This is the full and official farewell message from Arashi of 6th May, 2025 which we personally translated into several languages (forgive any mistake which may have been inthere). 

 

English:

Dear everyone,
It has been a while. This is Arashi.

We have something important to share with you.

It has been about four and a half years since we paused our activities.

During our final year before the hiatus, we were unable to perform in front of you due to the impact of the pandemic.

To express our heartfelt gratitude directly to all our fans who have supported us over the years, the five of us have decided to reunite as Arashi and begin preparations for a concert tour scheduled for next spring.

We also established a company called "Arashi Inc." and explored the possibility of building a new structure with new staff. However, we have come to the decision that we want to create this journey together with the many staff members who have supported us for over 20 years.

With this tour, we will bring Arashi's activities to a close.

Starting about a year and a half ago, we began meeting from time to time to discuss whether we could return to our activities as Arashi once more.

However, with the changes in our personal lives and surrounding environment, it was not easy to find a clear answer.

After much discussion and consideration, we have come to the conclusion that we will gather once more, hold a concert as Arashi, and with that—fulfilling the wish that was not realized due to COVID-19—to express our gratitude directly to our fans and perform in front of you one last time as five, we will end our journey together.

We could not envision restarting only to enter another hiatus.

To prioritize current fan club members, applications for new membership will be temporarily suspended during this time. We are currently preparing for the tour with the help of many people, but we are not yet at a stage where we can share all the details.

As soon as things are decided, we will share everything with you first, in our own words.

Alongside the end of Arashi's activities, the fan club will also close in May 2026.

Until then, we will do our best to deliver as much content as possible to our members, and we hope you enjoy it.

For those not currently in the fan club, we are also preparing to reopen registration so you can enjoy future content. The next release within the fan club is scheduled for mid-next month.

Once again, we will come together as five to create content filled with gratitude for all of you who have continued to support us. Please look forward to it.

 

French/Français :

Chers tous,
Cela faisait longtemps. Ici Arashi.

Nous avons quelque chose d’important à vous annoncer.

Environ quatre ans et demi se sont écoulés depuis la suspension de nos activités.

Durant notre dernière année avant cette pause, à cause de la pandémie, nous n’avons pas pu monter sur scène devant vous.

Afin de transmettre notre gratitude directement à tous nos fans qui nous ont soutenus pendant toutes ces années, nous avons décidé de nous réunir à nouveau, à cinq, en tant qu’Arashi, pour préparer une tournée de concerts prévue pour le printemps prochain.

Nous avons également créé une société, "Arashi Inc.", et exploré la possibilité de construire une nouvelle organisation avec une nouvelle équipe. Mais finalement, nous avons choisi de construire ce projet avec les nombreuses personnes qui nous ont accompagnés pendant plus de vingt ans.

Cette tournée marquera la fin des activités du groupe Arashi.

Depuis environ un an et demi, nous nous réunissons de temps à autre pour discuter de la possibilité de reprendre nos activités en tant qu’Arashi.

Cependant, notre environnement et nos vies ont changé, et trouver une réponse n’a pas été simple.

Après de nombreuses discussions, notre décision commune a été de nous réunir une dernière fois, de monter sur scène en tant qu’Arashi, et ainsi exprimer notre reconnaissance à nos fans, et leur offrir une performance en direct, ce que nous n’avons pas pu faire à cause du COVID-19. Cela marquera la fin de notre aventure à cinq.

Nous ne pouvions pas envisager une reprise suivie d’une nouvelle pause.

Pour donner la priorité aux membres actuels du fan club, les nouvelles adhésions seront temporairement suspendues. Nous préparons actuellement la tournée avec le soutien de nombreuses personnes, mais il n’est pas encore possible de tout vous révéler.

Dès que les choses seront décidées, nous vous les communiquerons directement, avec nos propres mots.

Avec la fin des activités du groupe, le fan club fermera également ses portes en mai 2026.

Jusqu’à cette date, nous proposerons autant de contenus que possible à nos membres. Nous espérons que vous les apprécierez.

Pour ceux qui ne sont pas encore membres, nous préparons la réouverture des inscriptions afin que vous puissiez également en profiter. Le prochain contenu sera diffusé à la mi-mois prochaine.

Encore une fois, nous allons nous réunir à cinq pour créer des contenus remplis de gratitude envers vous, qui nous avez soutenus toutes ces années. Nous espérons que vous les attendrez avec impatience.

 

German/Deutsch:

Liebe alle,
es ist lange her. Wir sind Arashi.

Wir möchten heute eine wichtige Mitteilung mit euch teilen.

Etwa viereinhalb Jahre sind vergangen, seit wir unsere Aktivitäten pausiert haben.

In unserem letzten Jahr vor der Pause konnten wir aufgrund der Pandemie nicht mehr live vor euch auftreten.

