From the Beginning Until Now

SD, the group once hailed as a "national sensation" and a huge hit in the Japanese music scene, officially announced its breakup on February 15, 2001, after members Fujima Kenji, Mitsui Hisashi, and Jin Soichiro left and signed with another company.

After the announcement, SD fans in Japan, Korea, China, and around the world were devastated. Japanese fans flooded SD's website, at one point causing it to crash. SNC ent.'s stock also plummeted that day. SD's breakup was undoubtedly a major blow to the company. For SNC ent. chairman Moichi Taoka, whose company had promoted SD as its flagship group, this meant he was facing a vote of no confidence from the shareholders. The fate of former SD members Akira Sendo and Kaede Rukawa was another question fans were eager to see answered. Would Sendo and Rukawa join the other three members at their new company and form a new group, or would they stay with SNC ent.? It was not only a major concern for fans, but also the focus of industry insiders. SNC staff revealed that Moichi Taoka had held separate four-hour discussions with Kaede Rukawa and Akira Sendo. The outcome would have to wait until the two singers' press conference tomorrow.