Arashi’s 490,000-strong last tour finally comes to an end.

The future of the members” is a matter of concern.

Arashi’s last tour “We are ARASHI” drew approximately 490,000 people for a total of 15 shows. On May 31, the final concert was held at Tokyo Dome, which was overflowing with people four hours before the show began. After the doors opened, fans who lost the battle for tickets enjoyed the “sound leak” outside, and tens of thousands of people enjoyed the afterglow after the show (second photo).

The road to the grand finale, however, was by no means smooth. Since going on hiatus in 2008, the five had been discussing the possibility of performing in front of their fans one last time, but leader Satoshi Ohno (45) refused to take the plunge, saying, “I don’t want to be on the stage.

Sho Sakurai (44) persistently persuaded Ohno, saying, ‘If we don’t do this, we won’t be able to repay the members who continue to subscribe to our fan club,’ and after six years of persistent efforts, they finally succeeded in bringing the project to fruition.

What is interesting is the future of the members. Writer Akihiro Shimoda, author of “Johnny’s is 90% Effort” (Shinchosha), has this to say.

Mr. Sakurai has contributed an article on the Great East Japan Earthquake to “Newsweek Japan” with his signature. He will probably continue to be a caster and also engage in cultural activities. Mr. Ninomiya (Kazuya, 42) is an actor and Mr. Matsumoto (Jun, 42) is a successful director. Mr. Aiba (Masaki, 43) will continue to work mainly on variety shows as before. Mr. Ono will probably use this tour as a break from show business.”

Will the group itself continue to exist?

The group itself will continue to exist? Arashi Corporation, which manages the group’s copyrights and other rights, has not folded either,” said entertainment reporter Chikako Komai.

The group’s copyrights and other rights management company, Arashi, has not been disbanded either. The five members will go their separate ways, leaving “Arashi” as their “home.

From the June 19, 2026 issue of “FRIDAY