Born in New York City circa 1998 (and currently based in Tokyo).

While based in NYC, HIMA performed regularly at club events in the metro area and large-scale loft parties in Brooklyn with as many as 3,000 attendees. HIMA also played such events as the CMJ Music Marathon and were regulars in the Moby VJ Team MOVE*MENT events, where they caught the eye of various media outlets.

HIMA has been furiously active in the fashion and graphic design world.Thanks to a piece in The New York Times , the duo were invited to play a party for Polo Ralph Lauren's new fragrance and then came a gig at ANIME Next in NYC which helped them realize their dreams of working in the industry.

HIMA's musical style and imagery have been lauded far and wide. In 2000, they partnered with a Detroit record label and began to conquer the Midwest, making their debut at the heavily techno-influenced event, LIFEFEST, also at clubs around the holy land of Techno, Detroit.

But HIMA's activity wasn't limited to the U.S. To much acclaim, they toured Belgium and Tokyo twice with Ceephax Acid Crew, the younger brother of hard-core acid artist, Squarepusher.

And then, word of HIMA spread quickly. They appeared on a compilation album from independent Frankfurt label, SHIBUYAHOT/Apricot Records.

In Winter of 2001, HIMA released their first full length album, "mineral" on Detroit ' s Rematter, the, sister label of renowned break-core, LOWRES, of Detroit. For the duo, becoming label-mates of such acts as Jason Snell and I:gor, had a large impact on their music.

In 2004, HIMAWARI returned to Japan and excited audiences with live performances in Tokyo. Soon after, HIMA began appearing at monthly events around metropolitan Tokyo, including "Electric Rose" and "Electric Pub", sponsored by "Sonar Sound Tokyo" planners, Third Ear. They also found their way to "COEXIST" at Nishi Azabu's, Bul-let's.

In 2005, HIMA's long-awaited second album "pomposo" went into production.

The CD jacket design by Virgilio Santos of Dzark and the motion graphics from Takeshi Ichikawa perfectly sync with HIMA's music, ensuring that the new HIMA album will mesmerize audiences around the world.

In Aug. 2006, the documentaly film DVD, "high tech soul" directed by Gary Bredou and interviewed to techno musicians including Juan Atkins, Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson and himawari!, was released from JVC. And the same month, hima had a solo live performance show in Tokyo. There were 1.5 times more audiences than the capacity and it received well in many media.

From the age of two, Lena began her foray into the world of music, starting initially with piano lessons. At 13, she picked up the flute for the first time and eventually competed in the top rankings of many national Japanese music competitions. Her musical prowess then blossomed under the tutelage of world-famous flutist, Jean Pierre Rampal. And now, she applies her broad world view to lyric-writing steeped in allegory and reminiscent of fairy tales.

At 18, Lena journeyed on her own to the U.S. and soon met musician and motion graphic artist, Takeshi Ichikawa. In 1998, she and Takeshi joined forces to form Himawari. The rest is HIMA history.

But the highly photogenic Lena isn't bound only to the musical realm. In New York, she caught the eye of various figures in the fashion industry and has since modeled for Vidal Sassoon and NIKE Magazine. She has also worked with Bjork's makeup artist, Hiromi Kobari, and made her acting debut in a movie "The Iron DJ", and promotional video for rock band "A Camp", formed by Nina, from the Swedish pop band, Cardigans.

In 2007, she joined to Sony Vaio Web commercial as a model/performer.

Sony VAIO - Remix Your Life
http://vaio-online.sony.com/remix/

From a young age, Takeshi showed an interest in music and theatre, and at 13 he began his formal music training. From 15, he joined his first band and began recording. At 18, he found himself entering the Berklee College of Music in Boston where he studied under the likes of Dean Anderson (Boston Philharmonic orchestra), Steven Wilkes (Empire Brass), and Terry Bozzio (Frank Zappa).

While attending Berklee, he fell into the world of electronic music made on the computer which is also when his association with Julliard and the New England Conservatory began.

After Berklee, Takeshi caught the eye of the grandfather of avant-garde, John Zorn, and he ventured to New York. In New York, he began creating his own music and from 1996 he and Lena created their own brand of experimental music paired with video imagery. In 1998, HIMA was born.

Thanks to HIMA, Takeshi's work again caught the eye of an industry leader, this time MTV Networks who contracted him as a freelance designer. Soon after, he honed his web and motion graphic design skills working with various companies such as Sony USA, Canon and Japanese airline, ANA.

After 13 years in the States, Takeshi returned to Japan. As a motion graphics and web designer, Takeshi has since lent his expertise to Walt Disney Pictures and his musical prowess to the theme music for a Post Pet video and also a Kewpie Mayonnaise commercial.

In June 2006, the oprning movie for Raindance Movie Festical in UK, "daughter", received "the highest award in TV and CM" and "Special Jury Award" which is the grand prize for all short film. The music Takeshi composed for this film was well received in many many media all over the world.

FREIHEIT
http://www.freiheit.jp