Ikimonogakari is a Japanese pop-rock trio whose members first met in grade school, then later reconnected to release a string of chart-topping albums. ∙ “Hanabi,” from their 2007 major-label debut, Sakurasakumachi Monogatari, was the first in a decade-long run of more than two-dozen Top 10 entries on the Oricon Singles Chart. ∙ Their 2008 album, My Song Your Song included the hit “Blue Bird,” which served as the opening theme for the anime adaptation of the award-winning manga series Naruto. ∙ Thanks to the 2009 smash “Yell,” Hajimarinouta debuted at No. 1 on three different Oricon charts and earned Best Album honors at the Japan Record Awards. ∙ Written with the hope that it would inspire Japanese athletes, “Kazegafuiteiru” was chosen as the theme song for NHK’s broadcast of the 2012 Summer Olympics. ∙ Vocalist Kiyoe Yoshioka became the first-ever Japanese artist to perform “World in Union,” the official song of the Rugby World Cup, when the 2019 event launched in Tokyo.