Sakura (LE SSERAFIM)

Artist Profile

• Full Name: Miyawaki Sakura
• Native Name: 宮脇 咲良, Kim Yoonah
• Nicknames: Sakuratan, Flying Squirrel, SsamKkura
• Birthday: Mar 19, 1998 (27 years old)
• Blood type: A
• Height/Weight: 163 cm (5’4”) / 46kg (101.41 lbs)
• Gender: Female
• Zodiac Sign: Pisces♓
• MBTI: INTP
• Birthplace: Kagoshima City, Japan
• Nationality: Japanese
• Profession: Singer, Rapper, Dancer
• Language Skills: Japanese, Korean
• Current Agency: Source Music
• Debut: May 2, 2022 (LE SSERAFIM), IZ*ONE (2018-2021), AKB48 (2014-2017) and HKT48 (2011-2021)
• Fandom: FEARNOT
• Years Active: 2011–present (15 years)
• Group: LE SSERAFIM

Miyawaki Sakura (born March 19, 1998) is a Japanese singer, actress, and model. Miyawaki is a member of the South Korean girl group LE SSERAFIM under Source Music, serving as a vocalist and dancer.

Prior to joining LE SSERAFIM in May 2022, Miyawaki was a member of the Japanese idol groups HKT48 (2011–2021) and AKB48 (2014–2018). From 2018 to 2021, Miyawaki was a member of the South Korean-Japanese girl group IZ*ONE, formed through the reality competition show Produce 48.

Early life

Miyawaki Sakura was born and raised in Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. Her parents divorced when Miyawaki was one year old. Miyawaki has a younger maternal half-brother, twelve years her junior. Under her mother’s influence, Miyawaki attended a local musical theater school from a young age and received ballet training.

At age 10, Miyawaki played the role of Young Nala in the Shiki Theatre Company’s production of the musical The Lion King. In 2010, Miyawaki participated in “The Broadway Experience,” a one-week intensive training program in New York City, where Broadway performers provided instruction in vocals, dance, and acting. Miyawaki subsequently graduated from the Maria Musical Academy in Kagoshima.

During middle school, Miyawaki initially intended to pursue a medical career. However, after being introduced to an audition for a new girl group by her father, Miyawaki chose to enter the entertainment industry. In July 2011, Miyawaki joined HKT48 as a first-generation trainee.

Career

In July 2011, Miyawaki joined HKT48 as a first-generation trainee and made her stage debut in November of the same year.

In March 2012, Miyawaki was promoted to a full member of Team H and became the first HKT48 member to rank in the AKB48 General Election, placing 47th.

In 2013, Miyawaki participated in the A-side of AKB48’s 31st single, “Sayonara Crawl,” and ranked 26th in the General Election.

In January 2014, Miyawaki was transferred to the newly formed Team KIV and appointed vice-captain, while also holding a concurrent position in AKB48’s Team A. That year, Miyawaki placed 11th in the General Election and was selected as the center for the single “Kiboteki Refrain,” becoming the first HKT48 member from a regional group to hold this position.

In 2015, Miyawaki starred in the television drama Majisuka Gakuen 4, ranked 7th in the General Election, and released her first photobook, Sakura, which topped the Oricon weekly photobook chart.

In March 2016, Miyawaki held her first solo center position for AKB48’s single “Kimi wa Melody” and placed 6th in the General Election.

In 2017, Miyawaki maintained a top-seven position, ranking 4th.

In 2018, Miyawaki competed in the reality selection show Produce 48, finishing in 2nd place. Miyawaki debuted with IZ*ONE in October 2018 and launched a personal YouTube channel focused on video gaming.

From 2019 to 2021, Miyawaki promoted with IZ*ONE, releasing the albums ColorIz, HeartIz, BloomIz, and Oneiric Diary, along with several Japanese singles. Following the group’s disbandment in April 2021, Miyawaki held a graduation concert for HKT48 in June 2021, concluding ten years of activity with the group.

In March 2022, Miyawaki signed an exclusive contract with Source Music and was confirmed as a member of LE SSERAFIM. The group debuted in May 2022 with the EP Fearless, achieving its first music program win eight days after release. In October 2022, the group released its second EP, Antifragile, which debuted at number 14 on the Billboard 200, making it the fastest K-pop girl group to debut on the chart.

In 2023, LE SSERAFIM made its Japanese debut with the Japanese version of “Fearless” in January. In May, the group released its first studio album, Unforgiven, which topped the Circle Album Chart and reached the top 10 of the Billboard 200. In August 2023, Miyawaki participated in the group’s first tour, Flame Rises. In October, the group collaborated with Blizzard Entertainment on the English single “Perfect Night” to promote the game Overwatch 2.

In February 2024, LE SSERAFIM released its third EP, Easy, which debuted at number 8 on the Billboard 200, while the title track entered the Billboard Hot 100. In April 2024, Miyawaki performed at Coachella with Nile Rodgers and debuted the song “1-800-Hot-N-Fun.” In August, the group released its fourth EP, Crazy, and received the “PUSH Performance of the Year” award at the MTV Video Music Awards for “Easy.” In November 2024, the group appeared at the MTV Europe Music Awards and won “Best Push.”

In March 2025, LE SSERAFIM released its fifth EP, Hot, debuting at number 9 on the Billboard 200. The group became the only fourth-generation girl group to have four consecutive albums reach the top 10 of that chart. Miyawaki commenced the group’s first world tour, Easy Crazy Hot Tour, in Incheon in April 2025. In October, the group released the single album Spaghetti, featuring J-Hope of BTS. On December 31, 2025, Miyawaki performed with LE SSERAFIM at Times Square for Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, becoming the first K-pop girl group member to participate in the event.

Fun facts

• She has been an idol for over 15 years but still cannot wink with one eye, even after trying with both.
• She is nicknamed the “wink fairy” despite the fact that she is completely unable to wink.
• She was given the nickname “Flying Squirrel” by Kim Chaewon due to her resemblance to the animal.
• She once attempted the “Nico Nico Nii” gesture but had to give up because she could not wink.
• She and BamBam (GOT7) tried to wink together, creating a highly humorous situation.
• She often unconsciously uses aegyo in real life, even when ordering at restaurants, and is surprised by this professional habit.
• MC Yoo Jae Suk laughed continuously when she demonstrated her accidental aegyo in daily life.
• She admits she is not naturally cute but often uses aegyo at the wrong moments.
• The members revealed on Youtube that she becomes flirty when she is drunk.
• She possesses an excellent poker face, leading the members to vote her as the most suitable for a villain role in a K-drama.
• She is a long-time fan of anime and gaming, confidently identifying as an otaku.
• She inspires fans by openly expressing her interests in anime and gaming.
• She has appeared on center selection stages for three different groups: AKB48, HKT48, and IZ*ONE.
• She occasionally forgets Japanese expressions and has to ask the members for help (Youtube).
• She has such unique facial expressions while eating that fans have created dedicated compilations.
• She has frankly shared her views on gender equality and the LGBTQ+ community in interviews, even when idols typically avoided these topics.

Photo Gallery