What Is RADWIMPS? The Band Behind "Your Name" and Makoto Shinkai's Films, Explained by Marine

Article

For many international fans, RADWIMPS and "Your Name" are inseparable — the band's music helped define one of anime's biggest global crossover hits.

From Yokohama Schoolmates to Major Label

RADWIMPS formed in 2001 in Yokohama, formed by five schoolmates including vocalist Yojiro Noda, and made their major-label debut in 2005. Their name combines "rad" and "wimp" — reportedly meant to suggest something like "an excellent weakling."

The Voice of Makoto Shinkai's Films

RADWIMPS scored director Makoto Shinkai's 2016 film "Your Name," with the soundtrack peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard World Albums chart and earning Double Platinum certification. They returned for 2022's "Suzume." A 20th major-label-anniversary tribute album released November 19, 2025.

What To Know

RADWIMPS scoring "Your Name" was a huge factor in the film's emotional impact worldwide — for many international fans, the band's music is inseparable from their memory of first watching the film, making RADWIMPS one of the clearest examples of a band and a specific anime film becoming culturally fused in fans' minds.

RADWIMPS' ongoing collaboration with Makoto Shinkai across multiple films reflects a broader pattern in Japanese anime production of directors building long-term creative partnerships with specific musicians, rather than treating a film's music as a one-off commission.

What Fans Are Saying

• "RADWIMPS and Your Name are permanently linked in my memory."
• "Their ongoing partnership with Shinkai is such a great creative match."
• "The 20th anniversary tribute album is a nice milestone."

Original Japanese

• 「RADWIMPSと君の名は。は、記憶の中でずっと結びついています」
• 「新海監督との継続的なコラボは本当に素晴らしい組み合わせです」
• 「20周年のトリビュートアルバムは良い節目ですね」

Easy Japanese

「RADWIMPS」は、2001年に結成された日本のロックバンドです。「君の名は。」の音楽で世界的に有名になりました。