Stance Punks are a Japanese punk rock band, formed in 1999. The band gained fame through their performances at a rooftop live-venue in Shimokitazawa

Shimokitazawa

is a neighborhood in Setagaya, Tokyo. It consists of the neighborhood immediately surrounding Shimo-Kitazawa Station, where the Odakyū and Keiō Inokashira Lines intersect. Also known as "Shimokita", the district is a center for stage theater and live music venues. It is home to the historic Honda...

.

Stance Punks' name spread overseas when their song "Mayonaka Shounen Totsugekidan" was used as the ending theme song for the movie Battle Royale 2. Their song "No Boy No Cry" has been used as the opening theme song for the anime

Anime

is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....

 Naruto

Naruto

is an ongoing Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto. The plot tells the story of Naruto Uzumaki, an adolescent ninja who constantly searches for recognition and aspires to become the Hokage, the ninja in his village who is acknowledged as the leader and the strongest of...

 and the song "I Wanna Be" was used as the ending theme song for the anime

Anime

is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....

 Soul Eater

Soul Eater (manga)

is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Atsushi Ōkubo. Set at the "Death Weapon Meister Academy," the series revolves around three teams consisting of a weapon meister and human weapon...

. As of 2005, the band has signed with Sony Epic's label called "Kowalski Records" under which the single "Mony Mony Mony" was released.

Critics often cite similarities between them and The Blue Hearts

The Blue Hearts

was a popular Japanese punk rock band that performed from the mid-1980s to the early-1990s. In 2003, they were ranked by HMV Japan as number 19 on their list of 100 most important Japanese pop acts...

, an immensely popular punk band with a very similar style of music.

The band recently performed a 5-hour long "Naruto Tribute" broadcast from a popular Kyoto radio station.

Band members include:

• Tsuru (Vocals)
• Kinya (Guitar)
• Tetsushi (Bassist)
• Kenichi (Drums)

Albums

• 2000.5.4 Shimokitazawa Rooftop (8/18/2000)
• STANCE PUNKS (Mini Album) (10/26/2001)
• STANCE PUNKS (Full Album) (8/21/2001)
• LET IT ROLL (7/7/2004)
• HOWLING IDOL ~Shinenakatta Dengeki Yarou~ (7/20/2005)
• BUBBLEGUM VIKING (11/152006)
• BOMP! BOMP! BOMP! (3/5/2008)
• PEACE & DESTROY (12/10/2008)
• THE WORLD IS MINE (02/03/2010)

Singles

• Kusottare Kaihouku (4/10/2002)
• Saitei Saikou 999/Zassou no Hana (6/11/2003)
• Lost Boy's March (5/5/2004)
• 19roll (6/9/2004)
• MONY MONY MONY (3/24/2005)
• NO BOY NO CRY (6/8/2005)
• Sheryl wa Blue (5/24/2006)
• Let It Rock (8/2/2006)
• I Wanna Be (6/4/2008)

Video and DVD

• Ichigeki Hissatsu (6/11/2003)
• PV/DV mania! (12/7/2005)
• 10th Anniversary Live One Man (3/9/2008)