They debuted in 1999 on a cruise ship off Hawaii, and for 26 years all five members stayed together without a single lineup change. After five years of silence, they're releasing one final song before their last-ever concert tour. Its title says everything: "Five." Here's the story behind Arashi's farewell single.

"Five": Arashi's First New Song in Five Years and Their Final Gift to Fans

On January 26, 2026, Japan's legendary idol group Arashi made an announcement that sent shockwaves through the J-pop world: a new digital single called "Five," set for release on March 4, 2026. It's their first new music in approximately five years and five months, and it will be their last.

The song will be available for streaming and download from midnight on March 4 across all major music platforms. A limited-edition CD single will also be released on May 31 exclusively through the Famikura Store online, produced entirely to order. The CD comes in two formats (CD+Blu-ray and CD+DVD), priced at 1,760 yen (approximately $12) each, and includes the music video plus behind-the-scenes footage.

The title "Five" carries deep significance. Since their formation in 1999, the group, Satoshi Ohno, Sho Sakurai, Masaki Aiba, Kazunari Ninomiya, and Jun Matsumoto, has never lost or replaced a single member. In the announcement video, member Aiba described the lyrics as deeply moving, while Sakurai said he was overwhelmed hearing the finished track, exclaiming, "It sounds like Arashi."

From Hawaii to Hiatus: Arashi's 26-Year Journey

Arashi (meaning "Storm" in Japanese) debuted on September 15, 1999, when the then-president of Johnny & Associates (now STARTO ENTERTAINMENT) announced the group aboard a cruise ship off Honolulu, Hawaii. Their debut single "A・RA・SHI" sold nearly one million copies and launched what would become one of the most successful careers in Japanese entertainment history.

Over the following two decades, Arashi became far more than a music group. They starred in hit dramas like Hana Yori Dango (Boys Over Flowers) and hosted beloved variety shows like VS Arashi and Arashi ni Shiyagare. By 2020, their combined single and album sales had exceeded 40 million copies. They performed at five-dome tours across Japan and appeared at the NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, Japan's most prestigious New Year's music broadcast, multiple times.

Then came the unexpected: in January 2019, the group announced they would suspend activities at the end of 2020. The final year before their hiatus coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning fans never got a proper goodbye concert. Their last group performance was a streaming-only New Year's Eve concert on December 31, 2020.

During the hiatus, each member pursued solo work. Matsumoto starred in the NHK historical drama Dō Suru Ieyasu. Ninomiya and Matsumoto eventually left STARTO ENTERTAINMENT. In April 2024, all five established "Arashi Inc.," their own company, giving them autonomous control over the group's future.

"Activity Conclusion": A Uniquely Japanese Way of Saying Goodbye

On May 6, 2025, Arashi posted a video message to their fan club:

"It has been almost four and a half years since we went on hiatus. We sincerely regret we were unable to perform for all of you during that last year due to the pandemic. The five of us have gathered together once again to hold a concert tour, and upon the conclusion of this tour, we will end our activities as Arashi."

Notably, the group used the term katsudō shūryō (活動終了, "activity conclusion") rather than kaisan (解散, "dissolution/disbandment"). In Japan, this distinction matters. "Dissolution" implies a severing of ties, while "activity conclusion" suggests that the group's bond continues even after official activities end. It's a characteristically thoughtful and deliberate choice by Arashi, leaving the door open, however slightly, while giving fans a clear and honest farewell.

The Final Tour: "We are ARASHI" Across Five Domes

The farewell tour, titled "ARASHI LIVE TOUR 2026 'We are ARASHI,'" will run from March 13 to May 31, 2026, spanning five major dome venues across Japan: Sapporo, Tokyo, Nagoya, Fukuoka, and Osaka, with a total of 15 performances. The final show at Tokyo Dome on May 31 will mark the official end of Arashi.

Ticket eligibility was limited to fan club members who joined before June 2, 2025. With approximately 3 million fan club members competing for roughly 700,000 seats, the lottery results, announced on January 13, were a rollercoaster. Social media was flooded with posts ranging from "I've been a fan club member for 15 years and didn't get a single ticket" to "This is the happiest day of my life."

"Five": A Business Decision That Puts Fans First

The release strategy for "Five" has drawn attention for its fan-first approach. The CD single is available only through the official Famikura Store, is produced entirely to order, and limits purchases to one Blu-ray version and one DVD version per person. It won't be sold in regular music stores or on general e-commerce platforms.

Industry analysts noted that if the CD had been released through regular retail channels without purchase limits, it would have easily surpassed one million sales. Arashi deliberately chose a path that prioritized fan access over commercial records, a decision many see as emblematic of the group's character.

A Global Fanbase Bids Farewell

While Arashi is fundamentally a Japanese cultural phenomenon, their influence extends well beyond Japan's borders. Their 2006 concerts in South Korea saw 150,000 people rush to book tickets online, selling out in one hour. In 2019, they released the English-language single "Turning Up" and collaborated with Bruno Mars on "Whenever You Call," signaling a global ambition that the pandemic ultimately interrupted.

International media outlets across Asia, from Hong Kong's South China Morning Post to the Philippines' GMA News to Malaysia's Hype, covered the farewell announcement prominently. On social media, fans from Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan, and beyond shared memories and messages of gratitude, often in a mix of Japanese and their native languages.

Every country has its own version of this story: a beloved band or artist who delivered one final song before closing the curtain. What about in your country? Has a group you loved released a farewell track that still gives you chills? We'd love to hear your "farewell song" story from wherever you are in the world.

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