Interview: MindaRyn on her Anisong Music Journey, “Calling Back” Asia Tour, and Jollibee

We had the pleasure of interviewing anisong artist MindaRyn during her visit to the Philippines for Cosplay Mania 2026. She is also set to perform at the Japanese Anime Music (JAM) Concert on October 4, as part of her 1st Asia Tour “Calling Back.” 

Originating from Thailand and rising to international acclaim, MindaRyn has become one of the most popular international anisong artists. She is well-known for her powerful performances, from her YouTube covers to her anime theme songs such as “Like Flames” in That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, “Fireworks” in Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion, and “Daylight” in Arifureta: From Commonplace to World’s Strongest. In this interview, we talk about MindaRyn’s inspiring journey in finding her safe place through music and the emotional meaning behind her tour’s title.

Parts of this interview have been lightly edited for clarity.

Q: First of all, congratulations on your Asia Tour! Thank you for picking Manila as your first stop. Can you share with us how it feels to be back in the Philippines and reconnect with your Filipino fans? Is there a local place or food that you’re excited for?

MindaRyn: I’m really happy to be back in the Philippines and to reconnect with everyone again. Filipino fans have always welcomed me so warmly, so coming back here feels very special to me every single time.

And when it comes to food, there’s one thing I always feel like I absolutely have to eat whenever I come back: it’s Jollibee! I know I already said this in another question, but I’m going to say it again: “Please open Jollibee in Japan!” (laughs).

Besides Jollibee, there’s another Filipino dish I really love, which is laing. It’s made with leafy vegetables and coconut milk, and whenever I eat it, it somehow feels really comforting and familiar to me. It gives me this little “feels like home” feeling, and I really love that.

Q: Your music journey is a very inspiring story. What are some of the most memorable challenges that you’ve experienced as an anisong artist, and how did you overcome them?

MindaRyn: When it comes to challenges in the work itself, I think that’s something everyone has to face, no matter what kind of job they do. Sometimes things feel difficult, sometimes you get discouraged, but I’ve always felt that somehow, I’ll find a way through it.

What has been much harder for me than the work itself is the loneliness and the sadness of being away from home and my family. As a foreigner living in a country where I didn’t grow up, speaking a language that isn’t my mother tongue and adapting to a different culture can be really exciting at first. But living for a long time in a place that never feels one hundred percent like “home” has honestly been one of the biggest challenges for me.

I don’t think I’ve ever completely overcome that feeling. What I usually do when I feel weak or lonely is call my family back home. Sometimes even a short phone call and a little encouragement from them is enough to help me take another step forward.

Actually, that feeling is also connected to the title of my tour, “Calling Back.” There are times when you just want to hear the voices of the people who make you feel like you belong somewhere.

And honestly, every time I come to the Philippines, the friendliness and warmth of everyone here make me feel like this could be another home for me too. I think Thai and Filipino people have a very similar kind of smile — the kind of smile that welcomes you as if you’re already part of the family. I really love that.

Q: Is there an anime song or live performance of yours that feels especially meaningful to you, and why?

MindaRyn: There’s one song of mine called “Remaining Story” that talks about searching for a place where you truly belong. Even if you constantly feel like an outsider, you keep moving forward, searching for a safe place where you can be yourself, and hoping that someday you’ll leave behind a story of your own that is worth remembering.

This actually connects a lot to what I was saying earlier. Sometimes I feel like I’ve been an outsider no matter where I am.

I’ve lived in Japan for almost five years now, but because there are still many cultural differences, there are moments when I’m reminded that I’m a foreigner and I still feel like an outsider.

But at the same time, even when I was growing up in Thailand, I sometimes felt that way too. There weren’t many people around me who loved the same things I did, so I didn’t really have anyone to share those interests with. In that sense, there was always a part of me that felt a little out of place.

That’s why “Remaining Story” feels very personal to me. Even now, I think I’m still on that journey of searching for a safe place where I can completely be myself and truly feel that I belong.

But I’ve already found one place. Whenever I’m standing on stage, singing anisongs for people who love anime just as much as I do, that’s when I feel like I’m no longer an outsider. In those moments, I feel like I’ve finally found a place where I belong.

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We’d like to thank MindaRyn for taking the time to speak to us! Follow her on X (Twitter), and YouTube. Thank you as well to Cosplay.ph for arranging this interview. Visit the Cosplay Mania Facebook page and X (Twitter) for more updates on their future anime and cosplay events.

Feature Image: © Yoshimoto Kogyo Co.,Ltd.
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