Um unseren Fans, die uns all die Jahre unterstützt haben, unseren tiefsten Dank persönlich auszudrücken, haben wir beschlossen, uns wieder zu fünft als Arashi zusammenzuschließen und mit den Vorbereitungen für eine Konzerttournee im kommenden Frühling zu beginnen.

Wir haben zudem die Firma „Arashi Inc.“ gegründet und überlegt, mit neuen Mitarbeitenden eine neue Struktur aufzubauen. Letztlich haben wir uns aber entschieden, diesen Weg mit den vielen Weggefährten zu gehen, die uns seit über 20 Jahren begleitet haben.

Mit dieser Tour werden wir unsere Aktivitäten als Arashi abschließen.

Seit etwa anderthalb Jahren treffen wir uns immer wieder, um darüber zu sprechen, ob wir noch einmal als Arashi aktiv werden wollen.

Doch unsere Lebensumstände und das Umfeld haben sich verändert, und es war nicht leicht, zu einer klaren Antwort zu gelangen.

Nach zahlreichen Gesprächen sind wir gemeinsam zu dem Entschluss gekommen: Wir werden uns noch ein letztes Mal als fünf zusammenfinden, ein Konzert geben und damit – was uns damals durch Corona verwehrt blieb – unseren Fans persönlich danken und unsere Performance live zeigen. Danach beenden wir unsere gemeinsame Zeit als Arashi.

Eine Rückkehr mit anschließendem erneuten Rückzug konnten wir uns nicht vorstellen.

Um aktuellen Fanclub-Mitgliedern Priorität zu geben, nehmen wir vorübergehend keine neuen Mitgliedschaften an. Mit Unterstützung vieler Beteiligter bereiten wir die Tour bereits vor, sind jedoch noch nicht so weit, alle Informationen mit euch zu teilen.

Sobald es Neuigkeiten gibt, werden wir sie als erstes mit euch teilen – in unseren eigenen Worten.

Mit dem Ende von Arashi wird auch der Fanclub im Mai 2026 geschlossen.

Bis dahin möchten wir den Mitgliedern noch möglichst viele Inhalte bieten, die Freude machen.

Auch für diejenigen, die derzeit nicht im Fanclub sind, bereiten wir die Wiederaufnahme der Mitgliedschaft vor, damit ihr ab dem nächsten Beitrag dabei sein könnt. Der nächste Inhalt ist für Mitte nächsten Monats geplant.

Noch einmal: Wir fünf kommen zusammen, um mit vollem Herzen neue Inhalte für euch zu schaffen, erfüllt von Dankbarkeit für all eure Unterstützung. Freut euch bitte darauf.

 

So....you already might have...no...certainly have heard about this if you are a Arashi fan, right?

 

After years of silence and speculation since Covid time, beloved Japanese boys idol group Arashi has officially announced they will disband following a final concert tour in spring 2025. The news was delivered on May 6th via a heartfelt video message on their official fanclub website, as well as statements on their X and Instagram accounts.

 

Along with the announcement of their disbandment, Arashi also confirmed that the official fanclub stopped taking new applications as of May 2025. However, there is some uplifting news for fans: new fanclub memberships will reopen on June 2, 2025, allowing both new and returning fans to be part of Arashi’s final year and end in May, 2026.

After Fanclub reopen on 2 June, 2025, if conditions are possible for us to help, we will try to help with our Fanclub proxy service :) First you can try yourself and if you can not, talk to us. We try our best to support Japan fans OUTSIDE Japan.

 

 

It was a huge news in Japan besides Mr. Trump news about tariff, wars in Europe and now between India and Pakistan and all which only make people worried and concerned...

On May 6, 2025, Arashi, the legendary five-member Japanese boy band, officially announced their decision to disband following a final nationwide concert tour to be held in the spring of 2026. The message was first conveyed directly to their fans through a video posted on the official fan club site and was later shared via the group’s official X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram accounts. This long-awaited but bittersweet announcement comes after more than four years of hiatus and decades of monumental success.

 

Simply...But why?

 

Reasons Behind the Disbandment

Several factors influenced Arashi's decision:

 

• Personal Aspirations: Leader Satoshi Ohno expressed a desire to "live freely" and explore life beyond the entertainment industry. His wish to step away prompted the group to consider their collective future. 
• Evolving Individual Careers: Over the years, each member has pursued solo endeavors in acting, hosting, and other creative fields. Balancing these individual careers with group activities became increasingly challenging.
• Impact of the Pandemic: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted plans for live performances and altered the dynamics of the entertainment industry, leading the group to reassess their trajectory.
• Changing Industry Landscape: The entertainment industry has undergone significant changes, including shifts in management and public expectations, prompting the group to reflect on their place within it.
• Desire for a Meaningful Conclusion: Rather than fading away, Arashi chose to conclude their journey with intention and gratitude, providing closure for both themselves and their fans.

 

 

A Journey Toward official Closure

 

Since announcing an indefinite hiatus at the end of 2020, Arashi has remained largely inactive as a group, fueling both concern and hope among fans. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted their farewell plans, which were initially intended to celebrate the group’s legacy and express gratitude to their supporters. Rumors had been swirling that the group would return for their 25th debut anniversary in 2024, but those hopes remained unfulfilled — until now.

