Anime Fest+ 2026/2 gave fans in Malaysia plenty to look forward to, and one of the names on the lineup was singer Nami Tamaki. Known for her songs in anime and games, she returned to the country after two years away as part of her Starbound Tour across Asia, a run of shows that includes places she has not visited before. Malaysian fans have followed her work for years, and her return meant a lot to those who came to see her in person. We first spoke with her in 2024, and this time we had the chance to sit down with her again on the day of the show, shortly before she took the stage. Our conversation covered her tour, her new fan club, her work in musicals, her motorcycle trips and the projects still to come.

「STARBOUND TOUR」
Kuala Lumpur Terima kasih!!
Jumpa lagi❤️🇲🇾

big love🫶

#namitamaki #starbound
#animefestplus2026 https://t.co/UOQnFG4fWf

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Follow us on Twitter Follow @GamerBraves and Tweet us Tweet to @GamerBraves

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— 玉置成実 (@NamiTamaki0601) September 27, 2026

Back in Malaysia and Still Moving Fast

Tamaki said she had been looking forward to returning to Malaysia, and the meet and greet gave her a taste of what to expect later that night. 

“I’ve already received so much energy from them. So later tonight, during my live performance, I’m going to turn all of that energy into an explosive performance.”

We asked what has changed since our 2024 interview. She said the past two years have been busy, and that nothing specific stands out as different. “I feel like I’ve been running at full speed, and I really haven’t stopped,” Tamaki said. She has kept making music, performing live and taking part in stage productions, all with a positive mindset.

Back in 2024, she told us she wanted to perform in more countries. Touring across Asia, including places she has not been to before, has shown her something about saying goals out loud.

“Through this experience, I’ve really come to feel that when you say your dreams out loud and put them into words, they can actually become reality.”

She plans to keep talking about her dreams and sharing them with people, and she has a promise for Malaysia as well. 

“And I’ll definitely come back to Malaysia again.”

A Space Theme and a Calmer Stage Presence

The tour is called the Starbound Tour, and Tamaki wanted the shows to be inspired by space, the universe and galaxies. Her costume follows the same theme with a slightly space-themed and star-themed design. “The idea is to convey not only the energy that exists here on Earth, but also the energy of the universe on a much larger scale,” she said.

The tour has also become a place to work on how she comes across as a performer. She enjoys live shows so much that she tends to smile through her songs, even the cool or powerful ones. Starting with this tour, she has been trying something different.

“I’ve been working on expressing more cool and composed emotions. So I’m not only focusing on singing and dancing, but also on my facial expressions and how I carry myself on stage.”

Nerves are another thing she has learned to manage. “I used to be someone who got very nervous before performances. I would get so nervous that my hands would even shake.” She said she still feels nervous, but she now reminds herself to treasure every second and stay present. Before going on stage, she imagines herself enjoying the moment and gives herself the mindset to simply enjoy performing.

NAMILIA, a Fan Club Built Like a Family

Tamaki recently launched her official fan club, NAMILIA. In 2028, she will celebrate 25 years since her debut, and the fan club is meant as a place to mark that milestone with the people who have supported her along the way. Until now, she has communicated with fans through social media platforms such as Instagram and X.

“I’ve wanted to create a fan club for a long time, but I never really found the right opportunity or timing.”

The name is a play on the word “family,” and that idea is important to her. With NAMILIA, she wanted a space where she and her fans could feel much closer. “I want fans to be able to enjoy Tamaki Nami more closely, as if we were family members,” she said. She also hopes the club becomes a place where fans can get to know each other better and build closer relationships as members of the same fan club.

Musicals, Anime and Games

Alongside her music career, Tamaki has performed in musicals for many years. Some of her roles have not even been human, and she has played demons. “In musicals and musical theater, I’m not performing as Nami Tamaki. I get to live as a completely different person.”

She said this is a refreshing break, since in everyday life she is always Tamaki Nami. Stepping away from that gives her a chance to breathe, refresh and reset. What she learns on stage in musicals also comes back into her own live shows. “Every time I take part in a musical, I feel like I learn so many different things,” Tamaki said.

Her songs for anime and games are another big part of her work. In both cases, she feels the song should represent the work itself. “When people hear the song, I want them to immediately think of the anime or game it belongs to.” She does not see a major difference between the two as a singer, and her goal is the same either way: to help make the work more exciting and help more people discover and understand it.

“The key is always respecting the work and capturing its essence.”

A Message About Healthy Beauty

Tamaki often shares fitness content on social media, but she was honest about her own history with exercise. “To be honest, I’m actually not very good at exercise,” she said, adding that this was also true when she was younger. She spoke about a time when she wanted to be very slim, as many young women do. 

“I used to want that too, and I tried many different diets, including not eating.” 

As she has gotten older, her goal has shifted to what she calls healthy beauty.

“I want people who look at me to think that they would also like to have a healthy body.”

2025年もKayG+でパーソナルトレーニングして身体作りしました👏

いつも理想の体型に向けて、そしてその時の体調に合わせてメニューを組んでくれるあやうみ先生(@ayaumisama )に感謝🙏

2026年もしっかり頑張ります🔥💪

#kayg+ #パーソナルトレーニング https://t.co/oCRyw5U5wg

— 玉置成実 (@NamiTamaki0601) January 10, 2026

Her advice to fans is to eat properly and exercise properly. “Rather than going on extreme diets or doing something harmful to your health, eat well and make sure you move your body,” she said.

Riding Motorcycles With Her Father

Tamaki shares many motorcycle photos online, and the hobby began with her father, who also rides. He enjoys drinking, but she cannot drink, so the two did not have an activity to share. She decided a motorcycle license could change that, and she got hers after turning 30. Her father is also the one who takes the photos of her on their trips. 

“We often just ride somewhere far away in the morning, have some good food, and then come back. It’s something very simple, but having more of that father-and-daughter time has become really special to me.”

相棒が車検から帰ってきたよ。
おかえり！！
今日は走るのに最高の天気すぎて気持ちよかった～✨🏍️

今年は色んなところにツーリング行きたいなぁ。
みんなのオススメのツーリングコースあったら教えて下さい✨☺️

#triumph #bonnevillebobber https://t.co/DBB8SrhYAS

— 玉置成実 (@NamiTamaki0601) April 19, 2026

When we asked where she would like to ride in Malaysia, she turned the question around. “Actually, I’d like to ask you the same question. Do you have any recommended routes for a motorcycle trip?” We suggested Penang, which is popular for motorcycle trips and has a lot of good food, in which Tamaki then made an open call to fans.

“I’m actually looking for people who would like to go on a motorcycle trip with me in Malaysia. Anybody want to volunteer?”

Looking Ahead

To close, Tamaki said how much it means to be back. “I’m really, really happy that I’ve been able to come back to Malaysia after two years.” She has always loved anime and games and is glad to still be involved with these works, and she said she is grateful to feel the energy and warmth from everyone again.

She also had a message about what is coming next.

“There are also some special things in the works that I haven’t been able to announce yet, so I hope everyone will look forward to those moments and continue to follow and support Nami Tamaki.”