Sakerock

Sakerock (サケロック), typeset as SAKEROCK, was an instrumental Japanese band.

Led by Gen Hoshino, the group was formed in 2000 by graduates of a high school in Hannō, Saitama. The band was named after a Martin Denny song and performs uplift, melodic instrumental music influenced by jazz, folk, Latin music and exotica. Over the decade, they released more than 10 albums and mini-albums, including soundtracks for Japanese movies, television dramas and stage plays. They were signed to the Kakubarhythm label.

Members

 * Gen Hoshino (星野源) — guitar, marimba
 * Daichi Itō (伊藤大地) — drums, percussion
 * Member of Cherry's, Good Dog Happy Men and Killing Floor.


 * Kenta "Hamaken" Hamano (浜野謙太) — trombone, scat
 * Member of Asa-Chang & Blue Hats (ASA-CHANG&ブルーハッツ), Gentle Forest Jazz Band, Killing Floor, Newday and Zainichi Funk (在日ファンク).


 * Kei Tanaka (田中馨) — bass, hawaiian guitar
 * Left on 26 December 2011. Member of Chopiiin (ショピン) and Shugo Tokumaru & The Magic Band (トクマルシューゴ＆ザ・マジックバンド).


 * Takuji Nomura (野村卓史) — keyboards
 * Still acts as a support-member. Member of Goodluck Heiwa (グッドラックヘイワ), Natsumen and Wuja Bin Bin.

Both Gen Hoshino and Kenta Hamano pursue acting careers; together with Kei Tanaka and Daichi Itō, they appeared in Kankurō Kudō's 2009 film The Shonen Merikensack (少年メリケンサック).

Albums

 * Yuta (2003)
 * Yuta (Renewal) (2003)
 * Life Cycle (2005)
 * Penguin Pull Pale Piles Sound Tracks 「Best」 (2005)
 * Tropical Dōchū (トロピカル道中) (2006)
 * with Asa-Chang and Ren Takada as Sakerock All Stars (サケロックオールスターズ)


 * Songs of Instrumental (2006)
 * Ojiisan-sensei (おじいさん先生) original soundtrack (2007)
 * Penguin Pull Pale Piles #12: Yurameki (ペンギンプルペイルパイルズ#12「ゆらめき」) original soundtrack (2007)
 * Honyarara (ホニャララ) (2008)
 * Muda (2010)
 * Sayonara (2015)

Mini-albums / EPs

 * Sakerock (2002) (demo)
 * Ian Ryokō (慰安旅行) (2004)
 * Catchball-ya (キャッチボール屋) original soundtrack (2006)

Singles

 * "Ana o Horu / 2, 3-nin" (穴を掘る / 2、3人) (2004)
 * "Kaishain to Ima no Watashi" (会社員と今の私) (2008)

They also contributed music to Isshin Inudō's film Yellow Tears (黄色い涙) starring Arashi and based on a manga by Shinji Nagashima.

Videos

 * "Gūzen no Kiroku" (ぐうぜんのきろく) (2005)
 * "Gūzen no Kiroku 2" (ぐうぜんのきろく2) (2007)
 * "Radical Holiday Sono 0" (ラディカルホリデー その0) (2008)
 * "Radical Holiday Sono 1" (ラディカルホリデー その1) (2009)
 * "Gūzen no Kiroku 3" (ぐうぜんのきろく3) (2009)
 * "Gūzen no Kiroku Final" (ぐうぜんのきろくファイナル) (2012)