SAPPORO, Mar 15 (News On Japan) - The popular group Arashi, which will end its activities in May this year, launched its final nationwide tour in Sapporo, setting off a surge of fans and a ripple of economic effects stretching far beyond Hokkaido.
Shortly after 4 a.m. on March 15th, passengers arriving at Kansai International Airport included emotional fans returning from the Sapporo concert.
A fan who has followed the group for 10 years said, "I'm still in a daze. I was crying the whole time."
Another fan with a 15-year history of supporting the group said, "My bath towel was completely soaked."
Others spoke enthusiastically despite their lack of sleep.
"It was so much fun," one fan said. "They gave us such a happy time. I think I can keep going for another week."
Another added, "Maybe I can keep going a little longer. Just a little longer."
Fans rubbed their tired eyes while passionately describing their love for Arashi.
Junichi Inoue, a cameraman with Sapporo Television, said, "Fans from all over the country have gathered here, and it feels like their excitement is rising all the way into the sky."
The group's final tour began with the Sapporo concerts on March 13th.
Over the three-day run, about 150,000 people attended the shows, raising expectations for a major economic boost. The excitement has spread throughout the city's shopping districts.
A visitor from Tokyo said, "I bought crab and finished all my souvenir shopping, so now I can focus on the concert."
Kazuo Sasaki of Miyata Shoten said, "Almost everyone here is an Arashi fan. It's like New Year's and the Bon holidays coming at the same time."
While the concerts have generated excitement nationwide, concerns also emerged over a shortage of hotel rooms.
Once the tour was announced, accommodations across Sapporo quickly sold out, with prices surging. At the same time, the second round of entrance exams at Hokkaido University took place shortly before the concerts, causing the peak demand for lodging from both exam applicants and tens of thousands of Arashi fans to overlap.
Airlines stepped in to ease the accommodation crunch. Low-cost carrier Peach added extra flights, including a late-night service departing Sapporo at 2 a.m. bound for Kansai International Airport, to help handle the surge in travel demand.
A fan of 16 years said, "When I boarded the plane, they handed out candy in the five colors of the Arashi members. I could really feel Peach's love."
Another fan with an 18-year history of following the group said, "Everyone on the plane was an Arashi fan, so we ended up making friends with people we'd never met before and even exchanging contact information. I love how it creates this Arashi community."
Arashi plans to conclude its activities after completing a five-dome tour across Japan. The Osaka performances are scheduled for May, leaving many wondering what kind of whirlwind the group will bring to the Kansai region next.
Source: YOMIURI
