Susumu Hirasawa has announced the return of his long-running solo project KAKU P-MODEL, with a new album titled ‘unZIP’ set for release this October. This will be the project’s first full-length release in seven years, following 2018’s ‘Kai=Kai’.
Hirasawa confirmed the news across official channels on July 30th, including a post on his English-language X account. While the exact release date and tracklist are still unannounced, an early preview of ‘unZIP’ will air during the August 2nd broadcast of Susumu Hirasawa’s Back Space Pass, a livestream on his official YouTube channel.
KAKU P-MODEL, active since 2004, continues the creative path laid out by P-MODEL, the influential technopop group Hirasawa co-founded in 1979. Initially one of Japan’s “Techno Big Three” alongside Plastics and Hikashu, P-MODEL helped define the nation’s techno and new wave scenes through the 1980s and 1990s. Hirasawa eventually disbanded the group in 2000, with KAKU P-MODEL emerging as a more digitally oriented solo continuation.
In addition to the new record, Hirasawa will return to the stage under the name “Susumu Hirasawa + KAIJIN” for two upcoming performances. The first is set for December 2025 in Osaka, followed by a Tokyo date in January 2026. Venue details and ticket information are yet to be announced.
In 2024, Susumu Hirasawa launched the English-language account @hirasawa_info_e to provide overseas listeners with regular updates.
Further information on ‘unZIP’, the live shows, and the upcoming broadcast will be available via Susumu Hirasawa’s official website.
About Susumu Hirasawa
Known for a rigorous DIY approach, Hirasawa has long operated from his self-powered Studio WIRESELF, recording with solar energy and minimal personnel. His music merges electronic structures with philosophical themes, informed by his interests in analytical psychology, speculative fiction, and Japanese cultural identity. Internationally, he is best known for scoring Satoshi Kon’s Paprika and Millennium Actress, as well as the 1997 anime adaptation of Berserk.
KAKU P-MODEL
unZIP
Release Date: TBA
Label: CHAOS UNION
Stream: Spotify | Apple Music
