It's been announced that Shiritsu Ebisu Chuugaku member Yasumoto Ayaka will be taking a break from her activities after being diagnosed with malignant lymphoma. 

Yasumoto went on hiatus in October of 2019 as she was both mentally and physically unstable, but had slowly been resuming her activities since this March. During the group's online event 'ONLINE YATSUI FESTIVAL! 2020' in June, all six members took the stage for the first time in awhile. She then participated in the group's online one-man live 'Shiritsu Ebisu Chuugaku Online Gakugeikai~all of our playlist~' in August, their outdoors live 'Ebichu Akiurara to Kutsuwamushi to Ongaku no Kodama  Daishite -Chuuon- 2020' in September, and her solo live 'Utatte Odotte Kayou show!!! Yasu Yasu' on October 10. 

Yasumoto says she will focus on treatment for malignant lymphoma for awhile, "Even if there is just one fan who supports Yasumoto, I will turn that support into energy to do my best!!! I will return to my much-loved Ebichu over and over again!"