Other best selling singles by the group include, "Beyond the Night Sky", "Lion Heart", "Shake", "Aoi Inazuma", which also have become some of the most popular songs in Japan.

[9] In 1989, they started to host their own music show, Uta no Big Fight and Pop City X, as well as appearing regularly on a variety program, Idol Kyowakoku, from 1989 to 1991.

[14] Subsequent singles, "Seigi no Mikata wa Ate ni Naranai", "Kokoro no Kagami", "Makeru na Baby" peaked in the top 10.

Therefore, the agency decided to market the band through variety programs, where members participated in sketch comedies and game shows along with other television personalities.

This non-mainstream marketing approach turned out to be a success, as the members' humorous and playful spirits on these shows propelled them to gain new fans, despite not having many musical performances on television since their debut.

Due to the fact that this was the first time in Japanese history, that a band participated in a sketch comedy, this rare act attracted wide attention.

[19] In 1993, Kimura starred in a drama television series, Asunaro Hakusho, which became a massive hit, with an average household share rating of 27% and 31.9% for the season finale.

Nakai, Kimura, Inagaki, and Katori had played a main role in a television series and with Kusanagi starring in Ii Hito, all five members had become leading man-class actors.

From this point on, SMAP changed the pace of their releases from two albums per year to one, due to their busy schedules after experiencing individual success, as actors and television personalities.

In August 2000, the band released their thirty-second single, "Lion Heart", which became a massive success with over 1,560,000 copies sold, reaching number one on the charts for two consecutive weeks.

In December 2000, the term "Ohha", used by Katori, won the Ryukougo Taisho, an annual traditional event of announcing words that describes that year.

Out of the fifty-eight artists on the program, SMAP performed last for the first time, serving as the ootori, the most honorable and prestigious title in the Japanese music industry.

It was announced that the band did not have a single day that all five members could meet together, other than the taping of SMAP×SMAP, which happened four times a month, commenting on the impossibility of shooting a music video, promoting a record, or going on tour.

"Susume Gold", a remix of their song form their fifteenth album, SMAP 016/MIJ, was scheduled to be released on September 8, 2004, as the band's thirty-sixth single but was later canceled.

In December 2004, SMAP aired a television special as an apology for their musical hiatus and to show the fans their appreciation for their support on the group's solo projects.

[40] "Triangle" served as the official song of all sports broadcasts on TV Asahi, such as the 2006 Winter Olympics, the 2006 World Baseball Classic, and the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating.

On January 18, 2007, "The One and Only Flower in the World" was chosen as one of Nihon no Uta Hyakusen, a collection of one-hundred songs, widely beloved in Japan and encouraged to be sung in future generations.

It was initially scheduled to serve as the band's 46th single but was canceled and released digitally in light of the earthquake and the situation in Japan, considering circumstances in power shortages and distribution.

[71][72] After several fan meetings at small venues, on November 12 and 13, they hosted another event, titled FanxFun Party, at Tokyo Dome, for those who couldn't make it to the previous ones held that year.

[86] Subsequent singles, "Joy", which was used as the theme song for Katori's drama television series, Kasukana Kanojyo, and "Shareotsu / Hello", also reached number one.

[93] On March 26, 2014, SMAP was invited to the NPB Tigers-Giants Union vs MLB All Star, held in celebration of the eightieth anniversary of the Japan Professional Baseball and sang the national anthem.

[95] Their subsequent double-A-side single, "Top Of The World / Amazing Discovery", which served as the official song for Universal Studios Japan,[96] also reached number one.

[109] From April 29 to June 2, Kusanagi and Katori starred in a two-act play, Burst!, written by playwright Kōki Mitani, at the Parco Theatre.

[116] On January 13, 2016, media reported that Nakai, Inagaki, Kusanagi, and Katori were in talks to leave Johnny & Associates agency, inevitably leading to a disbandment of SMAP.

[117] On January 18, such a breakup was denied later by the group through a live broadcast of their weekly variety program, SMAP×SMAP, issuing an apology for worrying the fans and creating chaos in the Japanese entertainment industry.

[125][126] Fans were given the opportunity to choose the track list for the compilation album, by voting their favorites through the internet out of the 400 songs SMAP had released during their quarter-century-long career.

Initially scheduled to serve as the band's 46th single, it was later canceled and released digitally in light of the earthquake and the situation in Japan, considering circumstances in power shortages and distribution.

[45] In 2007, their debut single, "Can't Stop Loving" was used in Otsuka Pharmaceutical's television commercial for Pocari Sweat, after sixteen years since its release.

In December 2014, they contributed "Humor Shichauyo" to be the official song for Shidax's Heart&Smile Project launched to help children in Africa and fifty yen per single sold was donated.

SMAP declined their nominations, citing the lyrics of "Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana" which encourages listeners to seek individuality instead of being number one.