Porno Graffitti: Don’t Worry, They’re an Anisong Band!

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Today we are going to talk about Porno Graffitti! Before you ask - yes, that’s how it’s spelled, and no, this article isn’t about hentai. Actually, Porno Graffitti is a Japanese rock band, and they make a lot of memorable anime opening songs. You might not have expected that from their name, but that’s why we are here to tell you! If you’re still wondering about the spelling, by the way, it’s because Porno Graffitti is named for the album Pornograffitti by Extreme; it’s a play on the word “pornography,” but we promise the band has nothing to do with actual porn. Okay, now that we got that out of the way, on to the (family friendly) rest of the article!

Three Became Two

Porno Graffitti is a two-person band that was originally formed by Haruichi Shindō with his cousin when the two were still in high school. Not long after, Haruichi asked Akihito Okano and Tama to join the band, originally named “No Score,” as well. Haruichi was also originally the vocalist, but when it became apparent that Akihito had the stronger voice, he changed to being the guitarist and let Akihito take over the vocals. No Score continued without a label for about five years before they finally landed an album deal with SME Records in 1999, and the group was renamed Porno Graffitti. Their first two albums went on to sell over a million copies in Japan. If you’re wondering why we said Porno Graffitti is a two-person band but have named three peoples it’s because in 2004, Tama left the band. Haruichi and Akihito continued as a duo rather than replace him, and are still the active members of the band today. Porno Graffitti does regular concert tours in Japan, and have also been guests at many anime conventions outside of Japan to perform for their international fans as well. The majority of Porno Graffitti’s fans are otaku, and we will tell you why!

Porno Graffitti 『Melissa (Short Ver.)』 Fullmetal Alchemist OP

On To Anisong Fame!

Porno Graffitti does make songs outside of the otaku world, but they are most famous for the anime music that they have produced. In fact, they’re responsible for the openings behind some of the biggest anime titles out there! Their first big anisong hit was actually for Fullmetal Alchemist back in 2003 with the song “Melissa.” This still remains one of their most famous songs. But Porno Graffitti didn’t stop there. They also sang “Hitori no Yoru” (GTO), “Anima Rossa” (Bleach), “Matataku Hoshi no Shita de” (Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic), and “Oh! Rival!” (Detective Conan: The Fist of Blue Sapphire), just to name a few of their most famous titles. One of the most recent places you might have heard Porno Graffitti was in the first opening song for My Hero Academia. That’s right; they’re the group behind the catchy song “THE DAY.” Porno Graffitti has been making anisong titles for anime and anime films from the early 2000s all the way to present day, making them one of the biggest voices in otaku music. They’ve even had their music featured a video game (Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii: Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2), though sadly this rhythm game was only ever released in Japan. Keep your eyes open, though, because you never know where Porno Graffitti may be in the future!

My Hero Academia - Opening 1 | The Day

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Final Thoughts

You may not have known the name Porno Graffitti before, but we doubt you’ll forget it now! Despite their misleading name, Porno Graffitti has made it big in the otaku music world. They’ve done the openings for some huge anime and movies, and have only gained more and more traction in the past decade. We can’t wait to see what Porno Graffitti makes next - hopefully for the next big anime title! We hope this has helped you put a name to some of the music you love, and to find even more of this band’s great stuff to add to your playlist. What’s your favourite song by Porno Graffitti? Did you know who they were before you read this article? Is there another anisong band you would love to learn more about? Let us know in the comments!

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