Sakura

Miyawaki Sakura was born on March 19, 1998, in Kagoshima, Japan. She began her idol career at a young age when she joined HKT48, a Japanese idol group under the AKB48 franchise system, in 2011. Over the following years, she rose to become one of the most beloved and recognized members of the AKB48 family, eventually also becoming a concurrent member of AKB48 Team B. Her bright personality and striking visuals won her an enormous fanbase across Japan.

In 2018, Sakura participated in Mnet's Produce 48, a survival show creating a Korean-Japanese hybrid idol group. She finished in 2nd place, debuting as a member of IZ*ONE — one of K-pop's most commercially successful project groups. Her time in IZ*ONE gave her deep immersion in K-pop culture, performance standards, and the Korean entertainment industry. After IZ*ONE's contract concluded in 2021, she made the landmark decision to leave the AKB48 group system entirely and pursue a full-time K-pop career.

She signed with Source Music and became a founding member of LE SSERAFIM, debuting on May 2, 2022. Despite being the group's oldest member, Sakura brought a wealth of industry experience that few fourth-generation idols possess. Her decade-plus career in the AKB48 system gave her a unique perspective on idol culture, and she has been candid in interviews about the distinct differences between Japanese and Korean idol industries.

Off-stage, Sakura is known for her love of gaming and internet culture. She frequently streams games and interacts with fans through gaming content, and her analytical INTP personality is often visible in her thoughtful, self-aware approach to her work. She is considered one of the most internationally recognizable members of LE SSERAFIM due to her extensive pre-debut career spanning two major entertainment markets.