At 8 pm via Youtube and Weverse official channels of AKB48, a pre-recorded video clip of Honda Hitomi was streamed. She said she was leaving AKB48 and the latest 62nd single of the group will be her last. No reason nor her future plan was clarified. The date for her last performance as a member of AKB48 has yet to be decided.
Fan-recorded video of her farewell video
【AKB48 本田仁美】卒業發表「より大切なご報告」_哔哩哔哩_bilibili
She later left a message on Twitter (https://twitter.com/hnd_htm__1006/status/1696874200248766730), auto-translated as following
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I, Honda Hitomi, will graduate from AKB48.
I joined AKB48 Team 8 as the Tochigi Prefecture representative at the age of 12 and have been active for about 10 years.
As a member of Team 8, as a member of IZ*ONE, and as a selected member of AKB48, I have served as the center of the group twice.
I am confident that all of this will serve as my foundation and brighten my future.
I am truly happy thanks to Akimoto-sensei who has raised me so much, all the fans who always support me, all the staff, all the members, and everyone who has always worked hard at work. I was able to spend irreplaceable days.
Thank you very much for supporting me through thick and thin for about 10 years.
I will be leaving such a blessed and blessed environment, but without forgetting the love I received from everyone, I will continue to challenge various things and confirm my potential.
The single that will be released on September 27th will be the last for me, so I will participate in all the talks that have been announced now.
We will notify you regarding graduation performances and other information as soon as they are decided.
I will cherish every minute and every second of my remaining time and do my best for AKB48, so I look forward to your continued support.
This looks sudden. Hitomi is a top member of AKB48. Usually, for a member of her level, she is the center of her last participating single. This is not the case as the center of 62nd single is Oguri Yui. How her farewell event plan has not been decided underlies the suspicion.
It is speculated if she suddenly got a big offer or, a scandal was about to blow up.
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