AKB48's Mei Hanada has announced that she will suspend her activities starting May 1 due to health concerns.

According to the group's official website, Hanada will take a break to focus on recovery. Consequently, she will be absent from upcoming events, with Moka Hotei stepping in for certain appearances.

In a statement, Hanada shared that she has been experiencing health issues on and off since around December, making it difficult to continue her activities. She apologized for the sudden announcement.

She added, "I will focus on recovering so I can return and see everyone with a healthy smile again. I would be happy if you could continue to watch over me warmly until I resume my activities."