TESTSET, the collaboration of Yoshinori Sunahara, LEO Imai, Kenichi Shirane, and Seiichi Nagai, has entered an exciting new phase. Their one-man live show on October 20th at Zepp Shinjuku offered a striking fusion of techno, new wave, funk, and rock, paired with stunning visuals that created a dynamic and pop-driven sound. The performance left a lasting impression, not as a “unit,” but as a fully-fledged “band” delivering an intense and electrifying stage presence.
To explore TESTSET’s current journey, we sat down with LEO Imai and Seiichi Nagai for an in-depth conversation. LEO began his career in Japan in 2006 and made his major debut with Fix Neon in 2008. Nagai, around the same time, started as the guitarist for Sōtaisei Riron and released his self-produced album Chiffon Shugi in 2007. Despite both emerging in the same era of Japan’s music scene, the two have each followed distinct paths, only to eventually come together in TESTSET. Was their collaboration a coincidence, or was it always meant to be?
This interview marks the first time LEO and Nagai have joined forces for a TESTSET feature. We dive into their latest release, EP2 TSTST, while also reflecting on their individual musical journeys.
INDEX
From KIMONOS to Sōtaisei Riron: The Path Leading to THE BEATNIKS
This year, the position on stage has changed. Previously, LEO and Sunahara were at the center, but now LEO and Nagai are in the middle.
LEO: It was Sunahara who suggested this idea. At first, I thought, “Why? Why now?” But when we actually tried it, and saw the four of us lined up from the front, it made sense. With two of us singing and moving around a lot, having us at the center really enhances the band feel.
Nagai: Reading interviews with Shirane and Marin (Sunahara’s nickname), it seems like the idea was that “the contrast between LEO and Nagai, who are completely opposite, would be interesting, so we put them in the center.” But from our perspective, we don’t really get it (laughs). Well, honestly, the feeling hasn’t changed for us.
LEO： Since Nagai moved to the center, I’ve noticed he’s been shaking his head more intensely during the performance. That’s a good thing, right?
Nagai: I also really love alternative, sweaty bands, so I think it’s perfectly fine to bring that kind of energy into TESTSET.
Yoshinori Sunahara and LEO Imai, who performed as a special METAFIVE lineup at the 2021 FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL, teamed up with Kenichi Shirane (Dr) of GREAT3 and Seiichi Nagai (Gr) of Sōtaisei Riron to form a new group, TESTSET. They began their live activities under this new name. In July 2023, they released their debut album 1STST, and on October 9, 2024, they released EP2 TSTST digitally.
Actually, you two are from a similar generation, and I believe both of you started your careers in earnest around the mid-2000s. Did you have any interactions back then?
LEO： We didn’t really have any proper interactions, but we did meet in the studio. At that time, he was smiling a lot, and I always thought he was a nice guy.
Nagai: Nagai: I’ve actually been to one of LEO’s live shows, but I didn’t have a proper chance to greet him at that time. So, from that brief encounter over a decade ago, everything really took off when we performed together in THE BEATNIKS (※1) and the LEO IMAI Band. It was during that precious time when various projects were being led by Yukihiro Takahashi, and FUJIO ROCK FESTIVAL(※2)was one of the events where we finally met properly again.
LEO： At the after-party, we got into a conversation about Entombed (the Swedish death metal band) and really hit it off. I thought, “Yeah, he’s a good guy. My first impression was right.”
Note 1: THE BEATNIKS is a unit formed in 1981 by Yukihiro Takahashi and Keiichi Suzuki. Their 2018 album EXITENTIALIST A XIE XIE featured numerous METAFIVE members, including Yoshinori Sunahara, Keigo Oyamada, LEO Imai, and Tomohiko Gondō. Seiichi Nagai first joined as a live member for the release event, performing at THE BEATNIKS Live 2018 in May 2018. The live performance, which also featured Sunahara and Kenichi Shirane, was later released as the live album NIGHT OF THE BEAT GENERATION in 2019.
Note 2: A music and rakugo fusion event held in August 2018 to mark the 10th anniversary of Fujio Akatsuka’s passing. Nagai, along with Sunahara and Shirane, performed as part of THE BEATNIKS’ band, while LEO Imai also performed with his own band, LEO IMAI, featuring Shirane as the drummer.
What were your impressions of each other’s activities at that time?
Nagai: I especially loved Mogura by KIMONOS. I thought only LEO could create something so unique and cool while listening to it.
Although I wasn’t constantly following his work, including METAFIVE, I would still hear about his activities here and there. I always had the impression that he was someone doing things I liked and respected. Even among my peers in rock, there are many who let information pass them by without much impact, but LEO was never like that.
Note: KIMONOS was a project formed in 2010 by Hidetake Mukai (ZAZEN BOYS) and LEO Imai.
LEO： I used to listen to Sōtaisei Riron’s Chiffon Shugi (2007) a lot. When it was released, I thought it was amazing, especially the guitar work. It reminded me of Andy Summers from The Police. Then, when I actually met him in the studio, he was such a nice guy, and I really liked him. And now, all these years later, to be in a band together—it feels like a miracle, or maybe fate [laughs].
Nagai: That kind of thing does happen, doesn’t it? There are definitely fates that you can’t control. Because, even though those two (Sunahara and Shirane) were active at the same time, they were in completely different fields. So, TESTSET is such a strange combination—almost a fateful one. Looking back on everything, I think it’s quite dramatic.
