Sakura Profile: Age, Height, Career, Facts & More
Few idols in K-pop or J-pop can match Sakura Miyawaki’s résumé.
As LE SSERAFIM’s eldest member, she arrived with over a decade of idol experience already behind her — from her debut as a young teenager in HKT48, through AKB48, and into IZ*ONE, before finally becoming LE SSERAFIM’s visual and lead dancer.
This complete profile breaks down everything fans want to know about Sakura — her age, height, career, personality, and the fun facts that keep circulating through the fandom.
Quick Facts About Sakura
- Real Name: Miyawaki Sakura (宮脇咲良), also known by her Korean name Kim Yoonah (김윤아)
- Stage Name: Sakura
- Birth Date: March 19, 1998
- Birthplace: Kagoshima, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan
- Position: Visual, Lead Dancer
- Height: Approximately 163 cm (5’4″)
- Blood Type: A
- Nationality: Japanese
- Agency: Source Music (HYBE); A.M. (Japan)
- Group: LE SSERAFIM; formerly of HKT48, AKB48, and IZ*ONE
- MBTI: INTP
- Education: Maria Musical Academy; Shigakukan Junior & Senior High (graduated); Fukuoka Prefectural Kurume High (transferred out); correspondence high school (graduated)
Early Life and Background
Sakura was born Miyawaki Sakura on March 19, 1998, in Kagoshima, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, and has a younger brother, along with her parents and grandmother. She made her acting debut in the 2011 film Ano Hito Ano Hi at just 13 years old, the same year she joined the Japanese idol group HKT48 as a first-generation trainee.
She was promoted to a full member of HKT48’s Team H in 2012 and transferred to Team KIV in 2014, building a decade-long career in Japanese idol entertainment before eventually moving into the South Korean industry.
Career Highlights
HKT48, AKB48, and IZ*ONE Sakura spent ten years with HKT48 before officially graduating from the group on June 27, 2021, having also been affiliated with its sister group AKB48 throughout much of that period.
In between, she competed on the 2018 reality competition Produce 48, finishing in second place and earning a spot in the final lineup of the South Korean-Japanese project group IZ*ONE, active from October 2018 to April 2021.
Debut and LE SSERAFIM’s Formation Following IZ*ONE’s disbandment, Sakura was revealed as the very first member of LE SSERAFIM, Source Music’s first girl group under HYBE, ahead of the group’s official debut on May 2, 2022, with the EP Fearless.
As visual and lead dancer, her years of prior idol experience gave LE SSERAFIM an immediate polish and stage presence uncommon for a rookie act.
A Record-Breaking Rise LE SSERAFIM’s second EP, Antifragile, released in October 2022, became the group’s first release to sell over a million copies and made them the fastest K-pop girl group to debut on the US Billboard 200 at the time.
The group continued their momentum with their first English single, “Perfect Night,” and their third EP, Easy (2024), whose title track became the group’s first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 proper.
Coachella and the Easy-Crazy-Hot Trilogy LE SSERAFIM made history as the fastest K-pop act ever invited to perform at Coachella after debut, taking the stage in April 2024.
They followed with their fourth EP, Crazy (2024), and completed their conceptual trilogy with their fifth EP, Hot (2025), which debuted at Number 9 on the Billboard 200 — making LE SSERAFIM the fastest K-pop girl group to score four top-10 entries on that chart.
Sakura’s dance leadership and visual presence remained central throughout, including during the group’s first world tour, “Easy Crazy Hot,” which ran from April 2025 through February 2026 across 31 shows and grossed $34.1 million.
Personality and Public Image
As LE SSERAFIM’s eldest and most experienced member, Sakura brings a genuinely rare depth of industry knowledge to the group, having navigated the Japanese idol system, a major survival show, an international project group, and now a HYBE-produced K-pop act.
Her years spent balancing HKT48, AKB48, and IZ*ONE activities gave her exceptional stage discipline and camera readiness well before LE SSERAFIM’s formation.
For ex, Outside of her music career, Sakura serves as a global brand ambassador for Maybelline New York.
Fans and fellow members alike point to her steady, seasoned presence as one of the group’s most valuable assets, particularly as LE SSERAFIM’s international schedule has grown more demanding.
Fun Facts and Trivia
- Sakura joined HKT48 as a first-generation trainee at 13 years old in 2011.
- She spent ten years with HKT48 before graduating in 2021.
- She finished second on Produce 48, earning her spot in IZ*ONE.
- Her Korean name is Kim Yoonah.
- She was the very first member revealed ahead of LE SSERAFIM’s 2022 debut.
- She’s LE SSERAFIM’s eldest member.
- She made her acting debut in the 2011 film Ano Hito Ano Hi.
Social Media and Where to Follow
Sakura is active across LE SSERAFIM’s official group platforms, including Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and YouTube, where her dance performances, striking visuals, and years of accumulated idol experience continue to draw significant fan engagement.
Her history with HKT48, AKB48, and IZ*ONE remains a frequently discussed part of her story among longtime fans who’ve followed her career across more than a decade in the industry.
As LE SSERAFIM continues its rise following the Easy Crazy Hot Tour and their upcoming Pureflow Tour, Sakura’s seasoned stage presence continues to make her one of the group’s most reliable and internationally recognized performers.
Conclusion
From a 13-year-old HKT48 trainee to LE SSERAFIM’s visual and lead dancer with over a decade of idol experience behind her, Sakura’s career reflects one of the most storied paths in modern J-pop and K-pop.
Whether fans are drawn in by her striking visuals, her polished, technically gifted dancing, her extensive history across HKT48, AKB48, and IZ*ONE, or her steady leadership as the group’s eldest member, Sakura continues to prove why she’s regarded as one of the most experienced and accomplished idols of her generation.
As LE SSERAFIM’s global reach continues to expand, all eyes remain on Sakura to see what she’ll achieve next.
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