Sakura

In 2011, she debuted in Japan as a member of the girl group HKT48 at the age of 13, serving as the center for Team KIV.

Through her activities in HKT48, she gained a strong fan base in Japan and appeared in various variety shows and music videos.

In 2018, she participated in Mnet’s survival program 'Produce 48,' gaining significant attention in Korea and finishing 2nd place to become a member of IZ*ONE.

During her time in 'Produce 48,' she gained popularity with her outstanding visuals and stable performances, significantly growing her fan base in Korea.

Even before IZ*ONE’s debut, she began studying Korean, balancing activities in both Korea and Japan for two and a half years.

After IZ*ONE disbanded in April 2021, she graduated from HKT48 and moved to a new agency to focus on her activities in Korea.

In 2022, she redebuted as a member of LE SSERAFIM under HYBE’s subsidiary Source Music, marking her third debut in a girl group.

She spent 8 months as a trainee while preparing for her debut with LE SSERAFIM, honing new dance and vocal skills during that time.

Sakura has a close relationship with her grandmother, who raised her. Her grandmother was born in 1959, and her mother was born in 1978.

Her younger brother, born in 2010, is 12 years younger than Sakura. They have a very close relationship, and her brother affectionately calls her 'Sa-chan.'

Her mother has supported Sakura’s career since her HKT48 days. Even after her debut with LE SSERAFIM in 2022, her mother has attended all major performances to show her love.

Sakura has minimal contact with her biological father due to her parents’ divorce when she was young. She first revealed this on a broadcast in 2022, sharing her thoughts on her parents.

She often mentions how growing up looking after her younger brother has made her stronger as a person.

She proudly shares that her brother excels academically, particularly in English and math, and often comes to watch her performances.

In a 2024 Weverse live, she mentioned that her brother had grown taller than her and is now in his second year of middle school.

Sakura has always received a lot of love from her family and shares a special bond with her brother, who supports her by watching her broadcasts.

In the second mini album 'ANTIFRAGILE,' Sakura showcased her growth as a vocalist, especially in the song 'Impurities,' where she demonstrated her ability to switch between lower and falsetto ranges.

Her vocal strength lies in her stable tone and deep understanding of the songs. In 'Good Parts (when the quality is bad but I am),' she captivated the audience with her soft tone and emotional delivery.

In 2023, she ventured into rap in the song 'CHOICES,' further proving her musical versatility and receiving praise for her diverse musical capabilities.

In LE SSERAFIM’s first full-length album 'UNFORGIVEN,' she was responsible for key vocal parts in the 12th track 'Flash Forward,' receiving acclaim for her emotional delivery and taking on the second-largest part after Huh Yunjin.

In LE SSERAFIM’s English single 'Perfect Night,' she received widespread praise for her powerful vocal performance, particularly in the iconic line 'Come and take a ride with me I got a credit card and some good company.'

Her live performance skills noticeably improved, as seen in the 2024 Coachella stage, where she received positive reactions and further cemented her reputation as a reliable performer.

During the debut stage for LE SSERAFIM’s song 'FEARLESS,' she wowed fans with her performance, with her fancam garnering over 1 million views on YouTube within a day, proving her popularity.

She also showed her growth in performance by covering EXO’s 'LOVE SHOT,' which became a trending topic on platforms like Twitter and Weibo.

Sakura is known for having an INTP personality, being introverted but also intellectual and analytical.

Due to her introverted nature, she prefers maintaining close relationships with a small circle of friends rather than expanding her social network.

She shows a sincere attitude in communicating with her fans, often reading and being moved by the comments and messages they leave.

Sakura is often described as a 'hard-working idol' who continuously strives to surpass her own limits, emphasizing diligence and responsibility, and frequently choosing the more difficult path.

As the eldest member of her team, she takes on the role of guiding and helping younger members, particularly mentoring Hong Eunchae and Kazuha during their time in Korea.

Despite her introverted nature, she transforms into a flawless performer on stage, a dual charm that is widely loved by her fans.

She is known for her excellent fan service, giving warm words to fans she remembers during fan sign events and fan meetings, creating special memories for them.

Sakura often describes herself as a 'hard worker,' always seeking out areas where she can improve and relentlessly practicing to become better.

Sakura is a K-POP fan herself, particularly of Red Velvet and Girls’ Generation. She has expressed her admiration for Red Velvet’s leader Irene multiple times.

Among foods, she especially likes Kyochon Chicken Honey Combo, kimchi jjigae, soft tofu stew, seolleongtang, and yukhoe (Korean raw beef). Her love for kimchi jjigae grew as she ate it often during her activities in Korea.

She enjoys sannakji (live octopus), frequently ordering it during her V Live broadcasts. Yukhoe is also one of her favorite dishes.

She is an avid gamer, with 'The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild' being her favorite game. She is also currently enjoying its sequel, 'Tears of the Kingdom.'

Sakura enjoys playing the online game League of Legends, primarily using the champions Maokai and Pyke. She once reached the silver tier.

She loves watching Korean dramas and variety shows, with her favorite dramas being 'Goblin' and 'Hospital Playlist.' She is also famously a fan of Gong Yoo, the star of 'Goblin.'

She enjoys building LEGO sets, having collected many personal sets, particularly favoring the Harry Potter and Star Wars series.

She enjoys bead crafting and handwriting. She has given fans handmade bead bracelets as gifts and frequently shares handwritten letters with them.

Sakura is known as a representative 'mint-choco hater,' having expressed her strong dislike for mint chocolate on several occasions.

She has also expressed a dislike for insect dishes such as beondegi (silkworm pupae). She was shocked when she first encountered beondegi at a traditional Korean market.

She dislikes Hawaiian pizza, stating that 'sweet fruit doesn’t go well with savory food,' which has become a fun debate topic among her fans.

She struggles with foods made with pumpkin or sweet pumpkin, stating that she doesn’t enjoy the sweet taste of pumpkins.

She cannot digest caffeine well, saying that coffee or energy drinks give her headaches. Instead, she prefers herbal teas or fruit juices without caffeine.

Sakura has a fear of heights and avoids roller coasters or any high-altitude rides at amusement parks.

She has a phobia of bugs and often reacts with fear when she encounters small insects, which has become a topic of fun among her fans during fan sign events.

She gets nervous when facing the spotlight unexpectedly and tends to feel anxious during unplanned interviews or camera moments.

In 2024, she won the 'Push Performance of the Year' award at the MTV Video Music Awards, becoming the first Japanese artist to win a VMA.

She appeared on 'Running Man' in 2024 and earned the nickname 'Gentle Leadership' for her leadership skills and candid personality.

Sakura actively participates in LE SSERAFIM’s album production process, providing input in choreography and styling, contributing in various areas.

From 2023 to 2024, she went on a global fan meeting tour, meeting fans in countries like Korea, Japan, the U.S., and Europe, proving her global popularity.

Sakura is building her reputation as a 'visual queen,' becoming the face of Japanese beauty brand 'Shu Uemura' in 2023.

She has received love calls from various fashion brands and created a buzz when she was invited to the 2024 Paris Fashion Week by Dior.

In 2024, she appeared in a solo photoshoot for the Japanese edition of fashion magazine 'VOGUE,' establishing herself as a global fashion icon.

She dreams of launching her own brand in the future and is gaining experience in the fashion and beauty industries to achieve this goal.