ikimono gakari

Ikimono Gakari's story began with the meeting of Hotaka and Yoshiki in April 1989, at a time when they were at primary school, where both of them were given the nickname "ikimono gakari", which means "those who are in charge of the (school) pets".

They followed the same path in school and decided to create a band in February 1999 at their Atsugi College (Kanagawa Pref.). Around the same period they definitively chose Ikimono Gakari for their band name (but using a different writing method than now, including kanji: 生き物係) and started performing live in street and at live houses. Some months later, Kiyoe, the little sister of one of their schoolmates joined the band as vocalist.

But the fact is that the three young people were still busy with their studies and by 2000 the college final tests, for university entrance began: so the band made the decision to take a break starting that September before restarting activities only a year and a half later.

With the help of many live performances, the band gained more and more popularity in its local area, and in June 2003, indies label Thunder Snake gave them a chance and offered the band their first real solo concert at Atsugi Thunder Snake, the concert sold out.

The band then released their first mini-album in August entitled Makoto ni Sen'etsu nagara First Album wo Koshiraemashita..., which was sold in Thunder Snake related concert places. The band managed to sell out every subsequent concert and their success grew each time. Their contract with Thunder Snake continued without a hitch.

A second mini-album was available a year later, it sold more than 1,000 copies and the band were now becoming very popular among Kanagawa prefecture's inhabitants. A third and final four tracks indies mini-album was released on May 2005 which included a live DVD of their Atsugi Bunka Kaikan concert. Soon after though Ikimono Gakari were contacted by Sony Music which offered them a contract to sign for the major label EPIC RECORDS JAPAN.

The band's major debut single, SAKURA, released in mid-March 2006 and which is used as a commercial song theme gained a great success, with sixteen weeks on Oricon charts, creating a ideal buzz for the band to become known by general public. Experienced in live performances due to their successful indie performances Ikimono Gakari decided to give a free concert in a park of its hometown, Atsugi to which 2000 people came.

Their second single, HANABI, was quickly released after the success of their first. To celebrate the release of the new CD the band offered up another free live concert, but this time it took place in Mizuno-Yamashita in front of 5000 people. HANABI carried on do well in charts, reaching the Oricon 5th rank, certainly helped by the fact of its use as anime Bleach's ending theme.

Their third single Koi suru Otome was released in mid-October 2006, and instead of being an original song it is a re-arranged version of a song from their indies period, which is well loved by fans. The single is once again promoted as a tie-up, like coupling-with tracks, as GET CRAZY!, a cover of 80s girl band PRINCESS PRINCESS's song.

With positive and sincere attention from the media and solid foundation from their indies experience to be proud of, the band started its first tour (seven dates) in November 2006, titled Ikimono Gakari no Minasan Konnitsuaa !! 2006, with great public anticipation.




Members Profile

Kiyoe Yoshioka (吉岡聖恵, Yoshioka Kiyoe)
Born February 29, 1984 from Atsugi-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture. She is a graduate of Ebina High School and the Showa Academia Musicae Junior College. She is the band's lead vocalist, and has written lyrics to some of the band's songs. Her older brother was a classmate of both Hotaka and Yoshiki at high school. Her nicknames are Yosshie and Kiyoe-chan.


Hotaka Yamashita (山下穂尊, Yamashita Hotaka)
Born August 27, 1982 from Ebina-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture. He is a graduate of Atsugi High School and the Faculty of Social Sciences, Hosei University. He plays the guitar and harmonica, and has written lyrics and melodies to some of the band's songs. His nicknames are Hocchi and Yama-chan.


Yoshiki Mizuno (水野良樹, Mizuno Yoshiki)
Born December 17, 1982 from Ebina-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture. He is a graduate of Atsugi High School and the Faculty of Social Sciences, Hitotsubashi University. He is the leader of the band, and plays the guitar and vocals. He has also written lyrics and melodies to some of the band's songs. His nickname is Yocchan.

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 "Ikimono Gakari" in their class, or the leaders.
* The band opened for Tamaki Nami on August 5th, 2005 at an Atsugi, Kanagawa music festival.



