[2026] The reason why Jun Matsumoto mentioned Haruma Miura's name - Gratitude to his "best friend" revealed on the eve of Arashi's disbandment

What was the reason Jun Matsumoto mentioned his "best friend" Haruma Miura's name during a meeting to discuss the production of Arashi's final tour? We delve into the bond between the two and Jun Matsumoto's true personality, revealed before Arashi's activities come to an end.

The reason Jun Matsumoto mentioned Haruma Miura's name—his gratitude to his "best friend" revealed on the eve of Arashi's disbandment.

Arashi will end their activities with their "We are ARASHI" concert at Tokyo Dome on May 31, 2026. Ahead of the final stage of this national group that has led the Japanese entertainment industry for over 26 years, the production manager... Matsumoto Jun (42) mentioned during a meeting about the final tour that the three members who passed away suddenly in July 2020 were... Haruma Ura These were words of gratitude for Mr./Ms. (who passed away at the age of 30).

Arashi's activities come to an end—26 years of history and "We are ARASHI"
The friendship between Jun Matsumoto and Haruma Miura
Why did you mention Haruma Miura's name in the meeting?
The influence of "Kinky Boots" on Jun Matsumoto's directing philosophy
The feelings behind the simple stage
Arashi members exchange "thank yous"
Matsumoto Jun after Arashi's activities ended

1. The End of Arashi's Activities — 26 Years of History and "We are ARASHI"

Arashi, who debuted in 1999 and have been on hiatus since the end of 2020, will officially end their activities with their "We are ARASHI" concert at Tokyo Dome on May 31, 2026.

According to the Sports Hochi series "Arashi Memorial," the group's rise accelerated in 2008. As part of the promotion for the movie "Boys Over Flowers Final," they conducted a whirlwind tour of five major cities across Japan using a chartered jet, a first in the history of Japanese cinema. In the same year, they dominated the Oricon annual singles ranking with "truth/Kaze no Mukou e" and "One Love," establishing a solid position in their 10th year since debut.

[2026] The reason why Jun Matsumoto mentioned Haruma Miura's name - Gratitude to his "best friend" revealed on the eve of Arashi's disbandment

2. The friendship between Jun Matsumoto and Haruma Miura

Matsumoto Jun and three Haruma Ura Although they had never co-starred in a drama or movie, they had become close friends through mutual friends such as Shun Oguri (43) and Yu Shirota (40).

When Haruma Miura appeared as a guest on the July 2019 broadcast of "VS Arashi" (Fuji TV), Jun Matsumoto introduced him as a "super nice guy" and a "friend." Haruma Miura responded with a smile, saying, "I'm so happy."

It is said that Jun Matsumoto, despite being seven years younger than Haruma Miura, relied on him and would ask him for advice, saying things like, "I want to try this kind of work in the future, what do you think?" It is also said that Haruma Miura would always encourage him.

3. Why did you mention Haruma Miura's name in the meeting?

According to a production insider, Jun Matsumoto, who was in charge of directing Arashi's final tour, confided to the staff during a planning meeting, "Haruma did it this way, so I want to use that as a reference."

What impressed Jun Matsumoto about Haruma Miura was his sincere personality. While some actors are reluctant to reveal their acting techniques, Haruma Miura would kindly answer Jun Matsumoto's questions like, "How do you act this out?"

4. The influence of "Kinky Boots" on Jun Matsumoto's directing philosophy

Haruma Miura's most representative work is the stage production "Kinky Boots," in which he played the drag queen Lola and won multiple awards.

Haruma Miura spoke about the role of Laura before his death, saying the following:

"I grew up carrying the weight of my father's expectations, and I think that's what sparked within me and grew into the strength to say, 'I'll go my own way.'" (SPICE, March 29, 2016)

It is said that Jun Matsumoto was deeply impressed by Haruma Miura's performance, which embodied the message of "accepting things as they are," saying that he "perfectly portrayed a difficult role."

5. The feelings behind the simple stage

One notable aspect of this final tour was the extremely simple stage set. According to those involved in the production, the decorations have been getting less elaborate each year, and this time it was the perfected version of that trend.

This simplicity reflects Jun Matsumoto's specific considerations. He wanted to avoid making the stage too decorative, as it might obstruct the view from some seats. He wanted to ensure that it was easily visible from any seat. As a result, production staff say that fans were able to fully appreciate the unadorned, "true-to-life" Arashi.

It can be said that the down-to-earth message that Haruma Miura conveyed through "Kinky Boots" is also alive and well in Jun Matsumoto's directing philosophy.

6. The Arashi members exchange "thank yous."

According to a music industry source, since the final tour began, the members have been exchanging "thank yous" backstage and in dressing rooms.

Satoshi Ohno (45), who was the reason for the group's hiatus, has reportedly been expressing his gratitude frequently, saying, "Thank you for waiting for us."

At the Nagoya concert in early April 2026, fans in the audience shouted "Thank you Arashi," making it a chance to express their feelings, especially since they were unable to hold live concerts with an audience during their final year before their hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Furthermore, at their Tokyo performance in early April, a junior artist from STARTO ENTERTAINMENT who came to watch was so moved that he repeatedly shouted "Thank you!"

7. Jun Matsumoto after Arashi's activities ended

Since joining his former agency in 1996, Jun Matsumoto has been affectionately known as a "coward," but his role as Tsukasa Domyoji in the "Boys Over Flowers" series (TBS) caused a social phenomenon, establishing his "arrogant" and "prince" persona. Now, he has evolved into a "dignified star."

Even after Arashi's activities ended, Jun Matsumoto's journey as an actor and director continues. Armed with the sincerity he received from Haruma Miura and the presence he has honed throughout his long career, Jun Matsumoto steps into the next phase.