Speed (Japanese band)
Speed was a four-member Japanese girl group from Okinawa: Hiroko Shimabukuro, Eriko Imai, Takako Uehara, and Hitoe Arakaki. They all trained at the Okinawa Actors School, the same place that produced Namie Amuro and MAX.
They signed with Toy's Factory and debuted in 1996. Speed quickly became a huge success, selling over 20 million singles and albums in less than four years. They also became known for ambitious live shows, including dome tours, and were one of Asia’s most popular girl groups at the time.
In 2000 they disbanded to pursue solo projects and study. They regrouped several times for charity, and in 2008 announced they would reform permanently. They returned with the single Ashita no Sora in November 2008.
Speed’s early hits included Body & Soul, Steady, and Go! Go! Heaven. They followed with White Love and My Graduation, both huge sellers, and the Rise album, which introduced a futuristic sound. They even acted in the film Andromedia, which featured the song Alive. The Dome Tours made them the youngest group to complete such a tour.
Before breaking up again, they released a final single, Long Way Home, in late 1999 and the album Carry On My Way. They performed on Music Station in March 2000 as their last appearance for the original run of Speed.
In the 2000s they kept making music and doing charity work. They moved to Avex’s Sonic Groove label in 2001, had a temporary Save the Children reunion in 2003 (releasing Be My Love and Bridge), and released a live/compilation cycle around that period.
After reforming in 2008, they issued new material and toured again, including a 2009–2010 run called Welcome to Speedland and a 2010 tour that culminated at Nippon Budokan. They released several more singles and a best-of collection, and in 2012 announced the album 4 Colors.
Speed disbanded again after Hitoe Arakaki did not renew her contract.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 05:29 (CET).