Speed is female J-pop group, consisting of Hiroko Shimabukuro, Eriko Imai, Takako Uehara, and Hitoe Arakaki. The four girls hail from Okinawa Japan and are all alumni of the popular Okinawa Actors School. Speed made their official recording debut in August 1996 with the release on their single Body and Soul. The release of the single helped launched them into superstardom and on to becoming the highest selling Jpop Female group all of time with combined album and single sales. Despite their popularity, in October 1999 the group made a public announcement that they will disband on March 31, 2000 in order to pursue their solo interests. However, after an eight-year hiatus with intermittent reunions, the group officially reunited in 2008 with the release of the single Ashita no Sora.