Yui Nagase Declares Her Retirement. Ichika Mats... May 2026

They are talking about two women, a bowl of ramen, and a friendship that refused to follow the script.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates on Ichika Matsumoto's official response and the finale ratings of "Midnight in Shinjuku." Yui Nagase declares her retirement. Ichika Mats...

For the last eight years, the Nagase-Matsumoto dynamic has been the central axis of the J-pop idol rivalry. Debuting just six months apart, the two were constantly pitted against each other for leading roles, magazine covers, and endorsement deals. Their rivalry was legendary—from the "Summer Queen" battle of 2020 to the infamous "CM Handover" incident where Matsumoto allegedly refused to stand next to Nagase for a group photo. They are talking about two women, a bowl

She also made one final request to her fans: "Do not send hate to Ichika. Do not protest my agency. Instead, go watch Midnight in Shinjuku one last time. The finale airs next week. It is my best work. And Ichika… beat that." Yui Nagase’s retirement will be remembered as one of the most graceful yet heartbreaking exits in J-pop history. But more than that, her public message to Ichika Matsumoto has rewritten the narrative of their relationship—from a story of competition to one of hidden solidarity. Debuting just six months apart, the two were

During a tearful 20-minute livestream viewed by over 1.2 million people, Nagase explained: "I have given my all to this industry since I was 17. But recently, I realized I was running on empty. The applause is wonderful, but it no longer fills the void. I want to rediscover who Yui Nagase is without a script. I am sorry to disappoint anyone, but this is not a negotiation. This is goodbye." Her final public appearance will be at the "Tokyo Drama Awards" next month, after which she will immediately begin the process of closing her fan club and social media accounts. While the retirement itself was major news, the keyword that exploded across Twitter (X), TikTok, and 5channel was the specific mention of Ichika Matsumoto .