Avex announces that FAKY are going on hiatus, when we know it’s a pending disbandment

In news that genuinely shocked me, FAKY put out an announcement that they are going on a hiatus.

Notice regarding “FAKY”.

Thank you very much for your continued support of FAKY.

We would like to inform you that FAKY will take a hiatus from activities as a group on January 13, 2023. Lil’ Fang and Mikako will be graduating from the group. Akina, Hina and Taki will focus on individual activities.

We sincerely apologize for the sudden announcement.

As we reach the milestone of 10 years, Staff and members have had many discussions about the ideal form for the group. We decided to support each member towards their new dreams and challenges in life.

10 years since the debut in 2013.

We would like to thank everyone who has supported FAKY up to this day, and to all the fans who have supported us.

On November 15th, FAKY has released their last EP “Departure” and on January 13th, 2024, will perform a FAKY culmination final life “DEPARTURE” at KT Zepp Yokohama.

Until going on a hiatus, we will do our best to deliver performances will gratitude.

We ask for your understanding and support as they move towards their new dreams.

Avex Clan Inc.

The individual members also left their own messages on FAKY’s official website, with Akina and Taki both posting theirs in English in addition to Japanese.

With any other group I would have just said ‘The group is done’. But I honestly do believe that this is only a hiatus until Avex figure out what to do. If a ‘disbandment’ announcement does come down the line, it will be because they couldn’t figure out what to do, as opposed to ‘This was the plan all along’. And I wouldn’t be surprised if this turned out to be how it goes, because nobody has known what to do with FAKY since day one.

It’s very unfortunate for Avex that two of the members who have chosen to part are two of the original members. Despite how long Akina has been in the group, how she’s felt like she’s always been part of the group and how she’s often centred in the group, she still isn’t an original member.

Avex seem to want FAKY to have a rotating members setup, given how particular they were in stating that Lil’ Fang and Mikako have ‘graduated’ from the group. But I just can’t see how this is going to work with a group where there’s been zero transparency concerning this being the format of FAKY and there’s been no inkling of there being an infrastructure to facilitate any of this. Previous members didn’t leave because they ‘graduated’. They just left. The same way Lil’ Fang and Mikako probably decided to leave.

Lil’ Fang steadily became the songwriter for FAKY, so this is going to be a huge loss. Although there’s nothing to say she still can’t write for the group just because she’s no longer a part of it. It would be great to see her become a prolific songwriter in J-pop. Japanese music could use another woman alongside Minami, Emyli and Michico who know how to work a pen. So I hope she bags herself a good publishing deal if she doesn’t have one with Avex already.

FAKY has been squandered since the very beginning. There was always a space for a group like FAKY and there still is. FAKY have a moderate fanbase, but a very dedicated one. But they could have had so much more if Avex were able to settle on a vision and a sound for the group and actually promote them. How in the hell are you going to have a girl group release their debut album 8 years after they debuted!?

And just when it seemed like it was clicking, the group goes on hiatus and loses two of its original members.

Mess.

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