j-pop lover

FORMATION

Guitar: Yamashita Hotaka

Vocal: Yoshioka Kiyoe

Guitar, Vocals: Mizuno Yoshiki

PROFILE

Indie kids, Ikimono-gakari have been making waves in the mainstream Jpop scene recently since Their huge hit and debut single, Sakura in 2005. The three members fronted by a female singer (a common occurrence in Japanese popular music) make gentle, kooky indie rock That Is Softly reminiscent of youthful days. They are about to embark upon Their Biggest tour to date and shows no sign of stopping soon.

Relatively kimonogakari are a young band. Although Theys Originally formed in 1999, it was not Until 2006 That They were the resource persons signed by Epic Records and Made Their major debut. In February of 1999, Mizuno Yoshiki and Yamashita Hotaka, WHO classmates were the resource persons at Atsugi College in Kanagawa, decided to form a band and began to do street performances. They chose the name 'Ikimono-gakari' the which means 'those in charge of the school pets'. In December 1999, Yoshioka Kiyoe, the younger sister of one of Their classmates completed joining the band as vocalist.

Despite Intentions to create the band, the school got in the way. In 2000 as the final tests for the University began the band decided to take a break as the entrance exams They regrouping stores a year and a half later. In 2003 They then made an independent Their debut on the label Thunder Snake. The band were the resource persons Offered Their first one-man concert at Atsugi Thunder Snake in June and the concert sold out. Gave it the boost to the band's first release a mini-album, Makoto ni Sen'etsu country of residence Koshiraemashita First Album wo ... EACH subsequent concert with Thunder Snake Would Also sell out.

The popularity of the indie trio grew in Kanagawa with Their second mini-album selling More Than 1000 copies. In May 2005, the final release of Their mini-album was accompanied by a live DVD of Their Atsugi Bunka Kaikan concert and caught the attention of Sony Music. Soon after Ikimono-gakari were the resource persons signed to Epic Records Japan and Made Their first major concert appearance opening for Tamaki Nami at the Atsugi Kanagawa Music Festival.

The debut song, Sakura, Could not have been more of a dream debut. It was released in mid-March 2006 to accompany a commercial for NTT EastJapan. It spent 16 weeks on the Oricon charts. Following this success the band Gave a free performance in Atsugi to the which 2000 people Came and after the release of the second single HANABI They Gave another free concert. This time it was Attended by 5000 people. HANABI again performed well reaching number 5 on the Oricon charts, a fact That was probably aided by the use of the song as the ending theme for Bleach.

Soon after the release of third single, Koisuru Otome (a reworking of one of Their old songs indies) They commenced Countrywide Their first tour, Ikimono-gakari konnitsua no Minna-san! 2006. It stores in seven destinations across Japan Including Osaka, Sendai, Nagoya and Fukuoka.

In 2007, Ikimono-gakari Their continued success with the release of Their first album in March. Would this album changed from the 78th best selling album That year with a total sales figure of 158,000 copies and reach the Oricon chart peak of 4. This was followed by another tour in May Countrywide During the which 11 venues sold out. Then the band for Graffiti Natsuzora Would go overseas for the first time to film the PV.

Currently in 2008 They have just released a new single Hana kimi wa wa utsukushii pocket and a second album, the which charted at 7 on the Oricon Weekly charts. They are currently Preparing now for a 25-date tour That earnest commence on the 30th March.