Speed (stylized as SPEED) were a Japanese female vocal/dance group comprising Hiroko Shimabukuro, Eriko Imai, Takako Uehara and Hitoe Arakaki. All four members are former students of the Okinawa Actors School which also trained popular artists Namie Amuro and MAX.
Speed made their major label debut on August 5, 1996 and became an immediate success. They would eventually become the most successful girl group anywhere in Asia with sales of over 20 million singles and albums in just three years and eight months. They disbanded on March 31, 2000 to pursue solo careers and to study.
Following their disbandment, the group reunited several times for charity, but on August 20, 2008, they officially announced plans to reunite permanently. They made their comeback on November 12, 2008 with the single "Ashita no Sora."