Renka Iwamoto, a 20-year-old member of Nogizaka46, announced her decision to take an indefinite hiatus following the unauthorized release of her private photos on social media. The announcement came through a blog post on January 14, 2025, in which Iwamoto expressed deep regret and apologized for her actions.

“I sincerely apologize for the concern and trouble caused by my careless behavior,” she wrote. “Despite the support and encouragement from fans over my eight years in Nogizaka46, I’ve done something that betrayed your trust. I regret this deeply and will be stepping back from my activities for the time being.”

She pledged to reflect on her actions and work to rebuild trust. “I will take this time to seriously reflect on my behavior, ensuring that this does not happen again. Nogizaka46 is incredibly important to me, and I aim to contribute even more to the group moving forward.”

The group’s official website also confirmed the news, stating that Iwamoto will not participate in the January 26th “Real Meet & Greet” event at Makuhari Messe. Updates on her involvement in future events will be provided as they become available.