with their major debut, School Girl Distortional Addict, released the following July. Number Girl quickly gained popularity throughout Japan, playing shows with other high-profile indie acts such as Bloodthirsty Butchers and Eastern Youth. In fall of 1999, Number Girl released the single "Destruction Baby", produced by Flaming Lips producer Dave Fridmann, as well as a live album, Shibuya Rockstransformed Jōtai. In 2000 the band again entered the studio with producer Dave Fridmann and released their third full-length studio album, Sappukei. Fridmann's production helped the band to reach their full potential, and Sappukei served to combine Number Girl's aggressive rock with traditional Japanese sounds. During this time, they embarked on a brief US tour with Polysics, playing in small clubs through several cities. After a year of touring, the band again enlisted Dave Fridmann to produce what would become their final studio album, Num-Heavymetallic. Num-Heavymetallic took elements of their previous sound and combined it with Mukai's newly found experimentation. Unusual rhythms, effects-laden guitar lines, and a vocal style which alternated between punk-inspired grit and spoken word, would eventually be incorporated into Mukai's subsequent band, Zazen Boys. 2002: Break-up The band then set out on their largest tour ever, playing over thirty dates, to support Num-Heavymetallic. However, on September 20, 2002, the band shocked fans by announcing their dissolution. The reason behind the band's demise is not entirely clear, although it is widely known that bassist Kentarō decided to leave the band. The other members decided that the band was a specific group, and opted to disband rather than replace Nakao. Number Girl played their final show on November 30, 2002 in Sapporo. The recording of the performance would later be released as . 2002-2019: Post-breakup Activities Following the demise of Number Girl, the members each went on to other projects. Nakao joined several bands like Spiral Chord, Sloth Love Chunks, Crypt City, younGSounds and later joined his long time friend Aiha Higurashi for the revival of Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her. Nakao also played as support member for the bands like MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS, dry as dust, The SALOVERS, hammer, fast Tokyo, and produced the band called THE GIRL. Guitarist Hisako Tabuchi formed her own band Toddle, became a member of Bloodthirsty Butchers and later joined the supergroup Lama consisting of former Supercar members Koji Nakamura and Miki Furukawa. Mukai continued performing as both a solo artist with