy throughout a live set?
Halca: “A lot of artists might have already used this answer, but in the end, this is what really gives me energy, which is the smiles of the audience.”
Question: Before going on stage, do you have any routines or mindset practices that help you deliver that signature halca performance?
Halca: (Before answering, she said that she forgot what does she usually does before and had to think of it first) “Me as a person, I usually smile a lot. But during my performance, I try to match my feelings with the theme of the song. So if it’s a happy song, I smile. If it’s a sad song, I use a bit of a sad expression. Relating to one of my answers earlier, when I see the audience smile, I also can’t help but smile. So sometimes, even during sad songs, I tend to smile, seeing the smiles of the audience. I also try to look at everyone in the audience.”
Question: Which song was your biggest inspiration that made you pursue making music?
Halca: “This would overlap with one of my answers earlier, but it would be YUI’s “Again” from the Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (first Opening Theme) anime. This is one of the songs that I practiced a lot in karaoke because I love singing it. This is the first song that I thought I wanted to sing very well that’s why I practiced it a lot.”
Question: How do you deal with learning a song you love that isn’t as recognised by as many people?
Halca: “So for this one, I actually haven’t really thought about it that much. During my student days, I think that I grew up in a good environment because, for example, if you go to karaoke, some of my friends only sing J-pop, some of my friends only sing K-pop, some only sing heavy metal, and me, specifically, only sing AniSong. But when you go to karaoke, there’s this weird pressure that you feel like you have to sing a song that everybody knows, but I really didn’t feel this because my friends like to share what they love specifically, so they just sing what they want. Through that, they’re able to appreciate the songs that even they don’t know. So like, they say, if the friend only likes K-pop, they say, “Oh, that’s a good Anisong.” Like that kind of feeling.”
“So when the song I love, when it’s not recognized, I compare it to a store or like a
restaurant. For example, let’s say that even though I love the store, but if no one visits the store, the store would end up closing because there’s no sales. So that’s the kind of feeling I have when it comes to the songs as well. If the songs are not recognized, the creators are not compensated properly, which makes them not able to create new songs.”
“But I also like the feeling of me only knowing the song, I feel like I treat it like my treasure because I’m the only one who knows it. But I also feel a bit of jealousy when other people start knowing the charm of these songs specifically, so it’s a bit complicated. But that’s how I feel about it.”
Halca: If you could master a musical instrument you have no knowledge in, what instrument would it be?
Halca: “I would choose this instrument called the “handpan”. It actually looks like a UFO, and you can just hit it with your hands. I discovered this instrument while I was walking around in Shibuya, Tokyo, where I saw a street performer using this handpan. I was very drawn by this sound that I stood around for 30 minutes. And so, I hope that you would search for what kind of sound this instrument produces.”
Halca’s experience in the Philippines
Question: What do you think about the Philippines and Filipino fans when you found out you are going to be part of the JAM Concert?
Halca: “I was very happy because I felt like, “Oh, I finally get to come to the Philippines!” When I was a student, I had a lot of friends that have a lot of relations to the Philippines, like half-Filipino friends. So I am always very curious to know more about the Philippines, like where my friends grew up or what kind of food my half-Filipino friends used to eat in the Philippines.”
“Even during Instagram lives or YouTube lives, there would be a lot of people saying that they’re “Watching from the Philippines”, “I love you!”, so I always wanted to come to see my fans here.”
Question: Any messages to those aspiring Filipino AniSong singers and motivational messages?
Halca: “This is quite a hard question, but I think that it’s important for these aspiring singers to find something unique within themselves, even if it’s just one thing unique to themselves, and believe in themselves. With that, they can probably go anywhere and be anyone that they want, and that’s what I’m cheering them on.”
Question: Do you have a message for your fans who continue to support you around the world?
Halca: “Thanks to AniSong, because of this career, where I was an AniSong singer, I was able to go to a lot of countries, which I wanted to visit ever since I was young.”
“So even when I came to the Philippines, there are already a lot of dramatic things
happening. I already had a lot of memories so far and feel like I was able to fulfill my life… my dreams in life; slowly meet a lot of people and make a lot of memories as well. Just like in the lyrics of Weekend Roll, I hope to be able to make these memories one by one and be able to preserve them.”
“I definitely hope to come back to the Philippines, so I hope for your continued
support.” (she said this enthusiastically)
Question: Was there anything about the Filipino fans or the culture that surprised you the most?
Halca: “My interaction with the fans would be happening later this evening during the autograph distribution. But one thing I’m really surprised about the Philippines is that they have really good food.(She was really surprised about this) Usually, before my concerts, I make it a point to eat the local food so that I’ll be able to talk about it during my MCs in my segments. But these past few days, I actually had Sinigang and Sotanghon, which I really, really enjoy. (In this part, she really iterated that she loved Sinigang) During Friday and Saturday, I had Sinigang and Sotanghon from two different restaurants. I also want to eat it again today.”
“I’ll probably miss Filipino food when I go back to Japan. I really want to come back, but also when, for example, I have an opportunity to do a solo concert in the Philippines. I would also like to promote it to my fans in Japan and ask them to come to the Philippines so that they can also try these Filipino foods. That’s how much the Filipino food actually surprised me.”
Halca also gave a short message to the media partners of Cosplay.PH who attended the exclusive interview.
“I’m very happy that a lot of people came to interview me today. The questions are very interesting, and I could feel that you’ve really thought of the questions by thinking of me. It’s very fun, thank you very much!”
We at SetsuAni would like to thank Cosplay.PH once again for letting this exclusive interview take place during Cosplay Carnival 2026 last March 29, 2026, and letting us be one of their trusted media partners for this year’s series of events.
See: Cosplay Carnival 2026: A Decade of Celebration at the Emerald Revelry!
See: Focusing not just on “Who” is Who-ya Extended
See: Into the Galaxy! Questions Relayed in getting to know Naomi Payton
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