 

In their latest message, the members shared that they had been quietly meeting and discussing their future since about a year and a half ago. “We gathered when we could and talked extensively about resuming our activities as Arashi. But our lives have changed, and the world around us has changed too,” they said. “It was not an easy decision. After many discussions, we concluded that we would come together one last time — not to restart Arashi, but to bring it to a proper close.”

 

The group explained that they felt they could not simply return for a short period and then go back into hiatus again. Instead, they chose to offer their fans a final, genuine opportunity to see Arashi perform live — an experience many were denied during the pandemic. “This tour will be our way of saying thank you in person, and of performing for you one more time as a five-member Arashi,” they emphasized. “Once the tour ends, so will our journey as Arashi.”

 

 

Preparing for the Final Stage

 

Preparations for the 2026 tour are now underway. While full details have not yet been disclosed, the group pledged to share updates directly with fans in their own words as soon as decisions are finalized. “We want our fans to hear from us first, through our voices,” they wrote.

 

This tour will be a culmination of more than 25 years of shared memories, music, and milestones. It will also be the final chance for fans to witness Arashi on stage as a unit. The emotional weight of the upcoming concerts is already being felt among their vast and devoted fanbase.

 

 

The Future of the Fan Club

 

Alongside the disbandment announcement, the group confirmed that their official fan club — one of the largest and most loyal in Japan — will also be dissolved by the end of May 2026. However, members were reassured that over the coming year, Arashi will provide exclusive content and experiences to celebrate their final chapter. “We will do everything we can to deliver meaningful content for our fans during this last year,” they said.

 

 

Fans Responds in Japan

 

Let us look at what online community talking about Arashi after this announcement. The ews of the disbandment triggered a wave of emotions across social media. Fans expressed sorrow, admiration, and deep appreciation for the group’s integrity and transparency:

 

• “Unlike SMAP, Arashi seems to be doing this with full mutual respect. I hope they part ways with no regrets.”

• “I always had a feeling Mr. Ohno didn’t want to return. It’s painful, but I understand.”

• “This is the most graceful way a group could end. They’re giving us time to prepare emotionally — and one final performance to remember forever.”

• “Please make sure the tickets go to real fans. I hope they put strong anti-scalping measures in place.”

• “COVID, the Johnnys agency’s scandals, each member’s solo careers — it’s been a tough road. I admire how they still came together to close the story properly.”

 

Many fans also spoke of their long wait during the hiatus, uncertain if the group would return. For those who kept their fan club memberships alive during that silence, this announcement brought mixed feelings of closure and vindication. “I kept believing, and it turns out that belief wasn’t wasted. I’m proud to be an Arashi fan,” one supporter shared online.

 

And we are also proud to be Arashi fans too.

 

 

The Road Already Traveled: A Look Back

 

 

Since their debut in 1999, Arashi has become one of the most successful and beloved music groups in Japanese history. Their influence goes beyond music — they have starred in television dramas, variety shows, films, and have been national icons representing Japan on the global stage, including appearances at major cultural and diplomatic events. Their songs have provided the soundtrack to an entire generation’s adolescence and adulthood.

 

 

During their career, they achieved countless milestones: record-breaking concert tours, number-one singles and albums, and prestigious awards. Even after going on hiatus, the bond between the five members — Satoshi Ohno, Sho Sakurai, Masaki Aiba, Kazunari Ninomiya, and Jun Matsumoto — remained evident. It is this sense of unity and mutual respect that has made their decision to disband all the more meaningful to fans.

 

 

What Comes Next?

 

 

Among the five, leader Satoshi Ohno has notably distanced himself from the entertainment world since the hiatus began. Reportedly living in quiet retirement on Okinawa’s Miyako Island, Ohno was recently photographed looking deeply tanned, sporting a beard and visible tattoos — a stark departure from his idol image. These photos, captured by the tabloid magazine Josei Seven, seemed to confirm what many had suspected: Ohno had already moved on to a new phase of life, and a full return to the spotlight was never likely.

 

The other members have continued with solo work — including acting, hosting, and musical projects — and are expected to remain in the public eye after the group officially disbands. Their individual paths may diverge, but the impact of Arashi as a group will remain deeply etched in the fabric of Japanese pop culture.

 

 

A Farewell with Dignity

 

Arashi’s final decision to disband was not made lightly. It reflects the group’s commitment to their fans, their legacy, and to each other. By taking the time to plan a proper farewell, they are setting a new standard in how to part with grace — not as a result of scandal or fallout, but through honest dialogue and mutual understanding.

 

For millions of fans in Japan and across the globe, the 2026 tour will be a final chapter in a story that spans more than a quarter of a century. And for Arashi, it will be their final bow — delivered not with regret, but with gratitude.

 

News source: Arashi official website, TBS news, Yomiuri news