Ikimono-gakari Discography


Indies Album



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)

Release Date : 25 August 2003
Label : Cubit Club
Track List :
1. Hana ha Sakura Kimi ha Utsukushi (花は桜君は美し)
2. Uta Hime (歌姫)
3. Chikyuu (地球)
4. Cosmos (秋桜)
5. Nostalgia (ノスタルジア)
6. Natsu.Koi (夏・コイ)


Shichishoku Konnyaku (七色こんにゃく)

Release Date : 28 August 2004
Label : Cubit Club
Track List :
1. Manatsu no Elegy (真夏のエレジー)
2. Karakuri (からくり)
3. Amaashi (あまあし)
4. Akai Kasa (赤いかさ)
5. Yume dai ~Tooku He~ (夢題～遠くへ～)


Jinsei Sugoroku Dabe. (人生すごろくだべ。)
Release Date : 25 March 2005
Label : Cubit Club
Track List :
1. Koi Suru Otome (コイスルオトメ)
2. Chikoku Shichauyo (ちこくしちゃうよ)
3. Kuchiduke (くちづけ)
4. Gatsu to Atashi to Reizouko (月とあたしと冷蔵庫)

Singles

SAKURA


Release Date : 15 March 2006
Serial Number : ESCL-2803
Track List :
1. SAKURA
2. HOTTO MIRUKU (ホットミルク; Hot Milk)
3. Sotsugyou Shashin (卒業写真; Graduation Photo)
4. SAKURA -Instrumental-

HANABI

Release Date : 31 May 2006
Serial Number : ESCL-2823
Track List :
1. HANABI
2. Amai Nigai Jikan (甘い苦い時間; Sweet, Bitter Time)
3. Momen no HANKACHIIFU (木綿のハンカチーフ; Cotton Handkerchief)
4. HANABI -Instrumental-

KOI SURU OTOME (コイスルオトメ)

Release Date : 18 October 2006
Serial Number : ESCL-2885
Track List :
1. Koi Suru Otome (コイスルオトメ)
2. Nirin Hana (二輪花; Two Flowers)
3. GET CRAZY! -Aki mix version- (GET CRAZY! -秋 mix version-)
4. Koi Suru Otome -Instrumental-

RYUUSEI MIRACLE (流星ミラクル)

Release Date : 6 December 2006
Serial Number : ESCL-2897
Track List :
1. Ryuusei Miracle (流星ミラクル)
2. Yuki Yamanu Yoru Futari (雪やまぬ夜二人)
3. Kaze ni Fukarete (風に吹かれて; The Wind Blows)
4. Ryuusei Miracle -Instrumental-

URUWASHIKI HITO / SEISHUN NO TOBIRA (うるわしきひと / 青春のとびら)

Release Date : 14 February 2007
Serial Number : ESCL-2925
Track List :
1. Uruwashiki Hito (うるわしきひと)
2. Seishun no Tobira (青春のとびら)
3. Haru Ichiban (春一番; First Spring)
4. Uruwashiki Hito -Instrumental-
5. Seishun no Tobira -Instrumental-

NATSUZORA GRAFFITI/ SEISHUN LINE (夏空グラフィティ / 青春ライン)

Release Date :
Serial Number :ESCL-2975
Track List :
1. Natsu Zora GURAFITI (夏空グラフィティ; Summer Sky Graffiti)
2. Seishun RAIN (青春ライン; Youth Line)
3. Aoi Fune (蒼い舟; Blue Boat)
4. Natsu Zora GURAFITI -Instrumental-
5. Seishun RAIN -Instrumental-

Akane Iro no Yakusoku (茜色の約束)

Release Date : 24 October 2007
Serial Number : ESCL-3012
Track List :
1. Akane Iro no Yakusoku (茜色の約束; Crimson Coloured Promised)
2. Kokoro Hitotsu Aru ga Mama (心一つあるがまま)
3. Tsukiyo Koi Kaze (月夜恋風)
4. Akane Iro no Yakusoku -Instrumental-

Hana wa Sakura Kimi wa Utsukushi (花は桜 君は美し)

Release Date :30 January 2008
Serial Number : ESCL-3045
Track List :
1. Hana wa Sakura Kimi wa Utsukushi (花は桜 君は美し)
2. Saigo no Houkago (最後の放課後)
3. Hana wa Sakura Kimi wa Utsukushi -instrumental- (花は桜 君は美し)

Kaeritakunatta Yo (帰りたくなったよ)

Release Date :16 April 2008
Serial Number :ESCL-3058
Track List:
1 Kaeritakunatta yo (帰りたくなったよ)　　
2 Nokori Kaze (残り風)　
3 Kaeritakunatta yo -instrumental- (帰りたくなったよ)
4 Nokori Kaze -instrumental- (残り風)

Blue Bird (ブルーバード)

Release Date : 9 July 2008
Serial Number :
Track list:
1. Blue Bird (ブルーバード)
2. Natsuiro Wakusei (夏色惑星)
3. Blue Bird (instrumental) (ブルーバード)

Planetarium (プラネタリウム)

Release Date: 15 October 2008
Serial Number: ESCL-3114
Track List:
1. プラネタリウム
2. Happy Smile Again
3. Kaeri Taku Natta yo Konnitsuā!! 2008 Live ver.-
4. Planetarium -instrumental- (プラネタリウム-instrumental-)

Kimagure Romantic (気まぐれロマンティック, Kimagure Romantic?)

