Japanese rock band Unison Square Garden announced on Monday that drummer Takao Suzuki will leave the band following their live performance titled Sentimental Period on July 15 at Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall in Chiba. Along with his departure, the band will also enter an indefinite hiatus.

According to the official statement from their agency Sony Music Artists, the decision comes after ongoing discussions about the future direction of the band. The members explained that differences in artistic direction and personal expression led to the conclusion that continuing as a three-member unit was no longer possible. As a result, Suzuki's departure marks the end of the band's current formation, leading to a suspension of all activities.

In a message to fans, the band members expressed sincere appreciation of loyalty and acknowledged that they had been able to stay together for 22 years due to fan support. They apologized for the sudden announcement and asked for continued warm support for Kousuke Saitou (vocals/guitar), Tomoya Tabuchi (bass), and Takao Suzuki.

Saito also commented on the decision, explaining that the band had spent years trying to maintain the group in its current form but they eventually realized that it was impossible to work with different artistic vision of members. He emphasized that the choice to enter a hiatus rather than disband came after consideration of many voices who wished for Unison Square Garden to continue in some form.

The Japanese rock band signed to Toy’s Factory formed in July 2004 and made their major debut in July 2008 with the single Sentimental Period. They gained steady popularity through albums such as Cider Road, Catcher in the Spy, Dr. Izzy, Mode Mood Mode, and Ninth Peel, which made it into the top spot of the Oricon charts. The band has also had milestone concert events, namely their 20th Anniversary Live "ROCK BAND is fun" in Nippon Budokan in 2024.

Unison Square Garden's contributions to anime music include theme songs for Kekkai Sensen (Blood Blockade Battlefront), Blue Lock, 3-gatsu no Lion 2nd Season (March Comes In Like a Lion 2nd Season), Ballroom e Youkoso (Welcome to the Ballroom), and Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru (Run with the Wind), among others.

Source: Music Natalie