ARASHI—Satoshi Ohno, Sho Sakurai, Masaki Aiba, Kazunari Ninomiya, and Jun Matsumoto—returned to the airwaves with the release of their latest and most likely their final song, “Five,” on March 4, 2026. The single was released digitally across streaming platforms, while a physical version was made available for pre-order for a limited time through the FAMILY CLUB.STORE website (pre-orders closed on February 23, 2026).
When the group first announced “Five,” I found myself wondering what kind of song it would be. Would it follow in the footsteps of their anniversary songs like “5×10” and “5×20”? Or perhaps feel more like “Sketch” or “The Music Never Ends”? All of these songs were beautiful emotional tearjerkers to fans. Either way, I was already certain that I would probably need tissues when the song finally arrived.
In the days leading up to the release, ARASHI’s official SNS accounts began dropping teasers for “Five.” First came the reveal of the single jacket, featuring the beloved ARASHI school bus. About a week before March 4, behind-the-scenes clips of the members recording in the studio began appearing. Then, two days before the release, fans were treated to a short audio snippet, though at the time, we were not exactly sure if it was from “Five” or if it was filler music 😅.
But from that brief preview, I started to suspect that “Five” might be different from what I had originally imagined. Instead of sounding sentimental or heavy with nostalgia, the melody that was teased felt bright and upbeat.
I was eager to hear the full song, though admittedly a little apprehensive. Its release meant that the end was drawing closer. Still, when the clock struck 0:00 JST on March 4, 2026, I did exactly what any ARASHI fan would do, I rushed to listen to the song and immediately hit play.
From the very first listen, the upbeat intro immediately made me smile (yes, it was the one from the teaser!), especially as it transitioned into the opening verse with Sho-chan (Sho Sakurai). Hearing all five of them singing together again felt incredibly comforting, and it brought back that unmistakable feeling that only ARASHI songs seem to carry. The track felt so inherently them, and Nino (Kazunari Ninomiya) even tweeted as much, and I couldn’t help but smile as the song played.
Yet even while smiling, there were moments when my heart tightened. Finally hearing Oh-chan’s (Satoshi Ohno) voice again brought tears to my eyes. It had been so long since fans last had the chance to hear him sing (barring the recent FC-limited ARASHI Movie series), and hearing his voice again on a brand-new track stirred up a rush of emotions. It was a reminder of something fans have always known: ARASHI is at its best when all five of them are together, and the blend of their voices creates a perfect harmony.
As the song continued, it began to feel like a warm hug from close friends; friends reminiscing about the memories they’ve shared while gently encouraging everyone to keep moving forward with hope.
Fans with sharp eyes also noticed some thoughtful details. “Five” and “A-RA-SHI” share the exact same runtime of 4:27, and several lyrics in Five seem to respond to lines from “A-RA-SHI.” The lyrics were written by HIKARI, a familiar name in the discographies of many STARTO ENTERTAINMENT artists, aside from ARASHI, including TOKIO, V6, Kis-My-Ft2, and more. Given his long relationship with ARASHI, it feels fitting that he was able to write something so heartfelt yet hopeful for them.
Even the title itself feels deeply meaningful. Since the very beginning, ARASHI has always been five. Through 26 years as a group, they have remained side by side, and now they will say farewell as five as well. The simplicity of the title carries a quiet weight, much like the song itself.
In many ways, “Five” is quintessentially ARASHI.
Alongside the song’s release, the group also announced that the music video would premiere the following day on March 5, 2026 at 21:00 JST on YouTube. This marked their first music video since their hiatus began in 2021.
The MV opens with the familiar ARASHI school bus and the members gathered on a rooftop, a moment that subtly echoes their debut in Hawaii on a yacht all those years ago. Throughout the video, there are also many small nods to past music videos. Some of the references I noticed included “Kotoba Yori Taisetsuna Mono,” “Love So Sweet,” “PIKA☆NCHI,” and “Aozora Pedal” 🥹.
The MV itself is beautifully done. It’s simple, but filled with warmth and joy. Watching the members laugh, interact, and enjoy each other’s company is incredibly heartwarming. Some of my favorite scenes are when they’re inside the bus, playfully showing off their goofy sides, the kind of natural chemistry that has always made ARASHI so special. I also loved that Oh-chan provided some simple choreography for the song, which added another touch of ARASHI to the video 💙
One detail that stood out to me appears right at the beginning: the bus driving down a long, winding road with no visible end. It almost feels symbolic, as if to suggest that this isn’t truly the end of the journey but just another road stretching forward. Even after May 31, ARASHI will continue to live on in fans’ hearts and memories, remaining an irreplaceable part of so many lives.
Even so, the MV still brought me to tears. Knowing that this might be the last ARASHI music video we ever receive feels overwhelming. I don’t know how long it will take before I can watch it again without sobbing, but I do know that I will always treasure the gift that ARASHI has given us.
Even though I’m still trying to come to terms with the fact that their activities will end on May 31, I want to hold onto one line from “Five” and carry it forward with me.
「未来に怯えなくていい」
“There’s no need to be afraid of the future.”
For 26 years, ARASHI has been a constant presence in so many of our lives. They gave us music to sing along to, countless hours of content to enjoy, memories to treasure, and moments of comfort and encouragement when we needed them most. Even if the five of them move forward on individual paths, the path they created will continue through the hearts of everyone who walked alongside them.
5 is my treasure number.
Written by Amy♥