Interview] Legendary! Tomoaki Ishikawa and Yuki Kajiura's unit "See-Saw" releases a three-disc complete best "See-Saw-Scene

See-Saw" produced many hit anime theme songs in the early 2000s, including the ending theme song for the TV anime "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED," "Such and Such Were Together. The unit, which had become legendary among fans, came together again in 2019. Now, in 2020, the two members of See-Saw will release "See-Saw-Scene," a three-disc album complete with songs they created together.
We asked Tomoaki Ishikawa and Yuki Kajiura to talk about the contents of the album.

The less selected songs make it a more naked album!

─ ─ Flying Dog's 10th anniversary live "Inu Fes!" held on February 2, 2019 fans were very surprised and excited when See-Saw made a surprise appearance at the event. I think that was the beginning of what led to this release.

Ishikawa: I was grateful to sing a song by See-Saw, the band that has helped me the most, at the 10th anniversary celebration of Flying Dog, and it had been so long since I had seen the two of See-Saw on stage together that I couldn't imagine it. I was able to enjoy it without feeling self-conscious.

Kajiura Too much time had passed since See-Saw was active with Victor Entertainment (now Flying Dog), so when I went to ......, the audience was quiet and asked "Who are you? I thought it would be sad indeed if the audience became quiet and asked "Who are you? I was very happy to be welcomed so warmly by the audience.

─ ─ "Inu Fes! was followed by a one-man live concert "See-Saw LIVE ~Dream Field 2019~" in December of the same year, the first one-man live concert in 17 years.

Ishikawa: At my first live concert in 17 years, I could feel the feelings from the audience's expressions, and it was like having each of See-Saw's songs come to life again. It was a time that made me feel satisfied with my footsteps.

Kajiura: We were both aware that it was a one-night-only event, and I was actually expecting to be able to play more songs. ...... My own personal live show has a lot of soundtrack songs and each song is short, so I can do quite a lot of songs. If I selected songs in that sense, See-Saw would not fit in because each song is too long!　But I think it was a pretty intense night.

─ ─ Such a year over 2019 led to the release of the complete best album "See-Saw-Scene" See-Saw debuted with BMG Funhouse in 1993, and went on hiatus in 1995. In 2002, See-Saw moved to Victor and resumed their activities, which lasted until 2005. The 36 songs plus one song released during that period are collected on a total of three CDs.

Ishikawa: I never thought that an album including See-Saw's early works could be released again at this time. I feel again nostalgia and freshness in my voice from those days. Is it because there is no embarrassment like looking back at old photos, or is it because there is now a time when I can affirm who I was back then?

Kajiura: As it is a complete collection, it literally contains everything See-Saw. In a sense, the three albums are very naked because they do not contain any selected songs. It is simply a great pleasure to have you listen to all of them.

─ ─ The most recent songs on the album were produced nearly 15 years ago. What kind of feelings came to your mind when you looked over the 37 songs lined up in a row?

Ishikawa: There has always been a unique atmosphere that See-Saw has always produced, and the richness of the content is generously contained in the album. Looking back, I feel that See-Saw was very strong.

Kajiura: Some of the songs are over 30 years old. ...... honestly, it was so long ago that I feel like I've surpassed something (laughs). (laughs) There is a bit of a prehistoric feel to it. That makes it easier to listen to it calmly.

─ ─ The album title "See-Saw-Scene" seems to be a play on the verb "see. How did you name it?

Ishikawa: This is a title that Kaji-chan came up with, and I think it is a good title when I look back on the past year as See-Saw.

Kajiura As a complete best album, it is all about See-Saw, and last year, for the first time in a long time, we had many opportunities for you to listen to and see "Scenes with See-Saw". So I gave it a literal title without much of a twist. I like the title because it is clean and simple.