Release Date: 3 December 2008
Serial Number:ESCL-3139
Track List:
1. Kimagure Romantic (気まぐれロマンティック)
2. message
3. Kimagure Romantic -instrumental- (気まぐれロマンティック)

Album

Sakura Saku Machi Monogatari (桜咲く街物語

Release Date : 7 march 2007
Serial Number : ESCL-2910
Track List :
1. SAKURA
2. KIRA★KIRA★TRAIN
3. HANABI
4. Kimi To Aruita Kisetsu (君と歩いた季節; Season I Walked With You)
5. Koi Suru Otome (コイスルオトメ; To Love A Girl)
6. Ryuusei MIRAKURU (流星ミラクル; Shooting Star Miracle)
7. Seishun no Tobira (青春のとびら; Door of Youth)
8. Hinageshi (ひなげし; Poppy)
9. HOTTO MIRUKU (ホットミルク; Hot Milk)
10. I Ro Ha Ni Ho He To (いろはにほへと)
11. Uruwashiki Hito (うるわしきひと; Lovely Person)
12. Natsu・Koi (夏・コイ; Summer Love)
13. Tayumu Koto Naki Nagare no Naka De (タユムコトナキナガレノナカデ; In A Ceaseless Flow)
14. SAKURA -acoustic version-


Life Album (ライフアルバム)

Release Date : 13 February 2008
Serial Number : ESCL-3046
Track List :
1. Good Morning
2. Akaneiro no Yakusoku (茜色の約束 )
3. Natsuzora Graffiti (夏空グラフィティ)
4. Seishun Line (青春ライン )
5. @miso soup
6. Soprano (ソプラノ)
7. Hana wa Sakura Kimi wa Utsukushi (花は桜 君は美し )
8. Chikoku Shichau yo (ちこくしちゃうよ)
9. Kokoro Hitotsu Arugamama (心一つあるがまま )
10. Nisemono (ニセモノ)
11. Tokyo Saru Monogatari (東京猿物語 )
12. Tsuki to Atashi to Reizouko (月とあたしと冷蔵庫)
13. Akaneiro no Yakusoku -acoustic version- (茜色の約束)

My Song Your Song

Release Date: 24 December 2008
Serial Number: ESCL-3146
Track List:
1. Planetarium (プラネタリウム)
2. Kimagure Romantic (気まぐれロマンティック; Capricious Romantic)
3. Bluebird (ブルーバード)
4. Spice・Magic (スパイス・マジック)
5. Kage Bōshi (かげぼうし; Silhouette)
6. Kaeri Taku Natta yo (帰りたくなったよ; I Felt Like Going Home)
7. message
8. Happy Smile Again
9. Kuchizuke (くちづけ; Kiss)
10. Boku wa Koko ni Iru (僕はここにいる; I Am Here)
11. Pugi Ugi (プギウギ)
12. Maboroshi (幻; Phantom)
13. Kokoro no Hana wo Sakaseyou (心の花を咲かせよう; Let's Make the Flowers of Our Hearts Bloom)
14. Bonus Track: Kaeri Taku Natta yo -acoustic version- (帰りたくなったよ -acoustic version-)

Compilations

1. 14 Princess ~Princess Princess Children~ (14プリンセス～PRINCESS PRINCESS CHILDREN～) (#10 GET CRAZY!) [2006.03.08]



Download Exclusive

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



Soundtracks / OP Theme

1. 'Cherry Pie' Original Soundtrack (「チェリーパイ」オリジナル・サウンドトラック) (#7 Nirin Hana (Cherry Pie version))[2006.10.18]
2. BLEACH THE BEST (#11 Hanabi) [2006.12.13]
3. OST Monster House Seishun No Tobira(青春のとびら)
4. 'Tenpo Ibun Ayakashi Ayashi' Original Soundtrack (「天保異聞 妖奇士」オリジナルサウンドトラック)(#25 Ryuusei Miracle -TVsize-)[2007.03.21]
5. 'Ookiku Furikabutte' Original Soundtrack(「おおきく振りかぶって」オリジナル・サウンドトラック) (#24 Seishun Line (TV version)) [2007.09.12]
6. 'Kaeritakunatta Yo' Main Theme For Movie Sunadokei[2008.04.26]
7. 'Nokori Kaze' Theme Song for Nintendo DS Game Bleach 3rd Phantom
8. 'Blue Bird' OP theme For Naruto Shippuden



OFFICIAL WEBSITE ikimono gakari

credit: ikimono gakari forum