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Public recordCompiled from 11 credited sources · Updated Sep 24, 2026

the pillows

Rock band from Sapporo · formed 1989

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the pillows photo
Photo from the public record
Shows on record
55
Rooms played
32
Cities
15
Releases
32
Last show
Jul 19, 2018Mayan Theater

About

the pillows is a band from Sapporo, formed in 1989, tagged alternative rock, garage rock, j-rock by its sources. Shows on record run from 2005 to 2018, across 32 rooms in 15 cities.

  • the pillows formed in 1989 — MusicBrainz
  • the pillows is based in Sapporo — MusicBrainz
  • the pillows disbanded in 2025 — MusicBrainz
  • Yoshiaki Manabe: member — MusicBrainz
  • 上田ケンジ: electric bass guitar (former member) — MusicBrainz
  • 真鍋吉明: electric guitar (former member) — MusicBrainz
  • 佐藤シンイチロウ: drums (drum set) (former member) — MusicBrainz
  • 山中さわお: acoustic guitar, electric guitar, lead vocals (former member) — MusicBrainz
  • 鹿島達也: additional, electric bass guitar (former member) — MusicBrainz
  • 鈴木淳: additional, electric bass guitar (former member) — MusicBrainz
  • 有江嘉典: additional, electric bass guitar (former member) — MusicBrainz
  • the pillows has 25 release group(s) on MusicBrainz spanning 1991–2018 — MusicBrainz
  • The Pillows is from Hokkaido , Japan — Wikipedia
  • The Pillows plays Alternative rock — Wikipedia
  • The Pillows plays pop rock — Wikipedia
  • The Pillows plays garage rock — Wikipedia
  • The Pillows plays [ 1 ] [ 2 ] indie rock — Wikipedia
  • The Pillows plays post-grunge — Wikipedia
  • The Pillows has 535268 listeners on Last.fm — The Pillows on Last.fm
  • The Pillows has released 10 recordings between 2017 and 2024 — The Pillows on Discogs
  • The Pillows has 24 followers on Genius — The Pillows on Genius

The summary is assembled from the record fields and shows on this page; each fact listed names its source. See Sources & corrections for what each source supplied.

Shows

55 on record · Songkick
No upcoming shows on record.Know of one? Tell us

Shows per year

  1. 20051 show
  2. 20062 shows
  3. 20072 shows
  4. 20085 shows
  5. 20091 show
  6. 20108 shows
  7. 201114 shows
  8. 20122 shows
  9. 20132 shows
  10. 20145 shows
  11. 20154 shows
  12. 20164 shows
  13. 20185 shows
Show history
DateVenue
Jul 19, 2018Mayan Theater · Los Angeles (LA)Headlinerwith Cullen Omori
Jul 18, 2018August Hall · San FranciscoHeadlinerwith Noodles, Cullen Omori
Jul 15, 2018Moore Theatre · SeattleSupportwith Cullen Omori
Jul 13, 2018Irving Plaza · New York (NYC)Headlinerwith Cullen Omori
Jul 12, 2018Gramercy Theatre · New York (NYC)Headlinerwith Cullen Omori, Noodles
Jul 18, 2016Club Diamond Hall / クラブ ダイアモンドホール · NagoyaHeadliner
Jun 28, 2016Live House Sash - 窓枠 · HamamatsuHeadliner
May 19, 2016Club Quattro / クラブクアトロ · NagoyaHeadliner
Jan 30, 2016The Forum · Tunbridge WellsHeadlinerwith Mechanical Monkey, Extra Shot
Dec 16, 2015Club Diamond Hall / クラブ ダイアモンドホール · NagoyaHeadliner
Jul 13, 2015Bottom Line · NagoyaHeadliner
Mar 22, 2015Zepp Nagoya · NagoyaHeadliner
Feb 19, 2015Live House Sash - 窓枠 · HamamatsuHeadliner
Dec 3, 2014Club Quattro / クラブクアトロ · NagoyaHeadliner
Aug 15, 2014Ishikari Bay New Port Tarukawa Pier (石狩湾新港樽川ふ頭横野外特設ステージ) · IshikariHeadliner
Jun 27, 2014Zepp Nagoya · NagoyaHeadlinerwith 9mm Parabellum Bullet
Mar 28, 2014City Arts Innovation Center / 市芸術創造センター · NagoyaHeadliner
Mar 14, 2014City Arts Innovation Center / 市芸術創造センター · NagoyaHeadliner
Nov 22, 2013Club Diamond Hall / クラブ ダイアモンドホール · NagoyaHeadliner
Sep 1, 2013Club Diamond Hall / クラブ ダイアモンドホール · NagoyaHeadlinerwith The Collectors
May 18, 2012Zepp Nagoya · NagoyaHeadliner
Apr 10, 2012Live House Sash - 窓枠 · HamamatsuHeadliner
Dec 31, 2011Duo Music Exchange · ShibuyaHeadlinerwith Noodles, Bugy Craxone, Pop Chocolat, +2
Dec 11, 2011Club Diamond Hall / クラブ ダイアモンドホール · NagoyaHeadliner
Oct 1, 2011Studio Coast (新木場) · TokyoSupportwith Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Abe Mao, HALCALI, +2
Sep 13, 2011Speakeasy · AustinHeadliner
Sep 11, 2011Gramercy Theatre · New York (NYC)Headlinerwith Noodles
Sep 9, 2011El Corazon · SeattleHeadlinerwith Noodles
Sep 7, 2011Slim's · San FranciscoHeadliner
Sep 5, 2011El Rey Theatre · Los Angeles (LA)Headliner
Jul 24, 2011Zepp Sendai · SendaiHeadliner
Apr 24, 2011Zepp Tokyo · TokyoHeadliner
Apr 17, 2011Zepp Osaka · OsakaHeadliner
Apr 16, 2011Zepp Osaka · OsakaHeadliner
Apr 10, 2011Zepp Nagoya · NagoyaHeadliner
Mar 14, 2011Live House Sash - 窓枠 · HamamatsuHeadliner
Dec 31, 2010Shibuya O East · ShibuyaHeadlinerwith Noodles, Bugy Craxone, Pop Chocolat, +1
Dec 16, 2010Zepp Tokyo · TokyoHeadliner
Dec 12, 2010Namba Hatch / なんばHatch · OsakaHeadliner
Dec 10, 2010Club Diamond Hall / クラブ ダイアモンドホール · NagoyaHeadliner
Nov 25, 2010Koenji High · TokyoHeadlinerwith Scars Borough
Aug 7, 2010Summer Sonic 2010 · OsakaHeadliner
May 23, 2010The Glass House · PomonaHeadlinerwith Monokuro, Pop Chocolat
May 21, 2010Slim's · San FranciscoHeadlinerwith Monokuro, Pop Chocolat
Apr 12, 2009Hemlock Tavern · San FranciscoSupportwith Mecca Normal
Oct 2, 2008Hemlock Tavern · San FranciscoSupportwith Neva Dinova, McCarthy Trenching
Mar 21, 2008Gramercy Theatre · New York (NYC)Headlinerwith Noodles
Mar 19, 2008Club Motor · SeattleHeadliner
Mar 17, 2008Slim's · San FranciscoHeadliner
Mar 13, 2008El Rey Theatre · Los Angeles (LA)Supportwith The Briggs, Noodles
Aug 17, 2007Ezo · IshikariHeadliner
Aug 11, 2007Maishima Sports Island / 舞洲スポーツアイランド · OsakaHeadliner
Jun 28, 2006Slim's · San FranciscoHeadlinerwith Lemon Drop Kick
Jun 27, 2006Whisky a Go Go · West HollywoodHeadliner
Aug 19, 2005Ishikari Bay New Port Tarukawa Pier (石狩湾新港樽川ふ頭横野外特設ステージ) · IshikariHeadliner

