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Male Idol Group Arashi to Suspend Activities at End of 2020
posted on by Crystalyn Hodgkins
The male idol group Arashi announced on their fan-only website on Sunday that they will suspend group activities after December 31, 2020.
In a comment made on the fan site, group member Jun Matsumoto stated that the five members of Arashi arrived at this decision after many discussions. He added that regarding the timing of the announcement, he thinks that it will take fans some time to come to understand the band members' thoughts and feelings about the decision.
Arashi formed in 1999 under the Johnny & Associates agency, and is made up of Matsumoto, Satoshi Ohno, Shō Sakurai, Masaki Aiba, and Kazunari Ninomiya. The group has released 16 studio albums and several compilation albums, in addition to singles. The group's latest studio album, 「untitled」 (pictured at right), debuted in 2017.
Arashi performed theme songs for the Hana Yori Dango [2005] and Hana Yori Dango 2 [Returns] live-action television series, the Honey and Clover live-action television series, and the Kochikame anime series.
Members of the group have also acted in television series and movies. Ninomiya has starred in the live-action Gantz, Gantz II: Perfect Answer, Assassination Classroom, Assassination Classroom: Graduation, and Ōoku: The Inner Chambers projects. He also starred in the Tekkonkinkreet anime film. Matsumoto has starred in several Hana Yori Dango live-action projects, as well as live-action Gokusen and Kimi wa Pet projects. Ohno starred in the live-action Kaibutsu-kun series, Shō Sakurai starred in the live-action Yatterman and Honey and Clover films, and Masaki Aiba has starred in the live-action Bartender, Sakanoue Animal Clinic Story), and My Girl series.
The group recently appeared and performed on the popular Kohaku Uta Gassen music show on New Year's Eve.
Source: Oricon News
