Arashi to disband after final tour next spring

[thomas]

Japan's beloved boy band, Arashi, will officially disband next year after embarking on one final tour in the spring. The group announced this on Tuesday in a video on their fan club website. The announcement marks the first time all five members have appeared together publicly since going on indefinite hiatus at the end of 2020. Their reappearance and the accompanying statement clarified years of speculation among fans and media about whether the group would eventually return to the spotlight.

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Formed in 1999 under the talent agency Johnny & Associates, Arashi quickly rose to national stardom and maintained its popularity for over two decades, becoming one of Japan's most successful and influential pop acts. Their hiatus was announced in 2019 and officially began on 31st December 2020, with the members expressing a desire to pursue individual paths while remaining close as a group.

Despite the hiatus, the group's fan base has remained strong, and the news of a final farewell tour has already sparked a wave of emotion and anticipation. Further details about the tour schedule and venues will be released soon. With the disbandment now confirmed, Arashi's upcoming performances will serve as both a farewell and a celebration of their legacy in Japanese pop culture.

"The five of us had been getting together on occasion to discuss the possibility of working as Arashi once again," said Sho Sakurai, one of the members. "However, as the environment surrounding us changed and circumstances have also changed for each of us, it was not easy to come to a conclusion." Satoshi Ono, who leads the group, added, "After having held many discussions over time, we came to the conclusion that we would end our activities with the five of us after coming together once again to perform in a concert as Arashi and express our gratitude directly to our fans, which had not been possible because of COVID-19." Before they went on hiatus in December 2020 during the pandemic, they performed in a livestreamed concert without an audience. Current fan club members will be given priority to purchase tickets for next spring's concert tour. Applications to join the fan club have been temporarily suspended.

J-pop group Arashi to disband after going on tour next spring

Current fan club members will be given priority to purchase tickets for the last concert tour.

www.japantimes.co.jp