The awesome friendship between HKT48’s Miyawaki Sakura and WM Entertainment’s Lee Chae Yeon and What You Didn’t See in the “Produce48” Finale

One thing that “Produce48” showed people that despite the differences between Korea and Japan, that the trainees from the two countries could become close friends.

We have seen the mother/daughter relationship between Kang Hyewon and Sato Minami, many of the Korean trainees that were close to Takahashi Juri and Nakanishi Chiyori, Jang Wongyoung and Shiroma Miru, Kwon Eunbi with Murasa Sae, to name a few.

But perhaps as the series progressed, especially for its second half, one friendship proved to be among one of the strongest on the show and that was HKT48’s Miyawaki Sakura and WM Entertainment’s Lee Chae Yeon.

Dubbed by many international fans as “Chaekura” and the “Hotaru Couple” because of a game in which Sakura had to say “Hotaru” and Lee Chae Yeon who was wearing headphones, had to make out what Sakura was saying.

미야와키 채연..그래 귀엽다 pic.twitter.com/UUdF1gfAuy

— 사랑 (@i_sakura_you) August 31, 2018

Sakura: AAAA
Chaeyeon AAAAA😱
and they hugged each other

HOTARU COUPLE Y’ALL😭😭😭pic.twitter.com/GzAwezKpjK

— nicol🌸 (@izonekkura) August 31, 2018

one word to describe them:

GIRLFRIENDS AHHAHAHA

#produce48 #IZONE #sakura #chaeyeon pic.twitter.com/wWifdEBKsz

— STAN IZONE (@chayeonsakura) September 1, 2018

Someone made compilation of Chaeyeon and Sakura hugging since team battle in very3x 💕

ChaeKura really like to hug each other 😍pic.twitter.com/zTOP5frZSn

— 깃털채연 사랑해!! 🕊️ #TeamChaeyeon (@chaeyeonation) August 25, 2018

At the “Produce48” finale, audiences were able to capture video that people were not able to see until hours after.

When Miyawaki Sakura gave her speech after coming second and was asked who’s name came to mind that she wanted to say, immediately, Sakura said, “Lee Chae Yeon” and said “Thank you for having tried your best me with me all along. I want to debut together with you.”

Seungi asked if there is anyone that Sakura is thankful for and she said Chaeyeon.

My heart. My soul. #PRODUCE48pic.twitter.com/qXAMPQVkK9

— SAKURA UNION 🌸 (@sakuraunion_) August 31, 2018

When Lee Chae Yeon was announced at #12, netizens at the live event had their cameras focused on Sakura, showing how she was in tears, to the point where she was hyperventilating. Even her fellow HKT48 team member Yabuki Nako got up from her seat and looked up to check on Sakura.

Fancam of when Chaeyeon was announced – Sakura was really praying so hard and so nervous, fell when Chaeyeon was announced, and cried so hard… it’s okay Sakura you two are together now 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 #Produce48 #宮脇咲良 #미야와키사쿠라 #IZONE pic.twitter.com/updxb2CCNz

— 💘miyawaki sakura💘 (@p48sakura) August 31, 2018

sakura was literally sobbing while waiting for chaeyeon’s name to be called. they created a beautiful friendship since day 1 😭

🌸 “thank you for always being there for me. i want to debut with you”#아이즈원 #IZONE #미야와키사쿠라 #MiyawakiSakura #LeeChaeyeon #이채연 #CHAEKURA pic.twitter.com/VHc4d835TN

— sakura sake! 🌸 #IZONE (@sakuranekkoya) August 31, 2018

You can watch how the whole thing played out on television right here:

And the scene that many people didn’t see after “Produce48” ended on television is Sakura and Chae Yeon seeing each other.

Fortunately, Twitter user Mystery Lover took photos of when the two saw each other:

180831 프로듀스48 파이널
째욘 축하해주는 꾸라 #미야와키사쿠라 #MIYAWAKISAKURA#宮脇咲良 #みやわきさくら #사쿠라 @39saku_chan pic.twitter.com/Psi2lPx8Wn

— Mystery Lover (@39MysteryLover) August 31, 2018

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