<figure id="attachment_393804" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-393804" style="width: 3296px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="a62f1365"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/10/25f607876211cc8dee880efb0df0aea8.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-393804" class="wp-caption-text">Will CHAGE and ASKA resume their activities? (&#8217;21 Nov. 12 issue)</figcaption></figure>
<h3><span class="strongInContent"> I spoke with CHAGE on the phone for about an hour.</span></h3>
<p> On October 1, the duo of Chage (66) and ASKA (66), CHAGE and ASKA (hereafter referred to as &#8220;Chageas&#8221;), lifted the ban on distribution of all their albums and singles. This means that Chageas&#8217; entire discography can now be enjoyed on Spotify and other subscription services.</p>
<p> On August 25 this year, Chaguareas announced the release of all their songs on subscriptions to commemorate the 45th anniversary of their debut. On that day, the best album &#8220;CHAGE&amp;ASKA VERY BEST ROLL OVER 20TH&#8221; (released in December 1999, 29 songs in total), which contains many of their hit songs, was released on the subscriber distribution.</p>
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<p> After the announcement, ASKA wrote on his blog about the process of lifting the ban. He recalled, <span class="strongInContent">&#8220;</span><span class="strongInContent">CHAGE has been wanting to subscribe for four years now, but I didn&#8217;t have the heart to jump in yet.</span><span class="strongInContent">The other day, I talked to CHAGE on the phone for about an hour and he said, &#8220;You&#8217;re getting more stubborn as you get older.</span> I also revealed that I had a conversation with him, saying, <span class="strongInContent">&#8220;Well, it&#8217;s the same for both of us (laughs).</span></p>
<p> However, he also wrote, <span class="strongInContent">&#8220;Now, I can&#8217;t say &#8216;as C&amp;A.</span> But he also wrote, &#8220;I can&#8217;t say &#8216;as C&amp;A&#8217; right now. It is no wonder that on August 25, 2007, the 40th anniversary of his debut, ASKA suddenly announced his withdrawal from Chaguareas.</p>
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<p> At the time of his announcement, ASKA wrote on his blog, <span class="strongInContent">&#8220;I think this was already known to some people in the music industry and our friends who know us well,&#8221;</span> and recounted the background of his decision to break up the band in February 2009 but to suspend their activities indefinitely.</p>
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" Background of Indefinite Suspension of Activities"></div>
<h3><span class="strongInContent">The truth behind ASKA&#8217;s &#8220;Withdrawal&#8221;: &#8230;&#8230;</span></h3>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> The year &#8217;09 was the 30th anniversary year of Chageas&#8217; debut. However, in January, some media reported that Chageas was breaking up. In response, Chaguareas&#8217; office denied that they were breaking up. Then, the indefinite suspension of their activities was announced.</span></p>
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<p><span class="strongInContent"> In January 2001, it was announced on their official website that Chaguareas would resume their activities, and they were scheduled to hold a revival live concert at Yoyogi National Stadium 1st Gymnasium at the end of August of the same year. Fans&#8217; expectations only grew, but in June, ASKA was diagnosed with transient ischemic brain hemorrhage requiring rest and recuperation, and the live concert was postponed.</span></p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> Later in August, &#8220;Shukan Bunshun&#8221; reported on ASKA&#8217;s alleged drug use, and in October, ASKA refrained from his activities. Then, in May of the following year, he was arrested on suspicion of violating the Methamphetamine Control Law (possession). The office terminated ASKA&#8217;s contract with the company,&#8221; said a source from the record company.</span></p>
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<p> ASKA was convicted in September 2002 and sentenced to three years in prison with a four-year suspended sentence, and although he was rearrested in November 2004, the charges were dropped in December. He resumed his music career in earnest in 2005.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> In July 2005, ASKA was arrested with his mistress, and their relationship deteriorated. In July 2005, he revealed that he had divorced his wife of 30 years. ASKA once decided to dissolve the group, but it is believed that his decision to leave in 2007 was partly to take responsibility for the public uproar he caused.</span></p>
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" Will he resume his activities?"></div>
<h3><span class="strongInContent">Chage has not forgiven ASKA.</span></h3>
<p> After all, no singles as Chageas have been released since &#8220;Man and Woman&#8221; and &#8220;Here &amp; There&#8221; released on January 10, &#8217;07, and no original album since &#8220;DOUBLE&#8221; released on January 24, &#8217;07. The last time the two took the stage together was at the Yoyogi National Stadium 1st Gymnasium on December 24, 2007, the final concert of the tour. Will they resume their activities in the future?</p>
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<p><span class="strongInContent"> In order to deliver his music to as many fans as possible, Mr. Chage negotiated with ASKA to allow him to lift the ban on subscriptions. He had spoken to Chage only through his lawyer and did not know his contact information.</span></p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> So the fact that they talked on the phone for an hour probably means that the relationship is on the mend, but even now, Chage stubbornly refuses to forgive ASKA for the damage he has done to the group&#8217;s name. At present, it is unlikely that the two will ever stand on the same stage together.</span></p>
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<p> For the time being, it seems unlikely that the scene that fans want to see will be realized. We can only wait for the 50th anniversary in 29 years with a little hope.</p>

<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" ASKA at a kendo tournament!"></div>
<figure id="attachment_393805" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-393805" style="width: 1276px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="007486f0"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/10/a7b6a5df4737bb3ff60fb8ce64769dad.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-393805" class="wp-caption-text">In October &#8217;21, ASKA was participating in a kendo tournament in Tokyo, and during a break in the tournament, he appeared in a smoking area outside the venue to have a cigarette. Perhaps it was after his defeat, but his expression was not clear (from the November 12, &#8217;21 issue).</figcaption></figure>
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<figure id="attachment_393806" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-393806" style="width: 1699px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="33de911d"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/10/2cd6f609fc12fb974ebebc021a700822.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-393806" class="wp-caption-text"> He responded to the cheers of the fans waiting outside the venue (from the November 12, 2009 issue).</figcaption></figure>
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<figure id="attachment_393801" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-393801" style="width: 2265px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="50ea3c86"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/10/e990d8afa8b1bbbd19277c6c504232c2.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-393801" class="wp-caption-text"> When this magazine directly asked him after the match, he said with a smile, &#8220;I lost in the first round, but the winner (who beat ASKA) won.</figcaption></figure>


 Junsei Todoroki

 On October 1, all CHAGE and ASKA albums and singles were released for distribution. In doing so, ASKA reveals that he and CHAGE talked on the phone for about an hour. What is the reason why they will not resume their activities?

&#8216;I don&#8217;t even know their contact information&#8217; &#8211; &#8216;We talked about it&#8217;&#8230; Still, why CHAGE and ASKA have not resumed their activities?

‘I don’t even know their contact information’ – ‘We talked about it’… Still, why CHAGE and ASKA have not resumed their activities?

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