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Tokyo Weekender
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tokyo Weekender
Popular Boy Band Arashi To Disband After 2026 Spring Tour
There was mixed news for fans of the popular all-male Japanese group Arashi on Tuesday. The good news is that the five members will finally be performing together again next spring after being on hiatus since December 31, 2020. The bad news is that the reunion will be short-lived. In May of next year, the group will officially disband. 'For about a year and a half now, the five of us have regularly gotten together to discuss the idea of working as Arashi again,' said the group in a post on its official social media accounts and fan website. 'However, it was not easy to find an answer to how to do this, as the environment surrounding us has changed, in addition to each of our individually changed circumstances compared to before.' List of Contents: Arashi Spring Tour: Priority to Current Fan Club Members About Arashi Related Posts Arashi Spring Tour: Priority to Current Fan Club Members Arashi surprised its fans in January 2019 when its members announced that they planned to temporarily stop performing together. A year and a half earlier, the group leader, Satoshi Ohno, informed the other members that he wanted to leave. On New Year's Eve in 2020, they performed their last live-streamed concert together before the hiatus. It was held without a live audience due to COVID-19 restrictions. Next year's shows are certain to sell out. According to the group's official X page, new applications for fan club membership will be temporarily suspended so that priority for tickets can be given to current fan club members. At present, Arashi is unable to give any specific details about the spring 2026 tour as discussions are ongoing. About Arashi Arashi officially formed on September 15, 1999, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Johnny & Associates announced the group's debut via a press conference on a cruise ship. Five trainees from Johnny's Jr. division of the agency — Ohno, Sho Sakurai, Masaki Aiba, Kazunari Ninomiya and Jun Matsumoto — were chosen as members. The boy band's first single, 'Arashi,' was a major hit. It sold more than 1 million copies by the end of its chart run. In January 2001, Arashi released its debut album, Arashi No.1 Ichigou: Arashi wa Arashi o Yobu! , which debuted at number one on the Oricon chart. It was the group's best-selling album until the release of All the Best! 1999–2009 , the world's best-selling LP in 2019 with 3.3 million copies sold globally. Arashi has also received the 'Artist of the Year' award from the Recording Industry Association of Japan a record six times. Related Posts TV Host Masahiro Nakai Announces Retirement Amid Sex Scandal Saying Goodbye to Arashi and Mitsuyo Asaka While Erika Toda Ties the Knot BBC Documentary Exposes Abusive Past of Johnny Kitagawa
Hype Malaysia
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
Iconic Japanese Idol Group ARASHI To Disband In 2026 Following Final Tour
It's a bittersweet day for the J-pop industry and ARASHI (嵐) fans. The legendary Japanese idol group recently announced their comeback after a four-year hiatus – only to follow up with news that they're disbanding. The group shared a new post on social media on 6th May 2025 (Tuesday), delighting fans with their first group appearance in years. The quintet – made of members Satoshi Ohno (大野智), Sho Sakurai (櫻井翔), Masaki Aiba (相葉雅紀), Kazunari Ninomiya (二宮和也), and Jun Matsumoto (松本潤) – went on hiatus in 2021 to focus on solo activities. Despite the initial joy of seeing the group's reunion, fans quickly voiced sadness after the group shared their plans for their future. In their official statement, the group revealed plans to end their hiatus and start touring again in 2026. However, J-pop icons continued, saying that the tour would be the group's last as they would disband upon its conclusion. ARASHI explained that they've regularly discussed the possibility of reuniting the group after their hiatus. However, after contemplating the current circumstances, the members decided to end their activities as a group after their final tour. As ARASHI's final tour is still in its preparation stage, more details will be shared once everything is ready. The group will also close its official fan club in May 2026, following the end of their group activities. However, the members said they would continue to deliver as much content as possible until the fan club's closure. ARASHI ends their statement by expressing gratitude to all their fans for their continued love and support. The J-pop legends have been a household name in Japan for over 20 years. The group debuted in 1999 under the renowned entertainment agency Johnny & Associates Inc., now known as Starto Entertainment Inc. In their career, the quintet has amassed a loyal following and become one of Asia's best-selling boy bands. The members also actively appear in movies, dramas, commercials and variety shows. Fans from across the globe have shared their reactions to the bittersweet news. While many supported ARASHI's decision to disband, they also voiced sadness over no longer being able to see all five members as a group. On the other hand, international fans also urged the group to consider a world tour before disbanding to give overseas fans a chance to catch the final tour. The warm response to ARASHI's announcement is a testament to the group's influence in the J-pop world. We hope those who have supported the group throughout their career will be able to join their final tour. In the meantime, watch their announcement video below: Source: Twitter
CNA
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
Iconic Japanese boy band Arashi to disband in 2026 following concert tour
Japanese boy band Arashi announced on Tuesday (May 6) that it will disband in 2026, following the completion of its upcoming concert tour. In a post on its social media pages, delivered in both Japanese and English, the five-member team – comprising Satoshi Ohno, Sho Sakurai, Masaki Aiba, Kazunari Ninomiya and Jun Matsumoto – said that Arashi will also close its fan club in May 2026. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ARASHI (@arashi_5_official) The group has been on hiatus since 2021. However, its members have been busy as solo artistes – with the exception of Ohno, who chose to leave the limelight. Addressing its decision to disband, Arashi said that for the past one and a half years, the five members regularly got together to discuss working together again. "However, it was not easy to find an answer to how to do this, as the environment surrounding us has changed, in addition to each of our individually changed circumstances compared to before," wrote the group. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ARASHI (@arashi_5_official) Nonetheless, the group expressed its desire to perform for its fans again, given the cancellation of its previous tour due to COVID-19. As such, Arashi also announced that it will stage a concert tour in the spring of 2026, which generally refers to the period between mid-March and the end of May in Japan. "After much time and repeated conversations, we came to the conclusion that we should all come together as Arashi, hold a concert that would allow us to express our thanks directly with the kind of in-person performance our Corona concert did not allow for, and then end our activities as a group," added the group. More details of the concert will be announced at a later date. However, Arashi has revealed that it will temporarily suspend new applications for its fan club to give existing club members priority access to concert tickets. Furthermore, Arashi's fan club will officially shut down in May 2026, following Arashi's disbandment. "We will continue to deliver as much content as possible throughout this next year for your fun and enjoyment, and will resume accepting new [fan club] memberships as soon as possible so that even those who are not members already can enjoy the videos and more," said Arashi. It is unclear if Arashi will stage shows outside Japan for its upcoming concert tour. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ARASHI (@arashi_5_official) Arashi debuted in 1999 and went on to become one of the biggest music acts in Japan, selling over 58 million albums. In 2019, its greatest hits album, titled 5x20 All the Best!! 1999–2019, was the best-selling album of the year globally – selling over 3.3 million copies.
