Manekineko International Karaoke Competition Crowns Its Grand Winner

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, 7th February 2026 – The Manekineko International Karaoke Championship Grand Finals was held at Karaoke Manekineko Malaysia’s Berjaya Times Square outlet.

During the qualifiers, contestants from Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia submitted their entries, and the shortlisted candidates were invited to compete in the semi-finals held in their respective countries. From over a thousand entries received during the qualifiers, nine outstanding performers advanced to the Grand Finals.

For the Grand Finals, the team at Karaoke Manekineko invited a distinguished panel of judges:

·         Ms. Akiko Nishio

Managing Director of A to Z Language Center, Ms. Nishio has judged several competitions related to Japanese culture in Malaysia.

·         Mr. Takeshi Kuramochi

Managing Director of INSPION GROUP, a collective of studios that produces songs, sound arrangement, and music composition for popular video game titles such as Smash Bros., Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Persona series, Elden Ring and many more.

·         Mr. Guess Yang

Professional musician, songwriter, arranger, producer, recording and mixing engineer who has provided songs for artists like Michael Wong 光良, Victor Wong品冠, Angela Chang张韶涵, Lui Fang, Huang Jia Qian and China doll.

·         Mr. Mohamad Fareed bin Marzuki

Professional degree in music. He has been in teaching music in Malaysia’s schools, nurturing young aspiring talents.

Each finalist delivered an exceptional performance, captivating both the judges and the audience with their talent and stage presence. After much anticipation and careful deliberation by the judging panel, the winners were announced as follows:

Champion: Ms. Zahra Vania Ardhani Sulistyo

Ms. Zahra was awarded the Grand Prize of RM3,000.00, along with a return ticket to Japan sponsored by ANA. The prize was presented to the Champion in person by Mr. Tamura, General Manager of the ANA Malaysia Office.

1st runner up: Mr. Muhammad Hafsham Hadi Bin Hanapi

2nd runner up: Ms. Nurul Aini Shahira Binti Hariadi

Karaoke Manekineko would also like to express its sincere appreciation to the other finalists who participated in the competition and delivered vibrant and powerful performances. Some contestants travelled from out of state and even overseas, and their passion and dedication greatly contributed to the energy and success of the event. The finalists are as follows:

·         Ms. Siraphat Tongdeenoi

·         Ms. Nittaya Panthaisong

·         Mr. Parto Fransiskus

·         Mr. Tai Eimran bin Azlan

·         Mr. Aric Lau Zhe Peng

·         Ms. Cheryl Lee Ka Xuan

Karaoke Manekineko would also like to extend its sincere appreciation to its valued sponsors, ANA Malaysia and Lipton Tea from Etika Holdings. Their generous support and contributions played an important role in elevating the competition and ensuring the success of the event.

As Karaoke Manekineko continues its expansion across Southeast Asia, the company remains committed to enhancing its events and delivering more exciting competitions for karaoke enthusiasts across the region. With its growing presence, Karaoke Manekineko looks forward to bringing even more engaging and memorable experiences to communities throughout Southeast Asia.