- For music known as 'Sakura', see Sakura.
Sakura (Korean: 사쿠라; Japanese: 咲良/サクラ) is a Japanese singer-songwriter, actress and model under Source Music and A.M. Entertainment. She is a member of the girl group LE SSERAFIM and a former member of the project girl group IZ*ONE and the Japanese idol girl groups HKT48 and AKB48.
Career
2011–2021: HKT48, Produce 48 and IZ*ONE
In 2011, Sakura joined HKT48 as a Kenkyuusei. She eventually became the co-captain of Team KIV.
On February 24, 2014, during the AKB48 Group Daisokaku Matsuri, her Kennin position (member of two different groups and teams at the same time) with AKB48 Team A was announced. She remained a member of AKB48's Team A until December 8, 2017, where, during the AKB48 12th Anniversary Shuffle, her position in the group was cancelled.
In 2018, she participated in Mnet's survival show Produce 48. On August 30, she finished the competition in 2nd place, thus becoming a member of IZ*ONE.[1] The group officially debuted on October 29, 2018 with the mini album Color*IZ and its title track, "La Vie En Rose".
On April 29, 2021, IZ*ONE disbanded after their special contract was concluded. Then, Sakura returned to Japan.
2021: Graduation from HKT48, new contract rumors
On May 15, 2021, after returning to Japan, she announced her graduation from HKT48.[2] Her graduation concert, <Bouquet>, was held at Marine Messe Fukuoka on June 19. Her send-off party was held on June 27 at the HKT48 Theater, making it her final theater performance.
On August 17, rumors surfaced that she would be recruited into Source Music's new girl group. Later HYBE released a brief statement in response to the claims that they "cannot help verify information regarding our artist contracts. We ask for your understanding.”[3] On August 27, she returned to Korea to discuss a new contract with HYBE.[4][5] On September 23, it was reported that she had signed an exclusive contract with Source Music.[6] In response to the report, a representative of HYBE once again issued the following statement: "We cannot confirm any details regarding an artist's exclusive contract."[7]
On September 15, it was announced that Sakura would be launching her own cosmetics line called 'CRAN' in partnership with the Japanese color contact lens brand 'MOLAK'. Product sales began in December of the same year.[8] On December 20, 50,000 products from the line were reported to have been sold in just one week.[9]
On November 1, Vernalossom announced that her contract with them has ended.[10]
2022: Contracts with Source Music and A.M. Entertainment, debut with LE SSERAFIM
On March 14, 2022, it was announced that Sakura and IZ*ONE's former groupmate Chaewon had officially signed to Source Music and would be debuting in their upcoming girl group, LE SSERAFIM, in May.[11][12]
On March 20, media outlets reported that Sakura had signed with Japanese agency A.M. Entertainment to manage her solo activities in Japan, minutes later all articles were deleted, a day later on March 21, A.M. Entertainment confirmed through their official website that Sakura had joined the agency.[13][14]
On April 4, she was introduced as the first member of LE SSERAFIM.[15] They debuted on May 2, 2022 with the mini album Fearless.
