Ikimonogakari

Ikimono Gakari, one of the most successful young pop/rock bands in Japan, actually claim to be not so young, citing 1999 as their formation date. However, their early attempt at rocking out didn't go anywhere. The group was established in Kanagawa by onetime schoolmates Mizuno Yoshiki and Yamashita Hotaka while they were attending separate colleges. The group expanded to a trio by the end of the year upon the addition of female underclassman Yoshioka Kiyoe as the vocalist. Right from the start the band was dubbed Ikimono Gakari -- a name that is as amusing in English as it is ...