Ikimono Gakari

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 popular Japanese 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 show no sign of stopping soon.

BIOGRAPHY
Ikimonogakari are a relatively young band. Although they formed originally in 1999, it was not until 2006 that they were signed by Epic Records and made their major debut. In February of 1999, Mizuno Yoshiki and Yamashita Hotaka, who were classmates at Atsugi College in Kanagawa, decided to form a band and began to do street performances. They chose the name 'Ikimono-gakari' which means 'those in charge of the school pets'. In December 1999, Yoshioka Kiyoe, the younger sister of one of their classmates completed the band joining as vocalist. Despite intentions to create the band, school got in the way. In 2000 as final tests for University began the band decided to take a break as they took the entrance exams regrouping a year and a half later. In 2003 they then made their independent debut on the label Thunder Snake. The band were offered their first oneman concert at Atsugi Thunder Snake in June and the concert sold out. It gave the band the boost to release a first mini-album, Makoto ni Sen'etsu nagara First Album wo Koshiraemashita... 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 release of their final 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 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 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 performed well again 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 indies songs) they commenced their first countrywide tour, Ikimono-gakari no minna-san konnitsua!! 2006. It took in 7 destinations across Japan including Osaka, Sendai, Nagoya and Fukuoka.In 2007, Ikimono-gakari continued their success with the release of their first album in March. This album would become the 78th best selling album that year with a total sales figure of 158000 copies and reach an Oricon chart peak of 4. This was followed by another countrywide tour in May during which 11 venues sold out. Then for Natsuzora Graffiti the band would go overseas for the first time to film the PV.Currently in 2008 they have just released a new single Hana wa saku kimi wa utsukushii and a second album, which charted at 7 on the Oricon weekly charts. They are currently preparing now for a 25 date tour that will commence on the 30th March.

Blue Bird

July 9, 2008

1. Blue Bird
2. Natsuiro Wakusei
3. Blue Bird -instrumental-

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Kaeritakunatta yo

April 16, 2008

1. Kaeritaku natta yo帰りたくなったよ
2. Nokori kaze残り風
3. Kaeritaku natta yo (Instrumental)帰りたくなったよ (Instrumental)
4. Nokori kaze (Instrumental)残り風 (Instrumental)

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