Sakuya

Biography

Sakuya is a Japanese singer, rapper, and performer. He is best known as the lead rapper, sub-vocalist, and maknae (youngest member) of the South Korean boy band NCT and its Tokyo-based sub-unit NCT WISH, managed by SM Entertainment in partnership with Avex Trax. Sakuya debuted with NCT WISH in February 2024 after being selected through the reality competition NCT Universe: LASTART.

Early Life and Education

Fujinaga Sakuya was born on November 18, 2007, in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, and later moved with his family to Saitama, Japan during his childhood. Influenced by his parents, who were fans of K-pop, Sakuya developed an early interest in music and performance, admiring the artists they listened to together. In 2022, he joined SM Entertainment as a trainee via an online audition and trained for approximately one year before participating in his debut project.

Career

Pre-Debut and NCT Universe: LASTART (2023)

In 2023, Sakuya appeared as a contestant on NCT Universe: LASTART, a reality survival program produced by SM Entertainment to determine the lineup of a new NCT sub-unit. He was introduced as one of the trainees and ranked in the final positions to debut, securing his place in what was initially referred to as NCT New Team.

Debut with NCT WISH (2024–Present)

Sakuya officially debuted as a member of NCT WISH on February 28, 2024, when the group released their first digital single Wish in both Korean and Japanese versions. NCT WISH is the sixth official sub-unit of NCT, promoting actively in both South Korea and Japan.

As part of NCT WISH, Sakuya contributes primarily as a rapper and sub-vocalist, and his youthful energy, charismatic performance style, and musical versatility have helped shape the group’s identity.

Discography