The Final Chapter of SCANDAL: Thank You for 20 Years of Music and Memories

SCANDAL, one of Japan’s Most Enduring Girls’ Band, is set to bid Farewell after 2 Long Decades

There are some specific bands that become part of our lives and memories of a generation so much without us ever realising it until the fateful day comes and hits us like a truck. For many of us Anime lovers and Japanese Rock fans, SCANDAL was one of those bands.

August 21, 2006, the day when 4 Teenage Girls came together, from performing on the streets of Osaka to becoming one of Japan’s most Recognizable and internationally successful Girls Band, formed the band named SCANDAL. Since then, the Original Four members – HARUNA, MAMI, TOMOMI and RINA always remained together. But now, the journey is About to be Over as it has reached it’s Final Chapter.

August 24, 2026, 3 days after celebrating the 20th Anniversary of SCANDAL, the band has announced its upcoming Farewell date on August 21, 2027. Instead of vanishing at once, The Band will embark on one final year of their journey doing what they have always done – performing together. The Last Chapter will begin in October 2026 with a tour covering all 47 prefectures of Japan. And finally, on their 21st Anniversary on August 21, 2027, SCANDAL with their final one-man concert at Yokohama Arena, will bid goodbye to all of their fans around the World.

From Osaka streets to The World Stage

The Story of SCANDAL began in 2006 when at a dance and vocal school in Osaka, 4 teenager Girls – HARUNA, MAMI, TOMOMI and RINA met and together formed the band. Their early days weren’t easy at all, far from the massive stages they eventually conquered later. The band performed at Osaka Castle Park, aka “Shiroten“, while also performing at local live houses, gaining more and more experience.

Though SCANDAL had made their international presence quite early. They performed overseas, including United States, France and Hong Kong, before even making any major-label debut. In 2008, the Band made their major-label debut with “DOLL“.

And following year, with “Shojo S“, they became part of the Anime Culture, being a phenomenal opening song for one of the most iconic animes of all time – Bleach, becoming one of their breakthrough songs and earning the New Artist Award at the Japan Record Awards. And from then, their ship had sailed for the long legacy they eventually created.

Impact on Anime World

For a Big Chunk of Viewers of an entire Generation, SCANDAL wasn’t just a Rock Band but also were the voices of their favourite animes as well.

“Shojo S” became legendary in Bleach, while “Shunkan Sentimental” ruled over the fans of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. And then with “Harukaze” , another banger opening for Bleach, SCANDAL hit a long home run.

Several many of their Iconic Songs were also aired on anime channel Animax as part of their ANIMAX MUSIX under Sony for many years on TV which many of us grew up watching and listening, creating so many memories. “Take Me Out” was my personal favourite among them.

These songs became part of many watchers’ and listeners’ go-to songs and made many Anime lovers and Japanese Rock fans coming back to them again and again.

A Band That Kept Reaching New Heights

SCANDAL’s achievements went far beyond just anime. In 2012, they performed at one of Japan’s Most Prestigious Concert Venues – Nippon Budokan. In 2013, they once again performed in Osaka at Osaka-Jo Hall for a major hometown performance.

Then in 2014, at Yokohama Arena, they performed 2 nights back-to-back, becoming the only Girls only Band who performed 2 consecutive nights at the venue, after 23 years since PRINCESS PRINCESS. The show attracted around 35,000 people. Huge milestone.

International impression kept growing. In 2015, they had their first solo world tour, visiting 9 countries, including United Kingdom, France, Germany, United States, Mexico, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore. Their domestic tour also had impressive scale, with 31 shows and an attendance of 70,000 people.

In 2016, celebrating their 10th anniversary, they did more shows across Europe and Asia. In 2017, they embarked on one of their most ambitious Japanese tour covering all 47 prefectures of Japan, yes, the exact one they will do once again from October 2026 for their Final Chapter.

Twenty Years with Same 4 Members

In the World of Music, in long time bands, the members often change. Yet, perhaps it’s one of the most beautiful thing about SCANDAL is that the 4 people who started this journey, stayed together as a unit for 2 whole decades.