On April 8, it was reported that Sakura would be the new model for the LILY BROWN brand and that she would launch her own clothing collection in partnership with the brand.[16][17][18]
Discography
Japanese
Digital singles
- "Omoide ni Suru ni wa Mada Hayasugiru" (2021)
Collaborations
- "Hitsuzensei" (with AKB48; as a part of IZ4648) (2019)
Participation releases
- Koko ga Rhodes da, Koko de Tobe! ("Kanojo" (彼女)) (2015)
Filmography
Dramas
- Majisuka Gakuen 0: Kisarazu Rantouhen (マジすか学園0 木更津乱闘編) (NTV, 2015)
- Majisuka Gakuen 4 (マジすか学園 4) (NTV, 2015)
- Majisuka Gakuen 5 (マジすか学園 5) (NTV, 2015)
- AKB Horror Night - Adrenaline no Yoru (AKBホラーナイト アドレナリンの夜) (TV Asahi, 2015) (Ep. 5)
- AKB Love Night - Love Factory (AKBラブナイト 恋工場) (TV Asahi, 2016) (Ep. 29)
- Crow's Blood (Hulu, 2016)
- Yuusha Yoshihiko to Michibikareshi Shichinin (勇者ヨシヒコと導かれし七人) (TV Tokyo, 2016) (Ep. 9)
- Cabasuka Gakuen (キャバすか学園) (NTV, 2016)
- Tofu Pro Wrestling (豆腐プロレス) (TV Asahi, 2017)
Films
- Ano Hito Ano Hi (あの ひと の あの ひ) (2011) - as Nazuna Imagawa
- Himitsu (秘密) (2013) - as Mari
- Documentary of HTK48: The Night Theatre Manager Ozaki Cried (2016) - as herself
- Raison D'etre: Documentary of AKB48 (2016) - as herself
- Until I Meet September's Love (2019) - as Waitress
- Diner (2019)- as "Diner" former waitress
- Eyes on Me: The Movie (2020) - as herself
Radio shows
- Saku no Ki (Bay FM, 2017-2021, 2022[Notes 1])
Reality shows
- Produce 48 (Mnet, 2018) - contestant
- IZ*ONE CHU (Mnet, 2018)
Variety shows
- Everyone's Kitchen (O'live, 2018-2019)
Web series
- AKB48 General Elections Special: The Akiba Papers (Amazon Prime, 2016)
- Doctor Y - Gekai Kaji Hideki (ドクターＹ～外科医・加地秀樹～) (TV Asahi, 2016)
- Shanghai Love Map (恋爱地图上海篇) (iQiyi, 2018) - guest
Music video appearances
- Produce 48 - "Nekkoya (Pick Me)" (2018)
- Produce 48 - "Nekkoya (Pick Me)" Gym Uniform ver. (2018)
Producing and writing credits
- All Korean songs credits adapted from KOMCA, unless stated.[19]
- All Japanese songs credits adapted from JASRAC, unless stated.[20]
| Artist | Song | Album | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | |||
| IZ*ONE | "Love Bubble" | "Vampire" | Writing |
| 2020 | |||
| IZ*ONE | "Secret Story of the Swan (Japanese Ver.)" | Oneiric Diary | Writing |
| "With*One" | |||
| "Yummy Summer" | Twelve | Writing, Composing | |
| "Fiesta (Japanese Ver.)" | Writing[21] | ||
| 2021 | |||
| =LOVE | "Zutommo Anken" (ズッ友案件; Forever Friends Matter) | "Weekend Citron" | Writing |
Concerts
Graduation
Endorsements
- MOLAK Contacs (2020-present)
- Pepsi (2021)
- Kérastase (2021)
- Flower Knows (2021)
- CRAN by MOLAK (2021-present)
- LILY BROWN (2022)
- Louis Vuitton (2022)
Photobooks
- Sakura (宮脇咲良ファースト写真集「さくら」)[22] (2015)
- Sakura Miyawaki Graduation Visual Booklet (宮脇咲良 卒業ビジュアルブックレット)[23] (2021)
Trivia
- Prior to debuting with IZ*ONE, she trained for 6 years and 11 months.[24]
- She likes to watch movies and play.[24]
- She dislikes red bean paste.[24]
- In 2010, she received Broadway musical lessons in New York.[24]
- Her Produce 48 motto was "I want people around the world to get to know me and change my life.", while her catchphrase was "Cherry Blossom Girl, Happy Ending!".[25]
- She was the center for Produce 48’s theme song, Pick Me.[26]
- She is a fan of Red Velvet and her bias is Irene, but the first member she met was Wendy.
- She opened her Gaming Channel in 2018.
- Her graduation was leaked by the Japanese magazine, Vivi, in the preview of her interview of the July issue, before the official announcement.
- She along with Kodama Haruka were the WCenter (double centers) for HKT48's 5th single "12byou", marking her first time as a center on an A-Side of HKT48.
- She shared the center position with Watanabe Mayu for AKB48's 38th single "Kiboteki Refrain", becoming the first local HKT48 member to center on an AKB48's A-side single.
- She was center of AKB48's 43th single "Kimi wa Melody", WCenter with Matsui Jurina of the 48th single "Negaigoto no Mochigusare" and center of AKB48's 54th single "NO WAY MAN" which marked her last appearance as center of an AKB48 single.
- Her MBTI type is INTP.[27]
- Her motto in LE SSERAFIM is "Fearless of Stereotypes".
Gallery
- Main article: Sakura (LE SSERAFIM)/Gallery
References
Notes
Official links
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