Kazunari Ninomiya ran into fellow Arashi member Masaki Aiba while shopping on June 1, 2026 [2].
The encounter comes immediately after the group's final performance, marking a personal transition for the members as they move beyond their collective career.
Ninomiya said the meeting occurred in a shopping area near his home. Upon seeing Aiba, Ninomiya said, "You're here!" [1].
The timing of the meeting followed the group's final concert on May 31, 2026 [1]. Ninomiya said that the five members [3] had consistently discussed their desire to close their chapter together until the very end.
"On May 31, we had our last concert together," Ninomiya said. "The five of us had been saying that we wanted to wrap things up as five until the very end, so I thought it was good that we were able to do that successfully" [1].
Ninomiya said that he was using the day after the concert for rest when the chance meeting occurred. He said the encounter provided a sense of relief and comfort as he navigated the anxieties associated with the group's disbandment [2].
Throughout the interaction, Ninomiya said, "Thank you" [1].
“"You're here!"”
The casual encounter between Ninomiya and Aiba underscores the personal emotional toll of a high-profile group disbandment. By highlighting the comfort found in a chance meeting, Ninomiya signals that while the professional entity of Arashi has concluded, the interpersonal bonds between the members remain a primary source of stability during their transition to solo activities.