In 2023, SCANDAL was officially recognised by the Guinness World Records as the “Longest Running Rock Band with the Same Members (Female)”. The record was achieved on August 21, 2023, during their 17th anniversary at Namba Hatch.

Same 4 Girls, Together.

Just HARUNA, MAMI, TOMOMI and RINA.

Beyond Being Performers

SCANDAL’s Legacy exceeds far more especially in how much creative control and independence they developed over the years. The band members have done songwriting, production and other aspects as well. They even expanded into fashion world and created their brand – FEEDBACK.

In 2019, they founded their own private label, known as “her”. In 2020, during pandemic, when their world tour was cancelled, instead of stopping, the band arranged a Livestream performance on their 14th Anniversary. They kept releasing music for all the fans around the world

This year in 2026, on their 20th Anniversary, they released their 12th original album – ECHO.

And then the unfortunate news came that broke many listeners’ hearts.

The Heartbreaking Announcement

On their 20th Anniversary on August 21, 2026, SCANDAL celebrated “SCANDAL 20th Anniversary Live ‘Chapter 20′” at Osaka-Jo Hall. The venue especially was deeply symbolic. Osaka-Jo Hall was once a dreamed stage for the 4 Girls to oneday perform on and now, 20 years later, after several performances at the venue, fulfilling their dreams, standing still with the original 4 members

Just 3 days afterwards, the dreadful news came. The decision according to the members was confirmed as Not a Sudden Collapse. The members have explained that after travelling across Japan and around the world, doing so so many tours, together, they have lived a life which could only be lived through SCANDAL and they felt that they had truly done everything they could together.

While they acknowledged that the decision to do it was extremely difficult, but after several discussions among the 4 members, they finally reached their conclusion. Perhaps that’s what makes the end of this iconic journey beautiful yet painful at the same time.

One Final Journey, The Last Chapter

Like every story comes to an End, the story of Scandal has come to an end too. But, one Final Chapter is yet to be finished.

As stated earlier, SCANDAL will not walk away immediately. From October 2026 onwards, the Band will set out for their Final Tour across all 47 prefectures of Japan, returning to all the iconic stages they have performed over the years in the country, meeting all the people that supported them all these years.

And then on August 21, 2027, 21 years later, since the Band was formed, the book of the epic of SCANDAL will finally Close with their Final one-man concert at Yokohama Arena. The most fitting way to bid goodbye to the Band that gave us so many memories and joy.

As a fan with so many memories tied to SCANDAL, it’s really very difficult to even think that this journey is going to end soon.

One Final Tour, One Final Performance, One Final Chapter. With the Exact same 4 Girls who started it all.

Thank You, SCANDAL

For all these years, for anime fans, you gave us Iconic songs that are permanently attached to our memories.

For Japanese Rock fans, you gave us 20 whole years of Music, Performance, Tours and your Heart.

You showed many aspiring musicians what can happen when you truly love music, believe in yourselves and your dreams and have a desire to let the people listen to you, believe and pick up instruments and start making music.

And for us fans, you gave us the most important thing – time.

In last 20 years, some of us discovered SCANDAL through Bleach, some through Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, some through songs on ANIMAX MUSIX on Animax, Random Songs on YouTube and getting hooked on the 4 Girls, pouring their heart out for their Music. These Memories will Never Fade Away.

Be it Shojo S, Shunkan Sentimental, Harukaze, Love Me Do or Take Me Out or many more, fans will keep coming back to SCANDAL even if the Band is no longer active from August 21, 2027.

And there will be more who will discover SCANDAL for the first time as well. This is how a Legacy continues. Thus, from us in Anime Society and many SCANDAL fans, all we have to say is :

Thank you, HARUNA

Thank you, MAMI

Thank you, RINA

Thank you, TOMOMI

Thank you, SCANDAL

Thank you for 20 years of Music, Memories and Dreams. And at Yokohama Arena, when the Final show arrives, it won’t be just the end of SCANDAL, it will be the Celebration of everything SCANDAL accomplished together.

Don’t miss the Final Tour of SCANDAL from October 2026 onwards as we ink down the final page of this epic journey. And once again..

Thank you for Everything.