[2026] What was the reason for NiziU's Rio's hiatus? Summary of her return date and the 8-member lineup.

On July 27, 2026, the nine-member girl group NiziU announced that member RIO would be taking a break from activities for the time being. Based on the official announcement, we will provide a clear summary of the reasons for the hiatus, the details of her health issues since June, her expected return date, and the group's future as an eight-member unit.

 

[2026] What was the reason for NiziU's Rio's hiatus? Summary of her return date and the 8-member lineup.

table of contents

1. NiziU's RIO to suspend activities | Summary of the announcement
2. Reasons for the suspension of activities
3. The circumstances leading up to the illness
4. When will he return?
5. For the time being, NiziU will be performing as an 8-member group.
6. RIO's Profile
7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

 

Q. Why is RIO taking a break from her activities?

A. After recovering from her illness, we held several discussions with her regarding her future activities, and after respecting her wishes, we decided that she will suspend her activities for the time being.

Q. When will you be returning?

A. It has been stated that this is "for the time being," and no specific return date has been announced. During this time, NiziU will continue to perform as an eight-member group.

 

1. NiziU's Rio to suspend activities | Summary of the announcement

On July 27, 2026, the nine-member girl group NiziU posted an announcement on their official website titled "Regarding NiziU Member RIO's Activities," in which they announced that RIO would be taking a break from activities for the time being. They also stated that, as a result, NiziU would be continuing as an eight-member group for the time being.

 

 

item	Content
group	NiziU (group of 9)
Target members	RIO
Announcement date	July 27, 2026
Content	Activities will be suspended for the time being.
Future structure	For the time being, we will be operating as an 8-member group.

 

2. Reasons for the suspension of activities

RIO's hiatus from activities was decided after repeated discussions with her about her future activities once her health has recovered, and in respect of her wishes. The agency has explained that this decision was made solely to respect RIO's own feelings.

 

However, the specific illness and details of his physical condition have not been made public. Concerns are spreading among fans, but at this point, all that has been officially stated is that he is "not feeling well" and that "his wishes are being respected."

 

3. The circumstances leading up to the illness

Prior to this hiatus, reports of health issues had been circulating since the end of June 2026.

 

On June 30, 2026, NiziU's official website announced that RIO would be taking a break from activities scheduled for that week due to poor health. As a result, NiziU performed as an eight-member group on Fuji TV's "2026 FNS Music Festival Summer" on July 1 and Nippon TV's "THE MUSIC DAY 2026" on July 4.

 

Afterward, discussions were held regarding future activities while waiting for her health to recover, which led to the announcement of the hiatus on July 27th.

 

 

date	event
June 30, 2026	It was announced that she will be taking a break from activities this week due to poor health.
July 1, 2026	The eight members will appear on "FNS Music Festival Summer".
July 4, 2026	All eight members will appear on "THE MUSIC DAY 2026".
July 27, 2026	They announced a temporary suspension of their activities.

 

4. When will you be returning?

The hiatus is described as "for the time being," and no specific return date or conditions have been announced. This decision is being made to respect RIO's health and wishes, and therefore, no predetermined timeframe has been set. Further updates will be announced on the NiziU official website and official social media accounts.

 

5. For the time being, NiziU will continue to operate as an 8-member group.

 

 

Following RIO's hiatus, NiziU will continue as an eight-member group for the time being. The agency is asking for continued support for the eight-member group, as well as warm support for RIO.

Regarding the format in which concerts, music programs, and various events will be held in the future, official announcements will be made as needed.

 

6. RIO's Profile

RIO is a member of NiziU, a group that debuted through the global audition program "Nizi Project," which aired in 2020. She was selected from a total of 10,231 applicants and finished in 4th place. She is known for her high level of dance skills and serves as the main dancer in the group.

 

 

item	Content
name	RIO
Real name	Rio Hanabashi
date of birth	February 4, 2002
Birthplace	Aichi prefecture
in charge	Main dancer / Sub-vocalist / Sub-rapper
Member Colors	Light blue
debut	2020 “Nizi Project” (Final ranking 4th place)

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. Why is NiziU's Rio taking a break from activities?

A. After repeated discussions with the individual regarding their future activities once their health has recovered, and respecting their wishes, it has been decided that they will suspend their activities for the time being. Specific details about their health condition have not been made public.

Q2. How long will the hiatus last? Has a return date been decided?

A. It has been stated that this will be "for the time being," and no specific return date has been announced.

Q3. How many members will NiziU continue to perform while RIO is on hiatus?

A. For the time being, we will be performing as an eight-member group, excluding RIO.

Q4. What kind of member is RIO?

A. She debuted in 2020 through "Nizi Project" and is in charge of main dancer roles. Known for her high level of dance skills, she was born on February 4, 2002, and hails from Aichi Prefecture.

 

 

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