Led by singer and actor Kohei Otomo, Japanese rockers Hound Dog formed in 1976 in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. The group originated when Yoshihide Takahashi, a guitarist and founding member, invited Otomo to form the band while they were both attending Tohoku Gakuin University. The name Hound Dog was adopted from an Elvis Presley hit song that Otomo admired. In 1980, the band made its official debut with the single "Storm's Friday". Despite numerous lineup changes and challenges, including a significant shift in members in 1984, Hound Dog continued to perform live extensively. Their first public debut at Nippon Budokan attracted around 10,000 people, marking the beginning of a three-year live tour. The band organized another performance at the same venue for local students, allowing them to use their graduation certificates as tickets, showcasing their commitment to community engagement. In 1989, Hound Dog performed a 15-day live concert marathon at Nippon Budokan, setting a record that remained unbroken as of 2017. The band's discography includes notable albums such as Back To Rock (1991), Happy Star (2000), and Omega (2005). Internationally, Hound Dog are best known for their 1986 single "R★O★C★K★S", which served as one of the opening themes to the Naruto anime.