Nepedia
Back to Discover
Advanced Reader
🎨

Arashi

arts Maturity 7-9 Next article →

Arashi is a highly influential Japanese boy band that has shaped much of the country's media landscape. Formed by the agency Johnny & Associates, the group consists of five members: Satoshi Ohno, Sho Sakurai, Masaki Aiba, Kazunari Ninomiya, and Jun Matsumoto. The name "Arashi" translates to "Storm" in Japanese. This name reflects the agency's ambitious goal to create a storm that spreads throughout the entire world.

東京ドーム 2010年11月 (5223321729)
東京ドーム 2010年11月 (5223321729)

Being a member of Arashi involves a diverse range of professional activities beyond singing. The members perform in massive, sold-out concert tours and host various variety shows. They also engage in acting, often starring in television dramas and films. Sho Sakurai serves as the group's designated rapper and has written all of the rap lyrics for their releases.

ARS sign 2009-11-03
ARS sign 2009-11-03

One member, Jun Matsumoto, even contributed to concert technology by inventing the "Johnny's Moving Stage." This is a transparent stage that travels over the audience, allowing performers to reach fans seated far from the main stage.

The group's career can be divided into distinct eras of growth and expansion. Their early years, from 1999 to 2001, focused on establishing their presence in Japan under the Pony Canyon label. In 2001, they transitioned to J Storm, a subsidiary label created specifically for their subsequent releases. From 2002 to 2005, the group saw a period of steady growth and expanded their work into anime and film soundtracks. By 2006, Arashi began significant international activities, performing across Asia to reach a wider audience.

The history of the group began on September 15, 1999, during a press conference held on a cruise ship off the coast of Honolulu, Hawaii. President Johnny Kitagawa selected five trainees from the Johnny's Jr. division to form the lineup. They made their official CD debut on November 3, 1999, with the single "Arashi." This debut track served as the theme song for the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Cup in Japan. It was an immediate success, selling nearly one million copies by the end of its chart run.

Arashi has achieved staggering commercial success and significant milestones in the music industry. They are recognized as the best-selling boy band in Asia, having sold over 58.8 million copies of albums, singles, and videos. In 2007, their single "Love So Sweet" became one of the top five best-selling singles of the year in Japan. The group also made history in 2008 and 2009 by dominating the Oricon yearly charts. In 2009, they became only the third artist in Oricon history to simultaneously top the yearly charts for singles, albums, and music DVDs.

Specific achievements highlight the group's massive popularity during their peak years. In 2008, they became the first artist to hold both the top two rankings on the Oricon singles yearly chart. They achieved this with the singles "Truth / Kaze no Mukō e" and "One Love." In 2010, all six of their singles ranked within the top ten of the Oricon yearly chart. That same year, their studio album, "Boku no Miteiru Fūkei," was named the best-selling album in Japan.

東京ドーム 2010年11月 (5223321729)
東京ドーム 2010年11月 (5223321729)

Arashi's influence extends into many different sectors of Japanese culture and entertainment. Their music is frequently integrated into television through theme songs for popular dramas and anime. For instance, "Love So Sweet" was the theme for the drama "Hana Yori Dango 2." Their work has also reached international audiences through tours in Taiwan, Thailand, and South Korea.

While they have remained a dominant force, the group has shared plans for their future. They announced a suspension of activities in 2019, and they will conclude their journey with a final tour in the spring of 2026.

611 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (3)
File:ARS sign 2009-11-03.jpg
ARS sign 2009-11-03.jpg
File:東京ドーム 2010年11月 (5223321729).jpg
東京ドーム 2010年11月 (5223321729).jpg
File:Japan Airlines Airbus A350-900 JA04XJ (49165956363).jpg
Japan Airlines Airbus A350-900 JA04XJ...
More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.