Japan boy band SMAP to break up

During their 25-year career, SMAP have acted as ambassadors for diplomatic relations

One of Asia's biggest pop groups, SMAP, is to break up at the end of the year after a 25-year career.

The Japanese boy band, which sold 35m records up to last year, will disband on 31 December, its management agency said on Sunday. Rumours of a split had been rife since the turn of the year, but had all previously been denied.

SMAP's break-up made the front pages of Japanese newspapers on Sunday

Its five members, who are aged between 39 and 43, are now expected to pursue solo careers. The band, formed in 1988, has built up a huge fanbase in Japan and throughout Asia with members appearing frequently in films, soap operas, and commercials.

Members of SMAP, which stands for "Sports Music Assemble People", have also appeared on cookery shows and Japanese coverage of the Rio Olympics. Their popularity has even made them ambassadors for diplomatic relations between Japan, China and South Korea.

In 2011, they were the first Japanese pop group to visit China in a decade, amid a row between the countries over disputed territory. Their Beijing concert was attended by 40,000 people.

A statement by the group's managers Johnny and Associates said they were "truly and deeply pained and sorry" to not be able to take part in 25th anniversary celebrations.