The Unlikely Union of TESTSET: Revisiting LEO Imai & Seiichi Nagai’s 2010s

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.

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.

The Journey Behind LEO Imai and Seiichi Nagai’s Present-Day Success

What were you most focused on during your activities in the music scene at that time?

LEO： For me, there wasn’t really a clear scene to be part of. I often found myself wondering, “Where do I belong?” especially in the early days. I didn’t quite fit in anywhere. But as I kept going, I eventually started meeting people in the same field.

And that’s how KIMONOS and METAFIVE came about.

LEO： Yes, exactly.

Nagai: Those who possess a unique individuality tend to become more sought after as their careers progress. I believe that’s true for me as well. As time goes on, connections naturally start to form around you.

Sōtaisei Riron has always been a rather solitary entity. I don’t think there’s ever been much discussion about which bands they’re close with. Perhaps someone has written about it, but they’ve never really given it much thought. Even now, there’s never been a situation where they’ve said, “We feel a bond with this band, so let’s tour together.

Nagai: In that sense, I was isolated, but gradually things started to change as I supported various bands. I did THE BEATNIKS, and now I’m also playing guitar in GREAT3. And, of course, I was invited to join this band.

When it comes to your personal career, you’ve gradually taken on more production and support roles since your time with Sōtaisei Riron. Did you always want to pursue that path, or did it just happen as a result of your experiences? Which aspect feels stronger to you?

Nagai: This is just my subjective view, but with each album, the weight of the production grew. As I started refining things until I was satisfied, the intervals between albums became longer. When that happened, I started thinking, “I could do some production or support in the meantime,” and I began sending out signals like, “I’m available” [laughs].

With THE BEATNIKS, I told Keiichi Suzuki, “Feel free to call me anytime for guitar,” and about two days later, I got a message asking, “How about joining THE BEATNIKS?” And I thought, “It’s not Keiichi’s solo project, huh?” [laughs].

Well, doing a variety of things is more interesting, right? As I get older, I realize that life can end quickly if you don’t experience different things, so I’m really glad I was able to expand my fields of activity.

In the 2000s, the idea of “belonging” to a specific group was quite prevalent, with individuals largely operating within their own spheres. However, by the 2010s, social media helped to connect various dots, and it feels both coincidental and inevitable that you two, who were only exchanging pleasantries back then, are now in a band together.

Nagai: When I talk about “today’s generation” (which sounds kind of like an old man, haha), it’s incredible how many people are doing so much supporting work.

They have their own bands as their core identity, and yet you find out, “Wait, you’re also involved in this and that?” It’s like with Ichiya Ohii and Shuda Nishida—they’re so full of energy that you wonder, “When do they even have time to work on their own music?” This might be the norm for Japanese musicians now, and it’s really motivating.

LEO, how do you perceive the changes in the music scene?

LEO： The days when a band would release an album, have hit singles, and tour for four years are becoming rarer. Musicians today need to take on various roles to survive. I think it’s simply due to the shrinking of the market.

Nagai: That’s absolutely true, and that’s why being in a band together like this has so many different factors involved. I also think TESTSET is quite a remarkable twist of fate.

Both of you are still involved in various activities, but has TESTSET become one of your central projects?

NAGAI: Oh, it’s definitely the axis of all axes.

LEO: Yes, TESTSET is certainly one of the main pillars right now.

Nagai： It might sound odd, but TESTSET isn’t just about appealing to niche tastes in music. We’re a collective that has come together with the aim of creating high-quality music, and we truly believe in it. It wouldn’t have meaning unless we have a wide audience. That’s why we want to perform live in as many places as possible—both domestically and internationally. We hope to expand further, including traveling to China and exploring other Asian countries next year.

Personal introspection and its connection to the end of the world: Seiichi Nagai’s unique perspective in joining TESTSET.

Before we dive into the new release, I’d like to revisit the first album. That work reflects a perspective on modern society, where the lines between reality and unreality blur, intensifying the sense of chaos. I sensed a similar atmosphere in the lyrics of “Stranger,” written by Seiichi Nagai, especially with the line “Feel like dystopia, no more escape.” What were the inspirations behind the lyrics of that song?

Nagai: I grew up in Shibuya, and the lyrics of that song are based on my personal experience of not being able to return home anymore. The station has changed too much, and I can’t even get out at the usual west exit. I used to be able to return easily, but suddenly, I couldn’t anymore.

Now, even the escalator that takes you up from the Hanzomon Line is always packed with people. Despite having renovated the station, I wonder why it’s become so inconvenient. The atmosphere that now dominates the streets of Shibuya, the types of people—it’s all different from what I once knew. In that sense, it’s a “Stranger” experience. I definitely feel a sense of dystopia.

Of course, there was also the pandemic, and I think the first album had a mood of “Where is society going from here?”

Nagai: I think LEO is good at using metaphors like that, and it’s something he’s been doing since his solo work. It’s not exactly straightforwardly punkish; it might seem like he’s complimenting something, but it’s actually a heavy critique, full of irony. I think all four members of TESTSET are like that. Especially Marin, who might have the most biting attitude [laughs].

Even with “Stranger,” the original inspiration was a personal experience, but it ended up reflecting the mood of society and the times.

Nagai: Personally, I tend to write lyrics about my own, sometimes naïve, experiences. I like the concept of connecting my own introspection or small personal worries with the end of the world or a global crisis. It’s a concept that really appeals to me.

The new song “Yume No Ato” is also very personal in content, but I think there are many people who have lost something over the past few years, so I believe it resonates with those people’s feelings. “Stranger” is similar in that, even if you’re not living in Shibuya or a city, many people experience situations where they feel lost or confused, where they don’t know which way to turn.

How were the four tracks on EP2 TSTST selected?

LEO： These tracks were part of the early stages of sessions for the second album. Some were completely new creations, while others were unfinished demos from before the first album that we finally shaped into something.

Musically, the four tracks are quite diverse, but they all carry the spirit of TESTSET, the soul of the four of us. I think that’s really been reflected well, especially after a year of consistently performing live. Also, since it’s an EP, we wanted to experiment a bit and show a different side of ourselves.