Pizzicato Five

Over 16 years or so of existence Pizzicato Five where one of the driving forces of the Shibuya-Kei movement, which incorporated influences of jazz, lounge and 60s pop brought in to a 90s pop and electropop context.
 Formed in 1985 by Yasuhiro Konishi, Keitarō Takanami, Ryō Kamomiya, Mamiko Sasaki, and Shigeo Miyata, Their first single was "Audrey Hepburn Complex" Which was produced by YMO's Haruomi Hosono. Soon after they signed to CBS Sony , but their initial releases where not commercially successful.
 In 1990 vocalist Maki Nomiya joined the group and it was at this time they really developed a sound which fit into the emerging Shibuya-kei movement.
They gained exposure through work on tv themes and their 1993 album Bossa Nova 2001 became a top ten hit.
 In 1994 they had their first releases in America an Ep and album compilation Made in America.

By 1995 the group was simply the duo of Konishi and Nomiya and in February they toured Europe and America
Here's their hit from 1996 "Baby Portable Rock"

In 1997 they had formed their own label called Readymade and released the album Happy end of the World worldwide.
Readymade continued to release material up to 2001 when the group disbanded

Selected Discography:
1987 Pizzicatomania!
1987 Couples
1988 Belissima!
1989 On Her Majesty's Request
1990 Soft Landing on the Moon
1991 Hi Guys! Let Me Teach You
1991 This Year's Girl
1991 Free Soul 2001
1992 Sweet Pizzicato Five
1993 Instant Replay
1993 Expo 2001
1993 Bossanova 2001
1994 Overdose
1994 Made in USA (compilation)
1995 Romantique 96
1995 A Quiet Couple
1997 Happy End of the World
1998 Happy End of You
1999 Pizzicato Five
1999 Playboy & Playgirl
2000 Remixes 2000
2000 The Fifth Release from Matador
2001 Çà et là du Japon
2001 In the Mix

Links
wikipedia
Official Site
Fan Site (Japanese)
discogs
Rate your Music