The band consists of five members: Ichiro Yamaguchi, Motoharu Iwadera, Ami Kusakari, Emi Okazaki, and Keiichi Ejima.

In the band's own words, their name reflects a wish to act quickly and lightly, like fish in the water, without fearing changes in the music scene.

[3] Ichirō Yamaguchi, Sakanaction's frontman, originally started a band called Dutchman, in 1998 with his fellow high school mates, including Motoharu Iwadera.

When Yamaguchi was working in a record store, he heard the song "Owari no Kisetsu" by Rei Harakami and it became a great motivation for him to create Sakanaction.

[7] Kusakari had just left another band then and was asked to join Sakanaction, Ejima was introduced by a mutual friend, and Okazaki was Yamaguchi's colleague from the record store.

Some time after the release of Night Fishing, the band made a decision to move from Hokkaido to Tokyo where they could reach out to more people.

Sakanaction performed alongside Paul Weller, The Fratellis, Death Cab for Cutie, Cajun Dance Party, Band of Horses, Blood Red Shoes, and These New Puritans.

[11] On December 26, 2008, they made it to #9 on Billboard's Japan Hot 100 list with their single "Sen to Rei" beating out MAYS's "Kiss (Koi ni Ochite... Fuyu)" and coming in just after Greeeen's "Tobira".

On July 20, 2011, Sakanaction released their second single of the year, "Bach no Senritsu o Yoru ni Kiita Sei Desu.".

[20] Sakanaction continued to garner more attention as vocalist Yamaguchi composed and wrote the song "Moment" for the popular veteran boyband SMAP, who were label mates.

The song was used as the theme for 2012 Summer Olympics broadcasts on television channel TBS, and was released in a single on 8 August 2012.

They were awarded Best Artist, with their representative works being the music videos for "Boku to Hana" and "Yoru no Odoriko".

The band released their first vinyl record, titled Inori EP on 26 June 2013, containing remixes of two songs from the album.

[27] With their sixth album and accompanying tour's success in 2013, they were invited to perform for the first time on NHK's prestigious music show Kōhaku Uta Gassen on 31 December.

[31] In videos, many of the albums' serious topics are offset by vivid and playful situations such as cheerleading, retro celebrity appearances, and people who transform into other objects.