TAGRIGHT From 'ZERO' to the Global Stage: An Exclusive Interview with the Rising J-Pop Group
In an exclusive OTS Magazine UK interview produced in collaboration with our media partner INSTYLEASIA, TAGRIGHT open up about their journey from the TAG SEARCH project to their official debut with “ZERO”, their first major fashion-stage experience at KANSAI COLLECTION, and their ambitions for the global music scene.
Following their performance at KANSAI COLLECTION 2026 A/W at Kyocera Dome Osaka, the seven-member J-pop group spoke with OTS about their musical identity, working with mentor and choreographer YUMEKI, making the transition from dance performance to runway, and the distinctive hybrid sound they hope will become unmistakably TAGRIGHT.
Congratulations on your official debut with a single 'ZERO' on July 15th! Going from the intense survival journey and training camp to performing live here at Kansai Collection, how does it feel to officially step into the industry as a unified 7-member group?
TAGRIGHT: Because our debut came after overcoming various obstacles, bringing together members with diverse backgrounds, we are deeply grateful and overjoyed to be standing on stage together as TAGRIGHT.
At the same time, we strongly feel that this marks our true starting line. We will channel the immense love and cheers we received on the stage of Kansai Collection into energy and continue to share our music and performances with even more people!
We love individual style expression. Today, Nishiyama Tomoki, Maeda Daisuke, and Jay officially made their runway modeling debuts! What did it feel like transitioning your focus from sharp dance formations to walking a fashion runway?
TAGRIGHT: In dance, our focus is on synchronizing movements with the music, whereas on the runway, I focused on captivating the audience through my presence, facial expressions, and the way I walked. It was a different kind of tension than I’m used to, but being able to express my true self made it a really fresh and enjoyable experience!
You shared an exclusive collaborative stage with your mentor and choreographer, YUMEKI. What was it like sharing a stage with him as equal professional artists today?
TAGRIGHT: It was a truly special and irreplaceable honor to share the stage as an artist with YUMEKI, the one who guided us through the programme and watched over TAGRIGHT even before we were officially formed.
While preparing for the show, experiencing YUMEKI’s energy and presence up close constantly inspired me, pushing our own powers of expression and mindset to a higher level. This performance is a treasure to us.
Your debut single 'ZERO' represents a powerful fresh start. For international fans who are reading our magazine, how would you describe the unique musical and visual flavor that TAGRIGHT brings to the modern J-Pop landscape?
TAGRIGHT: With the single "ZERO" and our other work, TAGRIGHT centers its musical identity on "pop-rock". We strive to reinterpret the catchy, emotional melodies and powerful characteristics of J-rock through the frame of a dance and vocal group, elevating them into a sound that is uniquely our own.
Our music feels fresh to new generations while evoking a sense of nostalgia – the co-existence of the nostalgic and the modernity is the core of TAGRIGHT’s sound. Another key aspect of our appeal lies in our lyrics; rather than trying to lead others or forcefully push them forward, we depict ourselves moving earnestly alongside them. We aim to create songs that allow listeners to see themselves and also reflect on our journey.
TAGRIGHT: Unlike groups that spent their trainee days together, we formed this group after each of us had been working hard in different environments.
Naturally, our mindsets and personalities are completely different. Because of that, we often face struggles and clash with one another. However, we’ve made it a priority to have thorough discussions to deepen our understanding and acknowledge each other's unique qualities as we work together as a team of seven to create something unified. Through that process, our bonds have strengthened, and I believe that we all now share a unified goal to stand on the stadium stage together as a group of seven.
Performing at a venue as massive as the Kyocera Dome Osaka so early in your debut career is incredible. What goes through your minds right before the stadium lights switch on, and how do you channel those nerves into the stage power?
TAGRIGHT: It's a true privilege for us, for having recently debuted, to perform on such a massive stage here. We are deeply grateful to our fans, the "RIGHTIEs," who support us day in and day out, as well as to our entire staff.
Naturally, stepping on the stage makes us nervous, but it was matched by a powerful determination to entertain everyone at the present. Since there are still many people who don't know us yet, we are driven by the desire to spark their interest through our performance, it's a moment that really fires us up!
We are still just getting started, so the drive to turn as many people in the audience as possible into fans fuels the energy we pour into our performance.
Your international fan base is expanding rapidly. As you look toward the UK, European, and broader Asian markets, what kind of lasting footprint or legacy do you hope TAGRIGHT leaves in the global music industry?
TAGRIGHT: What we aim to achieve in the global music scene is to establish a unique "hybrid" style for TAGRIGHT, one that isn't bound by the constraints of specific genres or national borders. We don't want to lean too heavily toward J-Rock or dance-vocal pop, nor toward the nostalgic or the cutting-edge genre.
Instead, we want to hone an expressive style that exists in the space between them - a kind of "intermediate shade" - and make that our signature identity. Ultimately, we want to become an act recognized across countries and languages for a sound and style that is unmistakably "TAGRIGHT". That is the mark we hope to leave on the global music scene.
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Epilogue: From ZERO to INFINITY
Watching TAGRIGHT stand on the massive Kyocera Dome stage, it's hard to believe that they just debuted a month ago. The passion in their eyes and the seamless fusion of their distinct personalities revealed a group that has bypassed the typical rookie phase. They are not just following the trends of the modern music scene, but they were here to redefine them with their signature hybrid sound.
Guided by the wisdom of YUMEKI, fueled by the love of the RIGHTIEs, and united by a shared promise, Tomoki, Daisuke, Daigo, Kairi, Shion, Seima, and Jay have officially left their mark. TAGRIGHT has started from "ZERO", and their journey toward global domination has officially begun.
GET TO KNOW: TAGRIGHT
TAGRIGHT is a rising 7-member boy group born from the vision of the "TAG SEARCH" project, spearheaded by co-founders Tomoki Nishiyama and Daisuke Maeda. The group’s name, "TAGRIGHT", powerfully embodies the members' core philosophy: "To firmly believe in their own TAG (individuality) and dynamically transform the path they have chosen into RIGHT (rightness/righteousness)."
The lineup reached its final form when Daigo Kobayashi, Kairi Imai, Shion Kishinami, Seima Wakamatsu, and Jay joined the ranks, officially kicking off their activities as a unified 7-member group in December 2025.
They first captured the hearts of fans on January 7, 2026, with the release of their pre-debut track "FOREVER BLUE", a special song written and composed by member Tomoki Nishiyama himself. Following the explosive momentum, they made their official debut on July 15, 2026, with their hit single "ZERO", marking the definitive arrival of a new force in the global music scene.
Follow TAGRIGHT’s Journey:
Official Website: tagright.jp
Instagram: @tagright_official
X (Formerly Twitter): @TAGRIGHT_JP
KANSAI COLLECTION WEB: https://www.kansai-collection.net/
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Interviewer/Translator/ Photography: Teerapat
Special thanks to the Fullhouse PR (Osaka) team, Horipro Music Division and KANSAI COLLECTION
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