Arashi's decision to suspend activities at end of 2020 shakes fans

Extremely regrettable news. My wife is very upset and disappointed, and all of Asia is too. I hope ARASHI members have sincerely reflected on the affect to their millions of fans. It seems like a selfish decision to “suspend all their activities”. Will there be a big comeback for 2020 Olympics?

Actually 2020 Olympics may be ARASHI farewell perfirmance.

difficult to stay popular in an oversaturated idol group market

OH the mediocrity!

.

Arashi offered cute J Pop sound.

But their time has gone.

Sayonara.

.

Extremely regrettable news

Are Arashi big in Australia? I didn’t think J-Pop was big down under.

I actually thought the beer was going to be removed from shelves! Either way it's a good thing.

I'm sure they also want/need time to have relationships and start families. Good for them, personally I never liked their music but I liked some of their variety shows.

Guess some folks dont want people to live and enjoy their own lives as they see fit!

What ever, some one else will come along and replace them, idol groups here seem to be a dime a dozen. So let them retire, like the song says "It's my life..."

When I first saw on tv last night I thought a lot of people will be sad ( not me) as they have been around for a while. Many fans were crying and shocked.

Then I was shocked. The news announcer mentioned they are resigning in December 2020.

Like - they've given 2 years notice. 2 YEARS!!! Sheeeesh! With the hysteria I thought it was from today.

Plenty of time for people to get another life away from Arashi. In fact a good chance to wean themselves from the Johnny Inc syrup we are spoon-fed here every day.

Chance to explore some of the lesser known great music on these shores that never get's a look in.

Manufacturered band manufacturers end. So surprised I can hardly contain my manufacturered emotion.

They are following a Trent to leave their talent agency and go with better options. Smart move.

Look at the three members of SMAP who left! They're doing great!

A selfish decision?

20 years is a long time to be in the entertainment industry. In Japan many of these groups are not allowed to have personal lives. You cannot love, you cannot be a regular person for a day, and you have exhausting schedules. Between tours, appearances, and practice, it is a lot for groups in Japan. At 35+ and 20 years in the industry, they want an actual life. Let them have it. Remember the fond moments.

Then I was shocked. The news announcer mentioned they are resigning in December 2020. Like - they've given 2 years notice. 2 YEARS!!! Sheeeesh! With the hysteria I thought it was from today.

@browny, same here! A 2-year breakup notice, not very rock 'n' roll is it!?

Probably the least ugly/messy, cleanest & best organised band breakup ever! What a (PR) joke!

I was shaking a martini when I heard the news so yes some of us in Asia were shaking.

Glad to hear Satoshi Ono wants to see and do different things. Not much personal space or time in that Arashi Bubble.

Fans are "shaken" over this... much like they were SMAP?

Maybe "fans" need to get a life that doesn't revolve around the existence of very mediocre (at best) talent.

stepoutsidetheboxToday 09:00 am JST

Loved this comment!

I've been in Japan their entire career and couldn't name a single one of their songs. I can name some SMAP songs, or ones by Bz or other pop stars like Southern All Stars or AKB or Perfume or Dreams Come True or Namie Amuro, but none by Arashi. That's even with my kids watching tv programs they've been on, like the one with the pinball and rock climbing games. Their entire musical career is one big "meh".

Yes, they are a manufactured boy band.

What’s wrong with that? Nobody is expecting the Beatles.

Oh my, oh my...

Exactly - I saw the news last night and I even asked my wife and daughter - what's the fuss, are they quiting (I knew it). And of course their answer was yes so I though one last concert and its over, right?

And this morning on the radio they had the listeners chose Arashi songs - all so sentimental because they are to be no more...

And now I read 2020 (they have to stay for the Olimpics I understand). Oh, well - boost in sells, nothing new...

Are Arashi big in Australia? I didn’t think J-Pop was big down under.

No. K-Pop is move popular. Serval boy bands like BTS, Big Bangs have held concerts in Australia. However, I would not say K-Pop is big down under, too.

My wife is very upset and disappointed, and all of Asia is too.

