Sakura Miyawaki — Biography
Born in Kagoshima City, Japan, on March 19, 1998, Sakura Miyawaki was the only child of supportive parents who fostered her early inclination towards performance. Of Japanese heritage, her high school years were marked by involvement in a theater club, which solidified her aspiration in the entertainment industry. Known professionally by her first name, Sakura, she sometimes uses her full name in more formal settings. Her professional journey began in 2011 at the age of thirteen, with her debut as a founding member of the Japanese idol group HKT48. She later transitioned to AKB48, where she held the position of co-captain until 2018.
International recognition came in 2018 when Sakura participated in Mnet's Produce 48, securing second place with 316,105 votes, which led to her inclusion as a vocalist in the project group IZONE. The group's debut on October 29, 2018, featured the mini-album ColorIz* and its lead single “La Vie en Rose,” which reached number 6 on Billboard’s World Albums Chart. IZONE’s discography includes four Korean EPs, a studio album titled BloomIz that charted at number 2 on Gaon, and three Japanese albums, all of which saw Sakura contributing to their widespread success until the group's disbandment in April 2021.
In May 2022, Sakura joined Source Music and debuted with the group LE SSERAFIM, alongside Kim Chae-won, Kazuha Nakamura, and Hong Eunchae, and formerly Kim Garam. Their debut mini-album, Fearless, broke records for the highest first-day sales by a K-pop girl group debut album and reached number 2 on the Circle Album Chart. Subsequent releases, Antifragile in 2022 and Unforgiven in 2023, both achieved the top position on the Circle Album Chart. Hit songs from these albums include “Antifragile,” which peaked at number 2 on the Circle Digital Chart, and “Unforgiven,” a collaboration with Nile Rodgers. Sakura also contributed as a co-writer on tracks such as “I Am” and was involved in LE SSERAFIM’s 2025 album, HOT.
Beyond her group activities, Sakura launched her cosmetic brand, CRAN BY MOLAK, in 2020 and was appointed a Swarovski ambassador in August 2024. Her solo music endeavors include the 2023 Japanese single “Start Over” and appearances in music videos for songs like “Easy” and “Perfect Night,” the latter associated with an Overwatch 2 collaboration. Sakura’s online presence includes LE SSERAFIM’s official TikTok account (@le_sserafim), where she
International recognition came in 2018 when Sakura participated in Mnet's Produce 48, securing second place with 316,105 votes, which led to her inclusion as a vocalist in the project group IZONE. The group's debut on October 29, 2018, featured the mini-album ColorIz* and its lead single “La Vie en Rose,” which reached number 6 on Billboard’s World Albums Chart. IZONE’s discography includes four Korean EPs, a studio album titled BloomIz that charted at number 2 on Gaon, and three Japanese albums, all of which saw Sakura contributing to their widespread success until the group's disbandment in April 2021.
In May 2022, Sakura joined Source Music and debuted with the group LE SSERAFIM, alongside Kim Chae-won, Kazuha Nakamura, and Hong Eunchae, and formerly Kim Garam. Their debut mini-album, Fearless, broke records for the highest first-day sales by a K-pop girl group debut album and reached number 2 on the Circle Album Chart. Subsequent releases, Antifragile in 2022 and Unforgiven in 2023, both achieved the top position on the Circle Album Chart. Hit songs from these albums include “Antifragile,” which peaked at number 2 on the Circle Digital Chart, and “Unforgiven,” a collaboration with Nile Rodgers. Sakura also contributed as a co-writer on tracks such as “I Am” and was involved in LE SSERAFIM’s 2025 album, HOT.
Beyond her group activities, Sakura launched her cosmetic brand, CRAN BY MOLAK, in 2020 and was appointed a Swarovski ambassador in August 2024. Her solo music endeavors include the 2023 Japanese single “Start Over” and appearances in music videos for songs like “Easy” and “Perfect Night,” the latter associated with an Overwatch 2 collaboration. Sakura’s online presence includes LE SSERAFIM’s official TikTok account (@le_sserafim), where she
