Having left an indelible mark on the history of Japanese pop music, Chikuzen Sato has continued to evolve across decades of artistic practice. Having lived through the golden era of J-Pop firsthand, he has repeatedly reexamined and redefined his relationship with music as his roles and creative phases shifted over time—always responding to time, creation, and self with honesty and maturity.

In this interview, readers are invited to explore Sato’s reflections on music, his mindset as he prepares for his first overseas performance, and the new visions that point toward what lies ahead.

1.

Over the course of your long career, you have sung a wide range of works and taken on various roles and responsibilities. Looking back, was there a particular period or role that significantly shaped your understanding of music, or changed the way you approach your work today?

When we were working on Togetherness, the seventh album by Sing Like Talking, we found ourselves asking an important question: should we continue to exist within the established framework of J-pop, or should we be honest with the deepening understanding and emotion we felt toward music, and pursue the path we truly wanted to follow?

In the end, we chose the latter. The result of that decision was Togetherness.

2.

Have you visited Taiwan before? If so, what impressions did you have, and were there any particular things you enjoyed? If not, are there places you would like to visit or foods you have heard about and would like to try?

This will be my first time. Since the schedule is quite limited, I hope to savor and experience as much as possible within the time we have.

3.

Having performed extensively in Japan, how do you feel about your upcoming show in Taipei? Are there any special arrangements planned specifically for this performance?

As it will be my first performance overseas, I am very much looking forward to it. Precisely because it is a first, I would like to face the stage simply as myself, just as I always do.

4.

As 2025 draws to a close, are there any goals you have yet to achieve, or things you feel particularly grateful for at this point?

A new project has already begun, and my hope is to fully develop it and bring it to fruition. I am also deeply grateful to Universal Music for offering tremendous support and assistance as I embark on a new challenge at this stage of my life.

5.

Do you have any new goals or plans for 2026 and beyond?

I hope to further enrich and continuously deepen my new project, Joppa Leigh. I also look forward to the day when I can return to Taiwan again under the name of this project.

On January 21, Chikuzen Sato will make his long-awaited debut on the Taipei stage. Armed with a voice of remarkable subtlety and stability, a deeply refined musical sensibility, and an uncompromising dedication to his craft, he joins forces with Osaka-based next-generation band Neighbors Complain to present a musical vision that continues to evolve—shaped by time, yet unmistakably forward-looking.