🎵 They debuted in 1999 on a cruise ship off Hawaii. For 26 years, all five members stayed together — never once changing the lineup. 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 emotional 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.
Your Turn — Does Your Country Have a "Farewell Song" Story?
Arashi's "Five" is more than a song. It encapsulates 26 years of unbroken brotherhood, the regret of a pandemic-stolen goodbye, and the courage to say "this is the end" with grace and gratitude.
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.
References
- https://www.storm-labels.co.jp/s/js/news/detail/14318
- https://natalie.mu/music/news/657586
- https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2432605/full/
- https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3309439/arashi-j-pop-mega-group-disband-after-final-tour-prompting-outpouring-fans
- https://hype.my/iconic-japanese-idol-group-arashi-to-disband-in-2026-following-final-tour/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arashi
Reactions in Japan
I cried the moment I saw the title 'Five.' 26 years, always five members. Naming the song after that fact is so typically Arashi. The made-to-order CDs instead of chasing a million sales really shows they put fans first.
Honestly, a fan club-exclusive CD with no general retail will weaken chart numbers. For an artist of Arashi's stature to forgo Oricon records is admirable in a way. But it does create a barrier for newer fans.
I raised my kids listening to Arashi. They went on hiatus the year my youngest was born, and now a new song comes out the year that child starts elementary school. Watching the announcement video, my whole family burst into tears.
As a band musician, staying together with the same members for 26 years is extraordinary. My own band didn't last three years. The weight behind the title 'Five' is enough to make me cry.
When you see news about Sapporo hotels reserving rooms for exam students because Arashi fans booked everything, it's clearly a social phenomenon. The estimated economic impact exceeds $230 million, and the significance of an idol group with that kind of influence ending is enormous.
Sorry to say, but how is 'hiatus then activity conclusion' any different from just disbanding? I know fans won't like this, but it feels like wordplay. The real goal was probably continuing the brand business when they set up Arashi Inc.
Ohno's expression when he read the title in the video... He barely appeared in public during the hiatus, and yet he showed up for Arashi. That alone tells you everything 'Five' means.
Looking at it objectively, this sales strategy is clever. Made-to-order means zero inventory risk, opening it to non-fan-club members widens the reach while maintaining scarcity. They say 'fans over business,' but it's also commercially rational.
I've been a fan club member for 15 years and got rejected for every show. At least I can stream the new song. But do you understand what it's like hearing 'this is the last song' when you can't even attend the final tour? Happiness and sadness all jumbled together.
Honestly I'm not from Arashi's generation, but I got hooked after they went on streaming platforms. Getting to experience a 'first and last new release' from them now feels like an incredibly strange twist of fate.
Arashi's historic value goes beyond music. That they could release a new song as five even after the Johnny's collapse, STARTO reorganization, member departures, and Arashi Inc. formation represents a milestone in Japanese idol history.
I remember Nino saying he's been listening to Arashi songs a lot lately. Even after going independent as a solo artist, you can feel he's still part of Arashi. 'Five' probably carries the feelings of all five members right now.
A new song after 1,951 days. Arashi, who celebrated milestones with songs like '5×10' and '5×20,' chose the unadorned title 'Five' for the finale. I see the essence of Arashi in that simple strength. I'm almost scared of how excited I am for March 4.
In K-pop, BTS went hiatus → solo → comeback, but Arashi chose 'activity conclusion.' Neither is right or wrong — it's a difference in how groups approach their existence. I respect Arashi's decisiveness.
I'm dying to see Matsujun's production for the last tour. Apparently there are plans for AR effects and smartphone-synced lighting. How 'Five' gets woven into the show — knowing his perfectionism, there has to be something incredible planned.
So many Taiwanese fans discovered Arashi through Hana Yori Dango, myself included. Twenty years since I was a teenager equating MatsuJun with Domyoji, and seeing the 'Five' announcement felt like a chapter of my own life closing. Hearing all five voices one last time is both a blessing and a heartbreak.
As a Korean idol fan, Arashi maintaining the same five members for 26 years is phenomenal. In K-pop, lineup changes within a few years are the norm. Choosing 'activity conclusion' instead of 'disbandment' really highlights something unique about Japanese idol culture.
I'm a BTS fan from the US, but Arashi's news hits close to home. BTS came back after military service, while Arashi declared an ending. Both are valid choices, but Arashi's feels almost cruelly honest.
The Arashi fan community in Indonesia is still active. The day the new song was announced, our group chat blew up with over 500 messages. We're planning to stream 'Five' together at midnight Japan time on release day. The distance is far, but Arashi is always close to us.
I'll be honest, I don't know much about Arashi. But hearing that an idol group that stayed together as the same five people for 26 years is releasing a final song called 'Five' — that story alone gives me chills. You don't need to know the music to be moved by the narrative.
As a Thai fan, what hurts most is not being able to attend the final tour. Fan club tickets only, and you practically need to be in Japan. There are rumors about a live stream, but nothing official yet. Listening to 'Five' while praying for an announcement.
From an Italian J-pop fan's perspective, Arashi's business model is fascinating. Made-to-order CDs with no general retail is unthinkable in the Western music industry. But in the streaming era, physical releases function as memorabilia.
In Vietnam, I have friends who started learning Japanese because of Arashi. Their songs and shows were our best study materials. Knowing 'Five' is the last makes me sad that my motivation for studying Japanese might end with it.
Arashi is well-known among J-pop fans in Brazil too. But honestly, they missed the chance to gain new fans over the past five years — they went on streaming platforms but were on hiatus. If this last song goes viral, it could become a new legend, though.
Filipino Arashi fans tend to be older — they've been supporting the group while juggling work and families. When GMA News aired the disbandment story, a colleague was crying at the office. I bet plenty of people will take a day off for the 'Five' release.
On Chinese social media, Arashi's disbandment news trended with 'end of an era.' The continued support for Arashi despite the Johnny's scandal proves the power of their work transcends agency controversies. I hope 'Five' will be available on Chinese platforms too.
From Sweden. I'm not familiar with idol culture, but '26 years with the same members, final single named after their number' is a story that transcends borders. ABBA released new music 40 years after splitting — I want to believe there's no real 'end' in music.
In India, Bollywood stars can stay active for decades, but I've never heard of a five-member group completing a quarter century with everyone intact. It speaks to the strength of Japan's idol system. I'm more worried about what happens to the J-pop industry after losing Arashi, though.
The J-pop community in Israel is small but passionate. We celebrated together when Arashi's 'Love so sweet' hit 100 million streams — that was our last happy memory. If 'Five' surpasses 100 million, the party this time will be a farewell, not a celebration.
I've seen crowds go wild when Arashi songs play at Japan Expo in France. Comparing Arashi Inc.'s post-activity IP management with Daft Punk's retirement strategy is interesting. Every country has its own philosophy about how artists should end.