The talent agency Johnny & Associates announced via fax on Sunday that the popular idol group SMAP is breaking up on December 31, after a career spanning over a quarter century.
The five members will remain with Johnny & Associates going forward, but will focus on their solo careers starting next year.
The five members then appeared in a live message during their weekly SMAP x SMAP program to address the reports on January 18.
SMAP (Sports Music Assemble People) formed in 1988 with six members, although Katsuyuki Mori left the group in 1996.