Latest news with #Wannabees
Hype Malaysia
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
Interview: Enishi & Wannabes On How They Got Started & Challenges They Faced
In our previous interview article, we spoke with Japanese singers Manaka Inaba and Leon Niihama, two of the featured artists at Japan Expo Malaysia 2025 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, about their music and their time in Malaysia. On the same day, we also interviewed face-changing performer Enishi and comedy trio Wannabees. Both acts made headlines after appearing on international talent shows such as Britain's Got Talent and America's Got Talent, impressing judges and audiences alike with their performances. While in Malaysia, the entertainers spoke about their experiences on those shows and shared how they first got started in their respective careers. Many knew you from 'America's Got Talent' and 'Britain's Got Talent' and were astounded by your performances. What has inspired you to become the performer you are today? Enishi: It all started cause I wanted to make kids laugh. Personality-wise, I'm not really a funny person, so I had to do a lot of preparations in order to become this funny performer. I did a lot of experimenting, and this version is my final form. Wannabees: We started with 2 members: Gon and Ciro. We weren't friends when we first met in Tokyo, actually. We were just kids then, and we wanted to play basketball, but because we were poor, we couldn't afford a ball, so one of us pretended to be the ball. That's kinda how it started. We've been a duo for 20 years, and it was 6 years ago when Gri-san joined that we became a trio. He saw us perform on TV and decided to come to Tokyo one day, and asked if he could join the group. What have been some of the challenges you faced as a performer, and how did you overcome them? Enishi: Thankfully, there hasn't been much challenge. I spent a lot of time training and honing my craft, so I don't really watch anime and play video games. That's how dedicated I am as a performer. Wannabees: Truth be told, one of the challenges is our outfits. They're very slippery, and they can also get very hot, but it's our brand now, so we have to stick to wearing them. If we're allowed to perform in more casual clothing like jeans and such, we would. But other than that, like most artists, Covid-19 was difficult as we couldn't do live performances for so long, so as a solution, we created our YouTube channel, bicsmalln channel, so that everyone could still enjoy our content. For Enishi, aside from Face Changing, was there anything else you've considered doing as a career or perhaps want to explore in the future? There's always been a little boy inside who has so many dreams, and I want to make them come true, one way or another. I wanted to do all kinds of stuff, like space exploration or something with dinosaurs. All that typical boy stuff, you know? I don't have an exact plan on how I'm going to achieve those dreams, but I will make it happen, that's for sure. Could you share with us how you came up with your image (costumes, etc.)? Enishi: My outfit represents Japan. Every element in the design is symbolic; you can see the waves of the tsunami, the sakura tree, Mount Fuji, and even a samurai. My headpiece is inspired by the chonmage, a traditional Japanese samurai hairstyle. Altogether, this outfit reflects my personal journey as a 'samurai' — someone striving to overcome challenges and achieve something great. I will always carry my identity as a Japanese with me wherever I go. Wannabees: We saw on the news about the popular colours in 2004. So we went shopping and found these kinds of outfits. Basically, we just combine our love for stripes and our favourite colours. Are there any plans to pursue international collaborations? Enishi: I do have a plan to collaborate with people, but I currently can't share it with you yet. You're going to have to wait and find out! Wannabees: Same here. There are some things we have in store, but we can't tell you yet. It's a secret!
The Star
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Vibrant show of M'sia-Japan ties
FOR three days, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre transformed into a vibrant reflection of Japan. In its sixth edition, Japan Expo Malaysia (JEPY) 2025 once again acted as a platform for Malaysia-Japan economic and cultural exchange. Hosting over 50 exhibitors, the expo enabled visitors to experience a lively line-up of Japanese artistes and shows under one roof. The attractions ranged from sushi chefs and J-pop stars to traditional dancers and origami demonstrations. The event targeted over 70,000 visitors and RM8mil in transactions. One of this year's highlights was an origami workshop organised by the Japanese Embassy in collaboration with Malaysia Origami Academy (MOA). At the workshop, guests participated in the art of Japanese paper folding. Ch'ng with some of the Malaysian-inspired origami on display. MOA founder Kenneth Ch'ng described origami as a cultural bridge between Malaysia and Japan. 'Origami is one of the most approachable forms of art, whether for preschoolers or senior citizens, regardless of religion or gender. 'Greater cultural exchange between both countries can be achieved through origami. 'Now, we even have origami versions of ketupat and kebaya using Malaysian batik paper,' said Ch'ng. The expo hall featured two main zones: exhibition and entertainment. The exhibition zone had interactive booths, workshops and cultural showcases. At the Japan National Tourism Organisation booth, visitors explored travel ideas and joined in Japan-themed activities like the traditional Garapon spin-and-win game. Live shows such as the traditional Awa Odori dance and Kendo martial arts drew enthusiastic crowds. The entertainment zone brought together a wide mix of Japanese and Malaysian talents. Comedy trio Wannabees delighting the audience with their antics. These included J-pop soloist Manaka Inaba, Japanese Enka singer Leon Niihama as well as Japanese comedy trio Wannabees and Enishi's captivating traditional face-changing acts. On the Malaysian side, idol group KLP48, alt-rock band Kyoto Protocol and DJ Blink added excitement to the lineup. Japanese ambassador to Malaysia Noriyuki Shikata, who launched the event, said the expo was a reflection of bilateral ties. 'Since its inception, Japan Expo Malaysia has become a prominent platform to showcase Japan's diverse culture, from anime and J-pop to food, technology, tourism and education. 'These exchanges foster meaningful two-way engagement, allowing both Japanese and Malaysians to discover new perspectives,' he said.
