Fans of Arashi still haven't come to terms with the news that the J-pop group will go on a hiatus at the end of 2020, bringing a close, at least temporarily, to one of the 21st century's most popular Japanese acts.
While supporters might not want to think about life without Arashi — and with nearly two years of tributes likely planned before the break, they won't have to for a while — this does offer a good chance to contemplate where male pop projects move next. Especially as it signals a potential paradigm shift for J-pop.
The status quo might prevail and Johnny & Associates, the talent agency behind Arashi and 1990s-defining project SMAP, could hold its grip on the industry. If that happens, the concept of a male pop group will remain grounded in familiar visual and musical ideas, and Johnny's latest marquee act, King & Prince, will probably take the spotlight. While the members of that six-piece unit are younger and geared toward a new generation of fans, they display all the hallmarks of a Johnny's success — right down to shunning the internet.