J-pop mega group Arashi, wildly popular in Japan and elsewhere in Asia, say they will end their activities as a band following a final tour next year.
After debuting in 1999, the five-member boy band rocketed to stardom with their catchy, chart-topping music to become the face of Japanโs now-defunct boy-band empire Johnny and Associates, before going on a hiatus in 2020.
Fans have since been anxiously awaiting news of their return to the spotlight, and on May 6, the group said in a bittersweet announcement that they would perform once again next spring โ but that it would be their final act.
โIn the last year before our hiatus, we couldnโt perform in front of you due to the pandemicโ, Arashiโs official X account said. โThe five of us will now reunite.โ
It said the idols, now in their forties, would start preparing for a concert tour scheduled for around spring next year, โand that tour will end our activity as Arashiโ.