Straits Times
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
J-pop boy band Arashi to emerge from hiatus for final concert tour before disbandment in 2026
Fans of popular Japanese boy band Arashi have been hit with bittersweet news from their idols. The quintet - comprising Satoshi Ohno, Sho Sakurai, Masaki Aiba, Kazunari Ninomiya and Jun Matsumoto - have been on an indefinite hiatus since end-2020, after leader Ohno expressed his desire to take a break from the entertainment industry. On May 6, the five members appeared together in one frame for the first time since 2020 in a video message uploaded to Arashi's official online fan club. In it, they announced that they will be reviving their activities as a group and will kick off a concert tour in the spring of 2026, which in Japan generally refers to the months between March and May. And following the end of the tour, Arashi will disband in May 2026. The announcement was also posted to their social media accounts on the same day, complete with an English translation. The fan club video marked the first time Ohno, 44, made an official onscreen appearance since his hiatus. The rest of the members have continued to be active in show business as solo artistes. Arashi announced their indefinite hiatus in 2019, and were going to go on tour in 2020. But their plans were thwarted by the Covid-19 pandemic, which halted live entertainment activities that year. In the three-minute video, Aiba, 42, said: 'It has been almost four-and-a-half years since we went on hiatus, and we sincerely regret we were unable to perform for all of you during that last year of activities due to the pandemic. 'So in order to express our deep gratitude to all our fans, we have gathered together once again and have begun planning a concert tour to be held next spring.' Sakurai, 43, referenced the group's setting up of their own company, Arashi Inc, in 2024 in conjunction with their management agency Starto Entertainment. He said they have been talking about a revival for over a year, but it was not easy to decide how to go about it with each member facing different commitments and circumstances in life. He added: 'With the establishment of Arashi Inc... (we decided to bring this tour) to life together with the many people who have helped and supported us over the past 20 years. And upon conclusion of this tour, we will end our activities as Arashi.' While details surrounding the farewell concerts have not been finalised, Matsumoto, 41, said that the fan club will suspend applications for the time being so that existing members can be prioritised for concert tickets. Typically, a ballot system has been used within Arashi's fan club for concert ticket sales. The group did not specify if their tour would venture beyond Japan, as their 2020 plans had included concerts at the Beijing National Stadium and in the United States. Ninomiya, 41, said: 'With the end of Arashi's activities, our (fan club) will also close in May 2026, but we will continue to deliver as much content as possible throughout this next year for your fun and enjoyment, and will resume accepting new (fan club) memberships as soon as possible so that even those who are not yet members can enjoy the videos and more.' Prior to their hiatus, Arashi, which debuted in 1999, were one of Japan's most successful boy bands. Their 20th anniversary compilation album, 5×20 All the Best!! 1999-2019, was the top-selling album globally in 2019, beating out even American superstar Taylor Swift's Lover. While Ohno was completely away from the limelight during the hiatus, his bandmates have grown in their professional and personal capacities. Singer-actor Ninomiya started his own YouTube channel, which now has close to five million subscribers, and will release his second solo cover album, OO To Ninomiya To 2, in July. He also starred in Japanese drama Vivant (2023). He married former television presenter Ayako Ito in 2019 and now has two daughters, aged four and two. Sakurai continues to be active as an actor, variety show host and weekly anchor on news programme News Zero. He and Aiba both announced their marriages to non-celebrity women on the same day in 2021. Sakurai has a two-year-old, but has not revealed the child's gender. Aiba, also active in hosting as well as stage plays, welcomed his firstborn, a boy, in 2022. Matsumoto, 41, has largely focused on acting and behind-the-scenes concert production. He starred in the Japanese historical epic What Will You Do, Ieyasu? (2023) playing famed Japanese military general Tokugawa Ieyasu, and also recently acted as adviser for the production of J-pop boy band Snow Man's concert at the Japan National Stadium in April. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
