The Reason for the Monochrome Edition—Photo Book Secrets and Izumi Sakai’s Timeless Charm in ZARD’s 35th Year
Special release of treasured photos from the latest photo book!
Art Director, Music Critic, and Fan Performer Talks about The Diva Who Always Shined
Formed in 1991 around the late Izumi Sakai (who passed away in 2007 at the age of 40), the music unit ZARD is approaching its 35th anniversary next February. As part of the anniversary celebrations, two photo collections—ZARD -MONOCHROME- and ZARD -COLORS-—were released this June. A series of hall concerts will also be held in Tokyo and Osaka next February, fueling a new wave of “ZARD fever.”
Three figures shared their thoughts on ZARD’s timeless appeal and behind-the-scenes stories surrounding the new photo books: Kenichi Suzuki, the art director who has been involved in designing ZARD’s works from debut to the present; comedian Chan Kawai (45, of the duo W Engine), a well-known passionate fan; and singer/music critic Takanori Chujo (41).
Why Release a Monochrome Photo Collection?
—Mr. Suzuki, you were involved in producing the photo books released this June. Did your impressions of the photos change compare to back then?
Suzuki: In preparing the books, I went through everything we had saved—nine boxes of film in total—and reviewed as many photos as possible.
When Izumi was alive, producer Daiko Nagato’s image strategy often meant deliberately avoiding photos that made her look too beautiful. That’s why we tended to use pictures of her looking downward or in profile. But now, looking at it again in today’s context, I felt it was the right time to bring out photos where her gaze is clear and her expressions can really be seen.
Chujo: Both a full-color and a monochrome version of the book were released simultaneously. What was the reason behind putting out a monochrome edition?
Suzuki: That idea actually came from the staff. These days, of course, everything is shot in color, but back in the ’90s, we still shot quite a lot with black-and-white film.
To me, that always felt natural, but the staff were surprised by it. On top of that, the monochrome jackets of ZARD Request Best beautiful memory (released in 2008) and ZARD Forever Best 25th Anniversary (2016) were very well received. So, this time, we decided to produce both a monochrome and a color version.
Sakai Consistently Embodied the Image of “ZARD”
—From the perspectives of an art director, a critic, and a fan, what do you each see as ZARD’s enduring appeal?
Suzuki: Sakai was someone who consistently upheld the “ZARD” image. Perhaps because of that, fans often associate her visuals with keywords like natural light, fragility, or profile.
In her private life, she was cheerful, playful, and talkative—hardly the embodiment of fragility. Yet, the moment you looked at her through the camera lens, she became unmistakably ZARD’s Izumi Sakai. I still can’t explain why, but as a subject she had a strikingly unique charm.
Chujo: Musically as well, there was a consistent style. ZARD emerged in the early ’90s, before J-POP had fully solidified as a genre, and produced hit after hit with songs that conveyed a relatable, everyday perspective. I think she was one of the artists who helped shape the standard style of J-POP.
Even the way the lyrics were phrased was innovative. Many ’80s songs broke up lines in ways that matched standard Japanese grammar. But in “Makenaide”, for example, the chorus line “donna ni hanarete temo” (“no matter how far apart we are”) is sung as if broken into “donna ni wa” / “narete temo.” That unusual phrasing created a slight dissonance for the listener, yet unfolded in a fresh, pop style that was uniquely Sakai’s.
Chan: Listening to ZARD has meant different things to me at different stages of life—back in my student days, as a young comedian in my 20s, during married life in my 30s, and while raising two daughters in my 40s. The way I connect with the songs changes, but they’ve always been a guide for nurturing the heart. Even now, ZARD feels incredibly comforting.
As I move into my 50s and 60s, I’m excited to see how my perspective on their music will evolve. But one thing remains the same—I’ll always “want to feel you” (“Anata o Kanjiteitai,” 1994, 13th single).
From “FRIDAY” August 22/29, 2025
PHOTO： Courtesy of B ZONE