いきものがかり (ikimono-gakari) is a three-member pop rock band founded by childhood friends Yoshiki Mizuno (水野良樹) and Hotaka Yamashita (山下穂尊) in Kanagawa, Japan. The two began doing street performances in February 1999 and decided on the band name. Vocalist Kiyoe Yoshioka (吉岡聖恵) joined in November of that year. They temporarily disbanded in September 2000, coming together again in April 2003 after finishing college.