Sakura

Biography

Sakura Miyawaki, known professionally as Sakura, is a Japanese singer, songwriter, actress, and model based in South Korea. She is a member of the South Korean girl group LE SSERAFIM, formed by Source Music under HYBE Corporation. Prior to her current activities, she was a member of the Japanese idol groups HKT48 and AKB48, and of the Korean-Japanese project girl group IZ*ONE.

Early Life and Education

Miyawaki Sakura was born on March 19, 1998, in Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. She was exposed to performance and the arts from a young age and developed early interests in singing, dancing, and acting. At around ten years old, she performed in a stage musical production, marking one of her earliest experiences in performance.

Details about her formal education have not been widely publicized, as her entry into the entertainment industry from childhood meant that her training and schooling often took place alongside idol activities.

Career

Debut and Japanese Idol Years (2011–2018)

Sakura began her professional career in the entertainment industry as a trainee and performer in Japan. In 2011, she made her acting debut in the Japanese film Ano Hito Ano Hi and shortly thereafter joined the Japanese idol group HKT48 as a first-generation trainee. She was promoted to a full member of HKT48 Team H in 2012 and was later transferred to Team KIV in 2014. During her time with HKT48, she gained recognition for her strong stage presence and early leadership potential.

She also became a concurrent member of sister group AKB48, further expanding her visibility and fanbase across Japan. These activities spanned much of her teenage years and established her as a well-known figure in the Japanese idol scene.

Produce 48 and IZ*ONE (2018–2021)

In 2018, Sakura participated in the Korean reality competition series Produce 48, which brought together trainees and idols from South Korea and Japan. Through the program, she finished in second place, securing a spot in the finale lineup of the project group IZ*ONE. As a member of IZ*ONE, she promoted extensively in both South Korea and Japan, contributing to multiple chart-topping releases and international touring until the group’s contract concluded in April 2021.

Re-Debut with LE SSERAFIM (2022–present)

Following the disbandment of IZ*ONE, Sakura returned to South Korea to embark on her third major debut. In May 2022, she debuted as a member of LE SSERAFIM, a newly formed girl group under Source Music, alongside members Kim Chaewon, Huh Yunjin, Kazuha, and Hong Eunchae. The group debuted with the extended play Fearless on May 2, 2022. LE SSERAFIM’s name is an anagram of “I’M FEARLESS,” representing the group’s confident and bold artistic identity.

Within LE SSERAFIM, Sakura serves as a vocalist and a visual focal point, bringing together her long-accrued experience as an idol performer and her seasoned stage presence.