At Cosplay Carnival 2026 in Manila, we had the amazing honor to interview Who-ya Extended, a Japanese creative unit led by vocalist Who-ya, best known for their energetic, expressive, and electro-rock music that has wowed viewers across the world. The band has performed solid fan-favorite theme songs for Jujutsu Kaisen, Psycho-Pass, Night Head 2041, The Kingdoms of Ruin, Witch Watch, and Onmyo Kaiten Re:Birth Verse.
Ahead of their performance at the Japanese Anime Music concert, Who-ya Extended graced Anime Corner and a few other media outlets with a sneak peek at their music journey so far – from music inspirations, experiences performing for the Jujutsu Kaisen anime, and visiting the Philippines for the first time.
Parts of this interview have been lightly edited for clarity.
The Inspiration Behind Who-ya Extended’s Music
To start the story behind Who-ya Extended’s music journey, Who-ya first shared with us the story about how he discovered music. From his childhood, his Mom loved listening to Linkin Park, so he grew up to also love rock music. He said that he was “saved by rock music.” In high school, he started a band and had a lot of fun making cover songs. He eventually got the opportunity to meet his current agency, which led him to his debut song “Q-vism” in Psycho-Pass 3, and the rest is history.
Now, he gets inspiration from all different genres of music. Who-ya emphasized that he doesn’t decide to like or hate a particular genre, but instead, practices listening to as much music as he can. When he’s creating music, he said that he wants to express himself freely. This comes from the story of the meaning behind the band name, where he said that the “Extended” in Who-ya Extended actually represents “becoming bigger.” When asked about describing his sound, he said:
“I think the music for Who-ya Extended spans a lot of genres. So, if I were to describe our music in one word, I think that one word is jiyuu (freedom).”
When writing songs, Who-ya said he first thinks of the title before the lyrics. He explained that he comes up with the face of the song and what kind of composition it would have. After that, everything else followed. Another aspect of being an artist is performing it live. For Who-ya, he mentioned that each live performance is always an unforgettable and unique experience; no two are the same. When asked what the most challenging part was and how he overcame it, Who-ya said:
“During live concerts, I think about a lot of stuff at the same time. I think about the song, about the lyrics, and I think about how my body will move. Sometimes I think that my mind and body are not linked or syncing properly. If you’re asking me how I overcome that, honestly, it’s still not resolved, but I do try not to overthink it.“
He added later on that his post-recording/performance ritual included having a good meal and some alcohol. That evening, Who-ya posted that he visited the beloved Filipino restaurant, Jollibee, and shared his fond surprise that most meals were served with rice.
Thoughts on Being a Jujutsu Kaisen Anisong Artist
In the interview, Who-Ya briefly mentioned the story of how he felt when his song, “VIVID VICE,” was used as the opening theme song for the second cour of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 1. He said he felt very happy watching the broadcast (Episode 14) and could not believe that it was real. Who-ya explained that he grew up watching a lot of anime and was actually a long-time reader of the Weekly Shonen Jump manga magazine, so even up to today, it still comes as a shock to him.
He also added that “VIVID VICE” may be the most powerful song in his discography. During the writing process, he shared that he tried to incorporate the context of Jujutsu Kaisen‘s story into the lyrics and sound production. Stuff like the setting, plot, and the deep emotions that the characters experience. Who-ya said that it was difficult to do, but it was overall an enjoyable and rewarding experience, especially when it is so well-received by the anime’s fans.
Who-ya also shared that this song is always the one the audiences are most excited for in his live performances. He shared his appreciation because, through it, his music was introduced to places all over the world, and in a way, it was because of “VIVID VICE” that he was able to visit the Philippines.
Who-ya’s First Visit to the Philippines, Future Plans, and Message
When asked what music genre he would be interested in exploring in the future, Who-ya shared that he would love to try experimenting with loud rock and EDM. Meanwhile, if given the chance to compose a song for a manga series that would possibly be adapted into an anime, he chose the Drama Queen manga by Kuraku Ichikawa from Shonen Jump.
Lastly, when asked which artist he would love to collaborate with, Who-ya answered that he’d love to work with ONE OK ROCK, especially because they did a lot of ONE OK ROCK covers back in high school. Everyone in the media room cheered with excitement. Incidentally, Who-ya also noticed how my friend and assistant, William, was wearing a ONE OK ROCK Luxury Disease T-shirt, and they both shared a wide grin.
As the exclusive media interview came to a close, the last story Who-ya shared with us was his reaction to when he found out he was going to the Philippines, as well as his gratitude to his Filipino fans.
“My reaction when I first found out that I would be able to come to the Philippines… in simple words, I was very happy.
I’ve been to a couple of countries as well, and some where I was able to come back several times. When I visit a country for the first time, it’s a very good and memorable experience for me. And of course, [since] this is my first time in the Philippines, I’m very happy to be here. I knew a while back that a lot of Filipino fans were listening to my music.
Thank you for coming [to see me here at Cosplay Carnival 2026] as well. In the future, of course, my goal is also to have a solo concert in the Philippines. I hope you also continue to support us.“
We’d like to thank Who-ya for coming to the Philippines and for taking the time to speak to us! Follow them on their X (Twitter), YouTube, and official fan club website.
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: William Mescallado
Photos via Cosplay.ph
Disclaimer: Anime Corner is a media partner for Cosplay Carnival 2026
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