J-pop supergroup Arashi, a beloved band in Japan and across Asia, announced they will disband following their final tour next year.
Formed in 1999, the five-member group quickly rose to fame with their catchy hits, becoming the face of the now-defunct Johnny & Associates, Japan’s iconic boyband agency. Arashi took a hiatus in 2020, leaving fans eagerly awaiting their return.
In a bittersweet post on Tuesday, Arashi revealed they will reunite for one last tour in spring 2024, marking the end of their career as a group. “In the year before our break, we couldn’t perform for you due to the pandemic,” the band wrote on their official X account. “Now, we will come together once more.”
The group, now in their 40s, announced they will begin preparing for the tour, which will be their final activity as Arashi.
The news sent waves of sadness and gratitude through social media. Fans expressed their emotions, with one user writing, “It’s so sad, and I can’t quite believe it yet, but thank you for giving us one last chance to see you all.”
Even Japan’s top government spokesperson, Yoshimasa Hayashi, paid tribute to the group, calling them a “national idol group” that had a significant impact with their hit songs. He also praised Arashi for promoting Japanese culture globally and collaborating with the government on cultural initiatives.
Arashi’s former agency, Johnny & Associates, recently acknowledged that its late founder, Johnny Kitagawa, had sexually abused young boys and men for decades, a revelation that has cast a shadow over the legacy of the company. Kitagawa passed away in 2019 at the age of 87.
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