It's confirmed! Japan's enormously popular boy band SMAP is not breaking up. The band members shut down the split rumours and offered an apology to their fans on live TV program on Jan. 18.
According to Japan Times, the iconic J-pop boy band finally addressed the rumours during their appearance on a variety show on Fuji Television Network. All the five members of SMAP were dressed in dark-coloured suits during the program. Each member said an apology to the fans for causing concern and assured the audience that they are going to stick together.
Band member Takuya Kimura said that SMAP will "strive to move forward."
Rumours regarding the band's breakup surfaced last week in Japan and the other parts of Asia. It was said that the members wanted to part ways due to issues with management. It is also reported that some of the members wanted to end their association with their management company Johnny & Associates.
Kimura accepted that the band was on the brink of a breakup. He did not reveal many details as the other members continued with their message to the fans.
"I'm relieved that five of us are here together," another SMAP member Tsuyoshi Kusanagi said during their television appearance.
SMAP stands for Sports Music Assemble People and it was launched in 1988 as a six member group. Currently, it is a five-member band that consists of Kimura, Kusanagi, Masahiro Nakai, Goro Inagaki and Shingo Katori. Their 1991 album proved to be their shot to fame. By now, SMAP has released some fifty singles and twenty albums and it is one of the bestselling boy band in the entire Asia. Even after 27 years, the band remains one of the most popular J-pop idol group. They are reportedly worth ¥20 billion and continue to be icons for many in Asia.
"We are able to stand here because Kimura-kun worked and set up an opportunity for us to apologize" the management agency said in a statement as quoted by Wall Street Journal. Fans went into panic mode when the rumours about SMAP's split hit the internet. Several fans took to social media to express their dismay. However, the announcement shunning the split rumours have brought great relief to the band's admirers.
