Hi‐STANDARD

Hi-Standard (stylized as Hi-STANDARD) is a Japanese punk rock band formed in 1991 by bassist and lead vocalist Akihiro Nanba, guitarist and vocalist Ken Yokoyama, and drummer Akira Tsuneoka. The release Making the Road sparked sold-out Japan shows and U.S./European tours with punk bands such as NOFX, No Use for a Name, and Wizo. Although the members of Hi-Standard are Japanese, all of their major releases are sung in English. Tsuneoka died in February 2023, and former Pay Money to My Pain drummer Zax joined the band in September 2025. In 2003, Hi-Standard was ranked by HMV at number 64 on their list of the 100 most important Japanese pop acts.

History

Formation and success: 1991–2000 Forming in August 1991 as a four-piece band, the initial lineup of Hi-Standard contained lead vocalist Atsuhiko Matsumoto, bassist Akihiro Nanba, guitarist Ken Yokoyama, and drummer Akira Tsuneoka. They had their first concert that October at Kōenji 20000V in Kōenji, Tokyo. Shortly after recording their first demo tape in 1992, Matsumoto left the group in September, with bassist Nanba taking over vocal duties, solidifying Hi-Standard's lineup as a power trio. They provided the song "Selfish...