Remember that Cosplay Carnival 2026‘s JAM Concert had three guests? Then this article will be featuring none other than Naomi Payton.
Naomi Payton is a Japanese singer and voice actress under Sony Music Artists.
She debuts as a voice actress with her first role as the voice behind “Takahashi Kyoko” in the smartphone game, “BATON=RELAY”, and is known as one of the founding members of the group “Liella!“ in “Love Live! Superstar!!”, in which she also voices “Heanna Sumire”. She is also a former member of “IdolING!!! ~Nekusuto Ikuseingu!!!~”.
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.
Naomi on her career and her goals
For this interview, we also had the chance to be the first to talk and ask Naomi about her experiences as an artist. Our correspondent, Jersey, had the chance to interact with her for this interview.
J: If you’re given a chance for an anime role in a seiyuu audition, what type of character would you like to have?
Naomi: “So first, I want to do young boy roles. Acting for roles regardless of one’s gender is I think the fascinating part of being a voice actor. I’m a woman but being able to do male roles is I think very amazing and so I’m aiming to be able to do that.”
J: Since you’ve also conducted fan meets from time to time, can you share to us what you enjoy most when meeting fans face to face?
Naomi: “I’m always looking forward to hear everyone’s voice every time. Ever since, it was mostly just receiving messages from everyone like in social media. Still, meeting everyone in person, hearing everyone’s voices, seeing everyone’s faces, and making very fun times with everyone is something that I always look forward to.”
J: In your journey as a seiyuu, what served as your inspiration through your journey in this industry before and when you had your debut role?
Naomi: “For my inspiration… I loved the Precure series ever since I was a kid, and I still watch the series even now. If I were to say which title is my number one source of inspiration, I think it’s got to be Precure. Even now, Precure has a place in my heart.”
After this question, its now the turn of the different members of the media to ask Naomi.
Naomi as an artist and an actress
Question: What has been the best part of being a singer and voice actress?
Naomi: “I think the best part of being a singer and voice actress is applying the power of expression, which I learned from voice acting lessons, into songs.”
Question: Who was the person who first pushed you into becoming an artist?
Naomi: “When I was in elementary school, I started to get in to Japanese idols like
AKB48 and Momoiro Clover Z. They influenced me a lot, and I think the first time that I thought to myself that idols are amazing and I also want to become one was because of these 2 groups.”
Question: If you had to describe yourself in one word, what would it be, and why?
Naomi: “I think it would be: stubborn. I’m the type of person that once I have decided on something, I don’t give up and makes sure to have it realized. Even if along the way I start to feel disheartened and just wants to stop and give up, I tell my self that I shouldn’t be thinking like that and pick my self up and motivate my self to do it, so if I were to be described in word I think it would be: “stubborn”.”
Question: What’s your usual out of regiment before any performance?
Naomi: “For my preparations, I always do the basic vocalization warm-up, and for
something special, I usually draw a heart on my hand and then eat it. This is acts as my lucky charm; so even if I became nervous it will remind me that it’s going to be fine. I think of it as my lucky charm that calms my heart.”
Question: Can you share with us about your music journey so far? How do you approach creating your own music?
Naomi: “After I debuted back in 2023, I have released 4 singles, got the chance to do 3 live performances, and also my very first album has been scheduled for release this year’s summer. I have created a lot of memories with my fans and I plan to passionately continue my activities in the future. About my music production activities, I thought that music is such a difficult thing to create when I try to make one. There are a lot of rules and things to think about and consider. When I get confronted with that difficulty of making music, I remember my fans who are waiting for me and I say to my self that I definitely have to finish this and keep going and so I get to create songs that expresses that will and I hope everyone would listen to those songs. Anyway, I write the songs one by one with great importance.”
Naomi’s Philippine experience
Question: How did you react when you found out that she had a lot of fans in the Philippines?
Naomi: “I’m really happy that there are people supporting me from places across the
seas like the Philippines, and was hoping that one day I’ll be able to meet everyone.”
Question: What message would you like to share with your Filipino fan?
Naomi: “So first of all, I want to say thank you very much for waiting. I also have been really really wanting to meet everyone. I wasn’t able to meet everyone for a long time ever since my debut but today I’ll finally be able to make my dream of meeting everyone come true.”
Question: How does it feel to perform for the first time in the Philippines?
Naomi: “That feeling of “I just got a very amazing chance” still lingers in my heart and I’m very honored to receive this very rare chance and amazing experience.”
Question: When you found out that you are going to perform in the Philippines as a JAM Concert Guest, how did you feel about it?
Naomi: “When I heard that the cosplay event will have a JAM concert, I thought it’s
definitely going to be fun event and there will definitely be cosplayers in the audience. I’m very happy I’ll be in the place where people who loves anime will gather and so I said to myself that I’ll give it my all and came here to the Philippines.”
Question: Do you have a message for your fans who continue to support you around the world?
Naomi: “If I have to summarize I think it would probably be: I love you. There’s no
exaggeration to this or anything. It warms my heart when I see people from far away places discover me, support me, give me kind messages, and even to learn Japanese from zero.”
Question: Compared to group performances, how different is the experience when you perform solo?
Naomi: “First of all, I really love doing group activities and I get to be on stage with other members who I’m close to so I feel very confident when we do performances. Compared to when I do solo, I get very nervous. Anyway it’s situation where no matter where I look the only people on the top of the stage is me, but when I look at the people at the audience who are watching me and think that they are watching me with their warm gazes it gives me that feeling that their here to support me so it’s going to be alright and for me that is a different kind of sense of security.”
Question: How do you connect with fans during performances, even when there’s a language barrier?
Naomi: “During singing performances, I try to communicate with everyone by smiling and doing gestures. When I’m doing emcee, I try my best to use English… I know only a little bit of English so, I give it my all to speak and talk to everyone, and when I’m in a place where English is not the main language, I try to put in the effort to learn the language and speak just a little bit with everyone.”
Naomi-chan has expressed her thanks and for the opportunity to the media partners who were present in this exclusive interview with her last March 29, 2026.
“Thank you for giving me a wonderful opportunity, thank you so muchhhh!”
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: A Weekend Rolls worth of stories with Halca, an exclusive interview
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