Sorry to know your wife is upset. But all of Asia? J-pop was big ages ago. Now K-pop is king in Asia. That is the truth.

"It cannot be possible...

Let it be a dream...

The news was such a shock that I couldn't remain calm. Arashi was entwined with my youth from primary school to university. I am sad that I will be unable to see the five members' performances...

They were such national idols and both parents and children could enjoy what they did...

They seemed so busy recently so I hope they can have a good rest...

It's a pity that they are going to discontinue their activities but there is still some time (until they do)...I was so happy that they came and told me that my noodles were tasty. I would like them to come again."

Is it just that these comments haven't translated well, or are they all insufferably twee and trite?

Perhaps the management are tired of paying off the victims of their abuse of female co-colleagues with in the agency? Well reported by Media not beholden to the Johnny agency. The age difference was getting kind of creepy.

@goldorak "not very rock and roll is it?"--ha ha, no it really isn't when you think about some of the bust ups on stage. John Squire launching his guitar off the side of the stage in the last Stone Roses gig (great footage for them to use in their later comeback tour documentary of course). But since Arashi don't have or play instruments, it's hard to think of some weighty object for them to toss around to symbolize the end of the band. Stabbing their microphones into the nearest speakers would do the trick, or a tag team MMA-style fight, but there's probably something in their contract or insurance fine print against anything fun like that.

It’s quite scary how people are reacting. People crying and panicked as if a loved has pass away.

Fans will still see them around in various TV programs.

The most level-headed comment came from a 16 year old,

They seemed so busy recently so I hope they can have a good rest," said her 16-year-old daughter Ruri.

I wonder what cut of the proceeds Johnny gets compared to the members of Arashi?

Pretty sure the "band" get less than 10% divided by 5, but get meals, cars rentals, clothing allowances, if they get a tax receipt then Johnnys entertainment can claim as a tax exception. It's a business, at 37 odd years old, having 20 years of being controled by managers, protected by managers from accusations. Some of them have decided to enter a normality they have been denied for 20 years. These "men" it's time to grow up, there are going to be some shocks install for them

JimizoToday 12:17 pm JSTYes, they are a manufactured boy band.

What’s wrong with that? Nobody is expecting the Beatles.

'Boy bands' suck. They are terrible, they're phonies - phakes. Japan has many REAL bands out there - like the lady punkers Shonen Knife, the crazy-funky-wild experimental rock band Boris and many others. they play, they write, they sing, they perform. No lip-synching or prancing around to a preset drum machine that someone else programmed. *Real musicians, so c'mon! *Let's see them!

I won't have anybody critize them. They have memorised those 1970s dance routines quite well.

 it would mean my wife would waste less of our money going to these concerts, 

Take her to a Yellow Monkey concert. Good olé rock-n-roll there.

Less than two years left of Arashi. I'm devastated.

*Boy bands' suck. They are terrible, they're phonies - phakes. Japan has many REAL bands out there*

They are not fakes. They are a genuine boy band.

There is room for ‘real’ bands and boy bands. There are audiences for ‘real’ bands and boy bands. No need to sneer at them. They are making a very decent living. Good luck to them. No need to sneer at those who like them either.

I’m not particularly creative or talented and I get paid probably more than I’m worth. It’s great.

This news only shook Japan, not Asia.

Here I am thinking "Ono is the leader?" I always thought it was Sakurai.

Unlike SMAP, Arashi is just "suspending activity" (活動休止). That means a few years later they can make an "activity resumption" (活動再開), and make a lot of money (at least for Johnny).

One of the many male idol groups created by Japan's giant entertainment agency Johnny & Associates Inc, Arashi has been active as a group and individually, not only in music but in movies, Japanese dramas, variety shows and commercials since making their debut in 1999.

"I wanted to live freely. By leaving this (entertainment) world, I wanted to see things that I've never seen," band leader Satoshi Ono said at press conference.

The decision came about after Ono, 38, told his fellow singers in June 2017 that he wished to leave after a 20-year career.

