ARASHI~~storms...

Arashi (the Japanese word for storm), is a Japanese popular group consisting of five boys from the Johnny & Associates stable. They made their sudden debut in September 1999 in Honolulu, Hawaii from the Pony Canyon Music Company. The group members are Satoshi Ohno (group leader, 26), Sho Sakurai (24, group's unofficial spokesperson), Masaki Aiba (24), Kazunari Ninomiya (23) and Jun Matsumoto (23).

This group is widely known for the members' good looks and for the group's smartly executed, powerful dances. The fans' ages range from the low teens up to the mid-forties. On the day of their debut single "A?A?HI", more than 80,000 fans showed up to attend their debut event. Since the debut single, the group has released more than 10 singles. Their first four singles, "ARASHI (Storm)", "Sunrise Nippon (Sunrise Japan)/HORIZON", "Typhoon Generation", and "Kansha Kangeki Ame Arashi" attracted many people because they all dealt with nature. The cheap cost of 500 yen also attracted people to buy their 7th, 8th, and 9th singles. Arashi produces a wide range of different types of music, including rap, house, and hip hop. In 2002, Arashi established a music company of their own called J-Storm.

Arashi has also been taking part in various dramas, variety shows, TV commercials, and movies. The entire group played the lead in the drama called "V No Arashi (Arashi of Victory)" that supported the Japanese volleyball team in the World Cup. Other dramas include "Gokusen (Gangster Teacher)" and "Kimi wa Petto (You're A Pet)" by Matsumoto, "Kisarazu Cat's Eye" and "Yoiko no Mikata (A Friend of Good Kids)" by Sakurai, "Stand Up!" by Ninomiya, and "Yankee Bokou ni Kaeru (A Yankee Goes Back to His Alma Mater) by Aiba. The most recent TV drama is "Hana Yori Dango" starring Matsumoto which became a hit in 2005. The group took part in their famous movie, "PIKANCHI~Life is Hard Dakara(so) Happy" and "PIKANCHI Double" that concerned the passionate youth of 5 boys, acted by members of Arashi. The members also have their own TV programmes ranging from "D no Arashi", "Mago Mago Arashi" and "G no Arashi".