Arashi

Arashi
Name	Arashi
Origin	Tokyo, Japan
Genre	J-pop, pop rock
Years active	1999–present
Label	Pony Canyon (1999–2001), J Storm (2002–present)
Associated acts	Johnny & Associates

Arashi. is a Japanese boy band formed under the talent agency Johnny & Associates. Debuting in 1999, the group has become one of the most successful and influential acts in the history of Japanese popular music, achieving massive commercial success in music, television, film, and stage. The group's activities went on an indefinite hiatus at the end of 2020, following an announcement made in early 2019.

History

The group was formed and debuted on September 15, 1999, in Honolulu, Hawaii, with a press conference aboard a ship. Their debut single, "A·RA·SHI", was released later that year under the label Pony Canyon. Early in their career, they gained exposure through regular appearances on variety shows produced by Nippon Television and Fuji Television. A significant turning point came in 2008 when they were selected as the official ambassadors for Expo 2005 in Aichi Prefecture, which greatly increased their national profile. Their popularity surged further in the 2010s, with the group hosting the annual year-end music special Kōhaku Uta Gassen multiple times and celebrating their 20th anniversary with a series of major events, including a tour that performed at iconic venues like the National Stadium.

Members

The group consists of five members, all of whom are also accomplished actors and television personalities. The leader is Ōno Satoshi, who is also renowned for his theatrical work and solo exhibitions as an artist. Sakurai Sho serves as the main rapper and newscaster for the program News Zero. Aiba Masaki is widely recognized for his regular role on the variety show VS Arashi. Ninomiya Kazunari is an award-winning actor, known for his roles in films like Letters from Iwo Jima. Matsumoto Jun is a prominent actor in dramas such as Hana Yori Dango and has also directed concerts for the group.

Discography

Their extensive discography includes over 50 singles and 20 original studio albums, with numerous releases topping the Oricon charts. Key singles that defined their career include "Love So Sweet", the theme song for the drama Hana Yori Dango, and "Truth/Kaze no Mukō e". Their 2010 single "Monster" was a major hit, and later releases like "Fukkatsu Love" continued their chart dominance. Notable albums include their greatest hits compilation "5x5 The Best Selection of 2002–2004", the conceptual "Popcorn", and "Untitled", which was released for their 20th anniversary. They have also released several compilation albums for their tours, such as "Arashi Anniversary Tour 5x10".

Filmography

The members have starred in numerous television dramas and films both collectively and individually. As a group, they starred in the comedy film Pikanchi Life Is Hard Dakedo Happy and its sequels. They have also produced and starred in documentary-style films about their concerts, like Arashi: 5x20 Anniversary Tour Film. Individually, members have led major drama series; for example, Matsumoto Jun starred in Kimi wa Petto, while Ninomiya Kazunari received critical acclaim for his performance in the film The Terminal Trust. The group has also hosted and been the central focus of long-running variety shows like VS Arashi and Arashi ni Shiyagare.

Tours and concerts

They are renowned for their large-scale, innovative concert tours, which have consistently broken attendance records in Japan. Major tours include the "Arashi Marks 2008 Dream-A-Live" tour, the "Beautiful World" dome tour, and the "Japonism Show" tour. Their 20th-anniversary tour, "5x20", was a monumental stadium tour that became one of the highest-grossing concert tours of all time by any artist. They have also held special anniversary concerts at the Tokyo Dome and performed annual summer concerts at the National Yoyogi Stadium.

Awards and achievements

Throughout their career, the group has received numerous accolades. They have won the "Grand Prix" award multiple times at the Japan Gold Disc Award and have been recognized frequently at the Japan Record Awards. They hold the record for the most number-one singles on the Oricon yearly singles chart by a musical group. In 2019, they were honored with a special award at the Tokyo Drama Awards for their contributions to television. Individual members have also received prestigious acting awards, such as Ninomiya Kazunari winning the award for Best Actor at the Japan Academy Film Prize.

Category:Japanese boy bands Category:J-pop groups