Radwimps

About

Japanese rock band Radwimps was formed in 2001 Yokohama by four friends - Yojiro Noda, Akira Kuwahara, Yūsuke Saiki, Kei Asō and Akio Shibafumi - during their first year of high school. The band's vocalist, Noda, first got into music after getting acquainted with the English band Oasis, in middle school and was asked to sing by a friend. The band began performing in the city while still in school and in 2002, won the grand prize at the Yokohama High School Musical Festival for its song "Moshi mo," which was released as the band's debut single the following year. Its eponymous debut album was released the same year through an independent label before the band went on a hiatus so that the members could focus on their exams. Radwimps returned in 2004 but without Asō, Saiki and Shibafumi. The band's acquaintances - Satoshi Yamaguchi and Yusuke Takeda - were roped-in as replacements. Radwimps began work on its second album Radwimps 2: Hatten Tojō - released in 2005 - and embarked on a tour that included stops at major festivals like Rock in Japan and Summer Sonic. The band's success prompted Toshiba EMI to sign it on and Radwimps made its major-label debut with the single "Nijūgoko-me no Senshokutai." The band's third album, Radwimps 3: Mujintō ni Motte Ikiwasureta Ichimai, dropped in 2006 and debuted at number 13 on Japanese charts. The band has since released multiple super successful records such as Radwimps 4: Okazu no Gohan, Zettai Zetsumei, Your Name. and Anti Anti Generation, to name a few.