Has SMAP Disbanded? https://t.co/3jhIl0kyhfpic.twitter.com/c5csGdLSUz
— ARAMA! JAPAN (@aramajapan) January 12, 2016
* The group was formed in 1988, and debuted in 1991.
* Is one of the most popular groups in Japan.
* Four out of five members of the group (Nakai Masahiro, Inagaki Goro, Kusanagi Tsuyoshi, and Katori Shingo) have walked from Johnny's Entertainment, a company with a monopoly on boy bands in Japan.
* Only one member remains at the company, Kimura Takuya.
* The four have left due to the resignation of their female manager Iijima Michi, who leaves the company next month. She was allegedly forced to resign due to personal problems smh.
* I'm assuming that the four who left do not have the rights to the band name or the music, which is why their leaving JE is "a de facto disbandment of the group".
* They also host a popular variety show called SMAPxSMAP that would have entered its 20th year this year. No word on what's happening with that, I'm assuming that's toast too.
ONTD, has your favorite boyband ever broken up?
Are there any active boybands older than you?
Source
Another One☝