The Winking Owl is a pop rock band hailing from Takasaki, Gunma, Japan, founded in 2010 by guitarist Yoma. As the founding guitarist, Yoma enrolled in a music school in the United States after completing high school, where he also played in the band Cloud Highland. During this period, the band explored a genre reminiscent of female-vocalist bands like Paramore, which left a significant influence on Yoma. Although he initially planned to stay in America, visa and band-related challenges led him to return to Japan when his visa expired.