SMAP singer Kimura says he's 'really sorry' for breakup

TOKYO —

A core member of the five-member Japanese pop group SMAP offered an apology Friday for its decision to break up on Dec 31 after more than a quarter of a century together.

“I now cannot find words to say to all of our fans who, just like me, have seen SMAP as part of their life,” Takuya Kimura said on his Tokyo FM radio program “Takuya Kimura’s What’s Up SMAP!” “I just feel sorry for all fans of SMAP. I’m really sorry.”

Talent agency Johnny & Associates Inc. said Sunday the group will break up on Dec 31. All the members—leader Masahiro Nakai, Kimura, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, Goro Inagaki and Shingo Katori—will remain with Johnny & Associates and focus on solo careers starting next year, it said.

The move followed a media frenzy in January over SMAP’s possible disbanding with all but Kimura apparently in negotiations to leave Johnny & Associates, causing shock not only among fans in Japan but other Asian countries as well.

But later that month, the group apologized to fans for causing the controversy and pledged to stay together.



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