The guy is 38 years old, and he wants to do his own thing now before it's too late - he's earned that after 20 years

They could still come together from time to time while doing their own thing, ala Black Eyed Peas (each member of the group has their own thing, while they're all still a group)

JimizoJan. 28 04:05 pm JSTBoy bands' suck. They are terrible, they're phonies - phakes. Japan has many REAL bands out there

They are not fakes. They are a genuine boy band.

There is room for ‘real’ bands and boy bands. There are audiences for ‘real’ bands and boy bands. No need to sneer at them. They are making a very decent living. Good luck to them. No need to sneer at those who like them either.

I’m not particularly creative or talented and I get paid probably more than I’m worth. It’s great.

I'm not a musician but in America it's the same ol' mimed-up garbage (did somebody say that New Kids On The Block are having a reunion tour? LOL). They come, they go. Bye-bye. A bunch of lip-synching marionettes. As for the 'music', it's so manufactured beyond belief - I could write better songs than that if I was stoned. Gimme XTC, LSD or shrooms and see if I'm not right. And so can any of us. Who are we fooling? It's truly 'Money For Nothing' just like Dire Straits said. It's a total JOKE.

38 years old and in a “boy band” pretty much sums it all up.

So fans got Only 20 years

That's why bands like Flower Travellin' Band and Thee Michelle Gun Elephant (also The Birthday) are the real music that you can enjoy for your whole life.

Because they keep playing until they cannot move their most of their fingers.

BackpackingNepalToday 06:28 am JSTSo fans got Only 20 years

That's why bands like Flower Travellin' Band and Thee Michelle Gun Elephant (also The Birthday) are the real music that you can enjoy for your whole life.

Because they keep playing until they cannot move their most of their fingers.

Thee Michelle Gun Elephant, I forgot that band. Man, they are wicked cool. And the Asian Kung-Fu Generation kicks some serious fanny too. Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso U.F.O. are one terrific psychedelic band, in a Pink Floyd-ian -mixed with- Kraftwerk-ish freak-out wavelength. Stra-aaaaange! I'm going to check them out if they come to my home city. And the late great synth wiz Isao Tomita's theme music is totally cosmic yet with a little playfulness as well. Really good wild stuff, man.

yoshisan88Jan. 28 01:12 pm JSTMy wife is very upset and disappointed, and all of Asia is too.

Sorry to know your wife is upset. But all of Asia? J-pop was big ages ago. Now K-pop is king in Asia. That is the truth.

There are some K-ROCK bands worth checking out too. In late 2015 I saw a K-noise punk band called '57' (pronounced as 'oh chill'). They consist of guitarist Jaesung and a lady drummer whose name is pronounced as 'Snow'. They awed everyone in the club, they are wild, loud, noisy but very melodic. totally wicked. The 'K' stands for 'Korean' but in their case it means 'Kick Ass'. That's the Korean stuff that needs to be looked at. I already mentioned about the cool 'J-rock' scene.

rocketpandaJan. 28 01:31 pm JSTIt’s quite scary how people are reacting. People crying and panicked as if a loved has pass away.

Fans will still see them around in various TV programs.

The most level-headed comment came from a 16 year old,

They seemed so busy recently so I hope they can have a good rest," said her 16-year-old daughter Ruri.

I remember the closing scene of the *Beatles Anthology* on TV where John is quoted as saying, 'Don't be upset that a great band has broken up. All things must pass. When you feel the need to remember just pull out those Beatles albums and listen to them'.

I've been upset and saddened when many bands I grew up listening to and have seen in concert have broken up: The Ramones, Midnight Oil, INXS, Genesis, Pink Floyd, The Police, Motorhead, Motley Crue, Grateful Dead, REM, and lately RUSH. Some stars I admire have died, like David Bowie and Prince.

There's nothing left to do but listen to the music. And even though I have seen Ziggy Marley 4X, Cheap Trick 5X, and U2 + the Rolling Stones + Def Leppard 2X each - I will try to catch these acts and some others before they too are gone for good. When a fave act of yours is winding down or is on their farewell tour, catch them. You won't regret it and you'll have the good memories.

After hearing this news, life officially has no meaning now..................