Hi-Standard

Hi-Standard
Origin	Japan
Genres	Melodic hardcore, hardcore punk, punk rock, pop punk
Years active	1991–2000, 2011- present
Labels	Pizza of Death Records, Fat Wreck Chords
Members	Akihiro Nanba Ken Yokoyama Akira Tsuneoka

Hi-Standard was a Japanese hardcore punk band who formed in 1991. The release Making the Road sparked sold-out Japan shows and US/European tours with punk bands such as NOFX, No Use for a Name and Wizo. Although members of Hi-Standard were Japanese born, all of the band's major releases were sung in English. Live footage of the band shows them talking to the crowd in their native Japanese and then immediately changing to English for the songs.

Hiatus

After recording five albums, the band entered a hiatus in August 2000, shortly after playing "Air Jam 2000". Ken Yokoyama began working on other projects, including BBQ CHICKENS. Yokoyama revisited the band's original label Pizza of Death Records, which has since signed many punk and alternative rock bands. Akihiro Nanba's newest project is Ultra Brain. According to CDJapan, Nanba proclaims their debut album, Neo Punk, to be the birth of neo punk. Akira Tsuneoka now provides the drums for the group Cubismo Grafico Five.

Reunion

The band played at 'Air Jam 2011', and 'Air Jam 2012'. Hi Standard has been announced to headline the Japanese edition of Fat Wreck Chords 25th anniversary show in Tokyo in November 2015.

Discography

Year	Title	Label
1996	Growing Up	Fat Wreck Chords
1996	California Dreamin' EP	Fat Wreck Chords
1997	Angry Fist	Fat Wreck Chords
1997	Weihnachten stinkt!	Hulk Räckorz
1999	Making the Road	Fat Wreck Chords
2000	Last of Sunny Day	Fat Wreck Chords
2001	Love Is a Battlefield (EP)	Fat Wreck Chords

• The full length Last of Sunny Day contains songs from their prior releases and original songs. The band have an additional single "The Kids Are Alright" available only in Japan
• Hi-Standard performs punk covers of American songs like "California Dreamin'", "Green Acres", "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" and "Can't Help Falling In Love".

Videography

• Maximum Overdrive
• New Life
• Growing Up
• The Sound of Secret Minds
• The Kids Are Alright
• Brand New Sunset
• Stay Gold
• Teenagers Are All Assholes

References

• Pizza of Death Records
• Fat Wreck Chords