Hi-STANDARD Popular Song Ranking [2026]

Just RockHi-STANDARD36rank/position

Just Rock

A blistering blow that grabs the listener’s heart in a flash—just one minute long.

It’s a track from Hi-STANDARD’s classic album “MAKING THE ROAD,” released in June 1999.

Packed into this song is an extremely direct and powerful message: don’t be swayed by the media or other people’s voices—stick to your own style.

Compared to their other tracks, its sound condenses a hardcore rush and energy that pounds your eardrums.

When you’re on the verge of losing yourself by worrying about others’ eyes, this detonator of a number will blow away your doubts and give you a strong push forward.

Maximum OverdriveHi-STANDARD37rank/position

Hi-STANDARD – Maximum Overdrive [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

The first track on Hi-STANDARD’s second album, “Growing Up,” is “Maximum Overdrive.” When “Growing Up” was released, the term “melodic hardcore” didn’t exist yet.

At a time when punk conjured images of rough-and-tumble bands like the Sex Pistols or The Clash, this album was a shock.

Guys who looked like your everyday neighbors in T-shirts and shorts were playing cheerful songs with a punk sound.

Can you imagine how striking that was? This album truly rewrote Japan’s punk scene, and this track was its very first step.

No HeroesHi-STANDARD38rank/position

Hi-Standard　No Heroes

The title “No Heroes” might sound negative at first, but to me the song carries the nuance of “I’ll be the hero myself, so I don’t need anyone else.” The lyrics addressed to the heroes of my past really resonate with me.

NothingHi-STANDARD39rank/position

Hi-Standard-Nothing (with lyrics)

“Making The Road” is an album that absorbs a variety of genres.

Some tracks evoke jazz, while others are straightforward hardcore.

Among them, “Nothing” stands out.

As a composition, it’s a textbook example of melodic hardcore, but pay attention to the intro.

Ken Yokoyama, Hi-Standard’s guitarist, normally plays without any guitar effects—plugging straight into the amp—but only for the intro of “Nothing” he uses a chorus effect.

It’s a must-hear track for Hi-Standard-loving guitar kids.

Our SongHi-STANDARD40rank/position

Hi-STANDARD – Our Song – OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

Hi-STANDARD, a band that has long led Japan’s punk scene.

Featured on the mini-album “Screaming Newborn Baby,” released in November 2025, this track stands as a symbol of the band’s new lineup, formed after parting ways with longtime drummer Akira Tsuneoka and welcoming new member ZAX.

Their high-velocity melodic punk is reinforced by ZAX’s heavy, propulsive drumming, conveying the band’s powerful drive to move forward.

It captures the lived-in resolve of adults who stumble and still rise again, and is highly recommended for those carrying the impulses of their youth through daily life or anyone who wants to be pushed forward by the strong groove of commanding drums.

PentaxHi-STANDARD41rank/position

Hi-STANDARD　pentax

Compared to J-pop songs, Hi-Standard’s tracks are very short, with most running about two to three minutes.

Among them, the especially short “Pentax” from the album “Making The Road” clocks in at a mere 35 seconds.

Yet even within this sub-one-minute span, Hi-Standard manages to complete the song.

It’s a simple one-chorus track, but it’s brimming with charm.

Rain ForeverHi-STANDARD42rank/position

Rain Forever

This track, included on Hi-STANDARD’s single “ANOTHER STARTING LINE,” which was released without prior notice in October 2016, features lyrics that liken a stagnant period in life to rain, leaving a deep emotional impact.

It conveys a message that will resonate with many: even though we get discouraged by repeated failures, there are things we gain precisely because there are things we lose.

Hi-STANDARD’s characteristically high-velocity sound rings out as if to sweep away that inner turmoil.

It’s a song with the power to push you forward when you’re feeling down and helpless, or when you’re hoping to take a step toward tomorrow.