Where they play

32 rooms in 15 cities

Rooms played most

Cities played

  • Nagoya15 shows
  • San Francisco7 shows
  • Osaka5 shows
  • Hamamatsu4 shows
  • New York (NYC)4 shows

and 10 other cities

Releases

32 releases, 1991–2024

  • Blank

    2024

  • Return To Third Movement! Vol.1

    2021

  • Return To Third Movement! Vol.2

    2021

  • Happy Go Ducky!

    2019

  • REBROADCAST

    2018 · Album

  • FLCL Alternative / Progressive Complete CD-Box

    2018

  • FooL on CooL generation

    2018

  • NOOK IN THE BRAIN

    2017 · Album

  • どこにもない世界

    2017

  • STROLL AND ROLL

    2016 · Album

  • ムーンダスト

    2014 · Album

  • トライアル

    2012 · Album

  • HORN AGAIN

    2011 · Album

  • OOPARTS

    2009 · Album

  • PIED PIPER

    2008 · Album

  • Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!

    2007 · Album

  • MY FOOT

    2006 · Album

  • 90’S MY LIFE returns

    2004 · Album

  • GOOD DREAMS

    2004 · Album

  • ペナルティーライフ

    2003 · Album

  • Another morning, Another pillows

    2002 · Compilation

  • Thank you, my twilight

    2002 · Album

  • Fool on the planet

    2001 · Compilation

  • Smile

    2001 · Album

  • HAPPY BIVOUAC

    1999 · Album

  • RUNNERS HIGH

    1999 · Album

  • LITTLE BUSTERS

    1998 · Album

  • Please Mr.Lostman

    1997 · Album

  • LIVING FIELD

    1995 · Album

  • KOOL SPICE

    1994 · Album

  • WHITE INCARNATION

    1992 · Album

  • MOON GOLD

    1991 · Album

Lineup

  • Yoshiaki Manabe

Former

  • 上田ケンジ · electric bass guitar
  • 真鍋吉明 · electric guitar
  • 佐藤シンイチロウ · drums (drum set)
  • 山中さわお · acoustic guitar, electric guitar, lead vocals
  • 鹿島達也 · additional, electric bass guitar
  • 鈴木淳 · additional, electric bass guitar
  • 有江嘉典 · additional, electric bass guitar

Airplay

  • KEXP airplay: 3 plays, 2025-03-06–2025-12-11 — KEXP
  • Played on KEXP show 'Eastern Echoes' (Diana Ratsamee) — KEXP

Photos, art and posters

the pillows — Hemlock Tavern, 2008-10-02
Poster · Hemlock Tavern, 2008-10-02 — Songkick
the pillows — El Rey Theatre, 2008-03-13
Poster · El Rey Theatre, 2008-03-13 — Songkick

Sources & corrections

Report a correctionRequest removal
What each source supplied
SourceUsed for
MusicBrainzArtist facts
WikipediaArtist facts
The Pillows on Last.fmArtist facts
The Pillows on DiscogsArtist facts
The Pillows on GeniusArtist facts
KEXPAirplay
SongkickShow history, Show posters
DiscogsCredited on the record; no item on this page cites it
GeniusCredited on the record; no item on this page cites it
Last.fmCredited on the record; no item on this page cites it
WikidataCredited on the record; no item on this page cites it

This is a partial record of publicly documented activity. Missing shows, releases or members do not mean there are none. It does not confirm availability for booking.