Ikimonogakari is a pop rock band from Japan's Kanagawa Prefecture, formed by
Yoshiki Mizuno, Kiyoe Yoshioka, and Hotaka Yamashita in February 1999. Childhood
friends Mizuno and Yamashita decided to start making music together and invited
the musically experienced Yoshioka to join them. Named Ikimonogakari—referencing
a group of children in Japanese elementary schools who take care of plants and
animals—the trio released their debut independent album, Makoto ni Senetsu
Nagara First Album wo Koshirae Mashita, in 2003. As the group honed their
performance skills and built a grassroo...