Ikimonogakari

Ikimonogakari promoting NEWTRAL (2012)

Ikimonogakari (いきものがかり) is a three member rock band that formed in 1999. They made their mainstream debut in March 2006 with EPIC Records Japan.

Members

• Yoshioka Kiyoe (吉岡聖恵) - Vocals
• Mizuno Yoshiki (水野良樹) - Guitar & Vocals; leader
• Yamashita Hotaka (山下穂尊) - Guitar & Harmonica

Information

Ikimonogakari formed in February 1999 as an indie band based in Kanagawa, Japan. Founded by Mizuno Yoshiki and Yamashita Hotaka, the two began doing street performances and decided on their name of "Ikimonogakari". In December of the same year Yoshioka Kiyoe joined as the group's main vocalist. However, nearly one year later the three disbanded in order for Yoshiki and Hotaka to focus on their university entrance exams. Their reformation occurred in March 2002 after the two had gone through their university classes.

Four years after their formation, their first album was released on an indie label. They were signed to EPIC Records Japan and released their first mainstream single "SAKURA" in March 2006. The title song was used in NTT East Japan commercials and heard on various televised programs. In December of 2010 the group announced that they were entering in a hiatus of about six months or more, due to their busy and fully schedule in the past years and the need of some rest. They said that their hiatus would last until the middle of July or so.

Trivia

• Vocalist Kiyoe's older brother was the classmate of both Yoshiki and Hotaka.
• Yoshiki and Hotaka met in their first year of elementary school in 1989. The two were "Ikimonogakari" in their class, or the leaders.
• The band opened for Tamaki Nami on August 5th, 2005 at an Atsugi, Kanagawa music festival.

Discography

Ikimonogakari promoting "Nostalgia" (2010)

Ikimonogakari promoting "Waratteitanda / NEW WORLD MUSIC" (2011)

Albums

• [2007.03.07] Sakura Saku Machi Monogatari (桜咲く街物語; The Story of the Town Where Cherry Blossoms Bloom)
• [2008.02.13] Life Album (ライフアルバム)
• [2008.12.24] My song Your song
• [2009.12.23] Hajimari no Uta (ハジマリノウタ; First Song)
• [2012.02.29] NEWTRAL

Best Albums

• [2010.11.03] ikimono-bakari ~Members BEST Selection~ (いきものばかり～メンバーズBESTセレクション～)

Indie Mini-Albums

• [2003.08.25] Makoto ni Senetsu Nagara First Album wo Koshiraemashita... (誠に僭越ながらファーストアルバムを拵えました...; Indeed, We Were Being Audacious When We Made Our First Album...)
• [2004.08.28] Shichishoku Konnyaku (七色こんにゃく; Rainbow Konjac)
• [2005.05.25] Jinsei Sugorokudabe. (人生すごろくだべ。; Life's Dice Game.)

Singles

• [2006.03.15] SAKURA (Cherry Blossom)
• [2006.05.31] HANABI (Fireworks)
• [2006.10.18] Koisuru Otome (コイスルオトメ; Lady in Love)
• [2006.12.06] Ryuusei Miracle (流星ミラクル; Meteor Miracle)
• [2007.02.14] Uruwashiki Hito / Seishun no Tobira (うるわしきひと / 青春のとびら; Lovely Person / Door of Youth)
• [2007.08.08] Natsuzora Graffiti / Seishun Line (夏空グラフィティ / 青春ライン; Summer Sky Graffiti / Youth Line)
• [2007.10.24] Akaneiro no Yakusoku (茜色の約束; Madder-Coloured Promise)
• [2008.01.30] Hana wa Sakura Kimi wa Utsukushi (花は桜 君は美し; Flowers Are Cherry Blossoms; You Are Beautiful)
• [2008.04.16] Kaeritakunatta yo (帰りたくなったよ; I Wanted to Go Home)
• [2008.07.09] Blue Bird (ブルーバード)
• [2008.10.15] Planetarium (プラネタリウム)
• [2008.12.03] Kimagure Romantic (気まぐれロマンティック; Capricious Romantic)
• [2009.05.27] Futari (ふたり; Two of Us)
• [2009.07.15] Hotaru no Hikari (ホタルノヒカリ; Glow of Fireflies)
• [2009.09.23] YELL / Joyful (じょいふる)
• [2009.11.11] Nakumonka (なくもんか; No More Cry)
• [2010.03.10] Nostalgia (ノスタルジア)
• [2010.05.05] Arigatou (ありがとう; Thank You)
• [2010.08.04] Kimi ga Iru (キミがいる; You're Here)
• [2011.07.13] Warattetainda / NEW WORLD MUSIC (笑ってたいんだ; I Want To Smile)
• [2011.11.23] Aruite Ikou (歩いていこう; Let's Go On)
• [2012.01.18] Itsudatte Bokura wa (いつだって僕らは; We're Always)
• [2012.04.11] Haru Uta (ハルウタ)

Download Exclusive

• [2006.07.19] Futari no Ai Land (ふたりの愛ランド; Our Love Island)

DVDs / Blu-rays

• [2009.03.04] Tottemo Eezou (とってもええぞう; Very Good Elephant)
• [2011.04.27] Ikimono Gakari no Mina-san, Konnitsuaa!! 2010 ~Nandemo Arena!!!~ (いきものがかりの みなさん、こんにつあー!! 2010 ~なんでもアリーナ!!!~)
• [2011.12.14] Ikimonomatsuri 2011 Donata Summer mo Tanoshimima SHOW!!! ~Yokohama Stadium~ (いきものまつり2011 どなたサマーも楽しみまSHOW!!! ~横浜スタジアム~)

Compilation / Other

• [2006.03.08] 14 Princess ~PRINCESS PRINCESS CHILDREN~ (#10 "GET CRAZY!")
• [2006.10.18] Cherry Pie Original Soundtrack (#7 "Nirinka -Cherry Pie version-")
• [2007.03.21] Tenpo Ibun Ayakashi Ayashi Original Soundtrack (#25 "Ryuusei Miracle (ayakashiayashi Ver.)")
• [2006.12.13] BLEACH THE BEST (#11 "HANABI")
• [2007.09.12] Ookiku Furikabutte Original Soundtrack (#24 "Seishun Line -Oofuri version-")
• [2008.03.26] 39 Anime x Music Collaboration '02-'07 (Disc 3 #5 "Ryuusei Miracle")
• [2008.07.02] Koi no Uta(#5 "Koisuru Otome")
• [2009.03.18] JUDY AND MARY 15th Anniversary Tribute Album (#1 "Classic")
• [2009.04.08] Shout at YUMING ROCKS (#6 "Sotsugyou Shashin")
• [2009.12.23] Hit Songs -Everything / Butterfly- Hit Songs Orgel Collection (#5 Futari, #6 Kaeritakunatta yo)

External Links

• Official Website
• Official Blogs
• Sony Music Japan Profile
• CUBE Group Profile