Kamenashi Hinted at Solo Career Before KAT-TUN’s Breakup

Company decide it’s better for the members?

The three-member group KAT-TUN will disband on March 31, as announced by their agency, STARTO ENTERTAINMENT (formerly Johnny & Associates). The group had been active as a trio since April 2016, following the departures of previous members. On the day of the disbandment, Kazuya Kamenashi will also leave the agency, while Tatsuya Ueda and Yuichi Nakamaru will remain. According to an entertainment writer, Kamenashi had been contemplating his future for about two years.

On February 12, STARTO officially reported KAT-TUN’s disbandment. The company had signed a contract with KAT-TUN in April 2024, but after approximately a year of discussions with the members, they determined that from April 1, 2025, it would be better for the group to part ways and pursue individual paths.

“KAT-TUN debuted as a six-member group in March 2006, including Jin Akanishi, Koki Tanaka, and Junnosuke Taguchi. A year prior to their debut, Kamenashi and Akanishi starred as the ‘JinKame’ duo in the drama Gokusen Season 2 (NTV, January–March 2005), which ignited their popularity. Their unique wild image, distinct from SMAP and Arashi, was well received, and their debut single Real Face became a million-seller, marking an era of success,” the entertainment writer explained.

However, the group saw a series of departures—Akanishi in July 2010, Tanaka in September 2013, and Taguchi in March 2016. Despite this, Kamenashi, Ueda, and Nakamaru continued their group activities, with their 20th CD debut anniversary approaching next year. The disbandment announcement came just before this milestone.

Fans particularly focused on the agency’s statement that “it was determined as a company that choosing individual paths would be better for the members going forward.” While discussions were held with the members, the wording made it seem as though the decision was ultimately led by the company, leading to mixed reactions:

“The phrase determined as a company feels unsettling.”

“‘Determined as a company’—it sounds like they were forced out.”

“‘Determined as a company’ keeps bothering me. Was it about numbers and profitability? Could the fans have done more?”

The announcement sparked both doubts and disappointment among fans.

Kamenashi’s “thoughts” in the fall of the year before last.

“This phrasing could be seen as an attempt to support the members by implying that ‘no one is to blame’ for the disbandment. Some believe that Kamenashi’s decision to leave the agency played a role, while others suggest that Nakamaru’s suspension may have been a trigger.

Nakamaru took a hiatus after a women-related scandal was reported by Shukan Bunshun (Bungeishunju) in August last year. Though he announced his return in January, some fans suspect that Kamenashi decided to leave the agency during this period. The agency may have included the phrase determined as a company to protect Nakamaru and others.”

Meanwhile, Kamenashi, who will leave the agency at the end of March, had been expanding his individual activities since around 2023. On his YouTube channel, launched on October 23 of that year, he hinted at carefully considering his future.

In a video released on November 1, while reflecting on his career, he shared: “Since debut, with members leaving and various changes, I somehow ended up placing Kazuya Kamenashi’s priorities at a very low level. Instead of focusing on what I personally wanted to do, I prioritized making the group better.’ He also revealed that, unconsciously, he had been ‘holding back on things I wanted to do, using restraint to maintain balance.’

“Kamenashi was likely at a point where he needed to reconsider his path. In 2023, he reportedly told the agency that he wanted to make it a year to rediscover Kazuya Kamenashi. As a result, his YouTube channel and solo project Inside 23 gained momentum and were well-received by fans. Feeling confident in his individual endeavors, he may have ultimately decided to pursue a solo career instead of remaining in the group,” the source added.

According to STARTO’s announcement, “Although KAT-TUN will disband on March 31, at the members’ request, we are currently making arrangements to create an opportunity for them to meet fans in the near future.” What form will KAT-TUN’s final stage take?

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