🌊 Ohno Satoshi — the quiet leader of Japan's most iconic idol group — has announced he will leave STARTO ENTERTAINMENT on May 31, 2026: the very same day Arashi plays their final concert. After 32 years in the industry he entered as a 14-year-old boy, Ohno made a simple promise: "I want to run through this as five, until the very end."

Ohno Satoshi Announces Departure from STARTO on Arashi's Final Day

On the evening of February 28, 2026, STARTO ENTERTAINMENT officially announced that Ohno Satoshi (45), the leader of Arashi, will leave the agency on May 31, 2026.

That date is no coincidence. It is the same day Arashi will perform their very last concert — the finale of their nationwide dome tour "ARASHI LIVE TOUR 2026 'We are ARASHI'" at Tokyo Dome. For Ohno, the end of Arashi and the end of his 32-year tenure at the agency will arrive as one.

STARTO ENTERTAINMENT stated that it "respects the decision of Ohno Satoshi as he embarks on a new path" and expressed "heartfelt gratitude for his many achievements over the years."

Ohno's Message to Fans

Ohno published a personal statement through the agency's official website and fan club site:

I have an announcement for everyone. I, Ohno Satoshi, have decided to leave the agency upon the conclusion of Arashi's activities on May 31 of this year. I entered this world at 14 years old, and for approximately 32 years, I have been taken care of by the agency, all staff, and everyone involved. Thank you so much.

And above all, to the fans who have supported us — everything we have accomplished is thanks to you. I am filled with nothing but gratitude. Thank you, truly.

After Arashi's activities end, I hope to do things at my own pace, in my own way. But first, until May 31 of this year, I want to run through this as five. I would be happy if you could watch over us until the very end.

Ohno Satoshi

The Third to Leave — Arashi Members Choosing Their Own Paths

Ohno's announcement makes him the third Arashi member to individually depart from the agency.

Ninomiya Kazunari (42) was the first to leave, departing from SMILE-UP. (the former Johnny & Associates) in October 2023. He established his own management company, "Office Nino," the following month and has continued an active solo career spanning variety shows, acting, and his popular YouTube channel.

Matsumoto Jun (42) followed in May 2024, leaving STARTO ENTERTAINMENT to form his own company, "MJC Inc." He has since been active as a director, producer, and actor.

Meanwhile, all five members established "ARASHI Inc." in April 2024 to manage group-related affairs. Even after their individual departures, Ninomiya and Matsumoto maintained agent contracts with STARTO for Arashi-related activities, though these are expected to conclude alongside the group's dissolution.

Sakurai Sho (43) and Aiba Masaki (42) remain with STARTO ENTERTAINMENT as of this writing.

Who Is Ohno Satoshi? — The Artist Behind the Idol

Born on November 26, 1980, in Tokyo, Ohno Satoshi joined the former Johnny & Associates at age 14 in October 1994. On November 3, 1999, he debuted as the leader of Arashi in a ceremony held on a cruise ship off the coast of Hawaii.

For over 25 years, Ohno served as the group's leader — though his leadership style was anything but conventional. Often described as the "un-leader-like leader," his laid-back, dreamy personality endeared him to millions. Yet on stage, he transformed into a different person entirely: a vocalist of extraordinary range and a dancer of fluid, mesmerizing precision. As an actor, he starred in hit dramas including "Maō," "Kaibutsu-kun," and "Sekai Ichi Muzukashii Koi." He also gained acclaim as a visual artist — his solo exhibition "FREESTYLE" drew enormous crowds and critical attention.

At the January 2019 press conference where Arashi announced their hiatus, Ohno spoke candidly: "I couldn't irresponsibly say I wanted to rest alone. At first, I thought the only option was to quit the agency." He added: "I want to leave this world once, and see scenery I've never seen before."

After the group's activities were paused on December 31, 2020, Ohno retreated to Miyakojima in Okinawa, reportedly spending his time painting and fishing in quiet solitude. He reappeared publicly on May 6, 2025, joining his four bandmates in a fan club video to announce the last tour and the group's official dissolution.

The Last Tour — "We are ARASHI"

Arashi's farewell tour, "ARASHI LIVE TOUR 2026 'We are ARASHI,'" kicks off on March 13 at the Daiwa House Premist Dome (Sapporo Dome) in Hokkaido. The tour spans five major dome venues across Japan in a total of 15 performances:

Dates Venue
March 13–15 Daiwa House Premist Dome, Sapporo
April 1–2 Tokyo Dome
April 6–8 Vantelin Dome Nagoya
April 24–26 Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka
May 15–17 Kyocera Dome Osaka
May 31 Tokyo Dome (Final Performance)

Tickets are exclusively available to fan club members through a lottery system, with competition ratios estimated between 10:1 and 20:1. Facial recognition technology has been introduced to combat resale. With an estimated 3 to 3.4 million fan club members vying for approximately 700,000 total seats, every performance has become a once-in-a-lifetime event.

Additionally, Arashi's first new single in roughly six years — the digital release "Five" — is scheduled for March 4, serving as the group's final musical offering.

"Running Through It as Five" — The Countdown to the End

Ohno's departure announcement came just two weeks before the tour's opening night. According to industry sources, the timing was deliberate — Ohno reportedly wanted to approach the final tour with everything laid bare, facing fans with complete honesty.

As for life after departure, Ohno's statement offered only a glimpse: "I hope to do things at my own pace, in my own way." Unlike Ninomiya and Matsumoto, who both launched management companies, Ohno is widely expected to step away from the entertainment industry entirely. His years of quiet living in Okinawa suggest a future centered on art, nature, and personal pursuits rather than a return to the spotlight.

But all of that lies beyond May 31. For now, every eye is on the three months that remain — the final stretch of a 27-year journey. Five members, five dome cities, fifteen concerts, and one last promise to keep.

The last storm is gathering.

Read the complete 5-part Arashi retrospective series:

Has a beloved group or artist in your country ever announced a breakup or departure that felt like the end of an era? How did fans handle it — with tears, celebration, or something in between? Share your story in the comments.

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