The teenage Okinawan pop group Speed dissolved Friday after three years and eight months in show business.
At a farewell press conference held by the trend-setting female dancing and singing group in Tokyo, Eriko Imai, 16, and Hiroko Shimabukuro, 15, thanked fans for their support.
Takako Uehara, 17, said her heart was beating faster because the final day had come at last. Hitoe Aragaki, 18, said she was happy to have performed together with the three others.
In their last public appearance, Speed appeared on TV Asahi's "Music Station Special."
The four plan to go solo.
The Okinawan girls made their professional debut as Speed in 1996, scoring hits with "My Graduation" and "White Love."
Speed suddenly announced in October that the group would dissolve at the end of March.
Teenagers ranked the Speed dissolution announcement fourth in the top 10 news items of 1999.