IZ*ONE’s Miyawaki Sakura talks about leaving AKB48 for Korea and the popularity of K-Pop in Japan

Miyawaki Sakura is a member of HKT48/AKB48 and upon being selected in the top 12 of the show “Produce48”, she would have to end all activity to focus on her career as a member of IZ*ONE, a global group but also a limited group that would last only for 2.5 years.

In Japan, there were many who felt that leaving HKT48, let alone AKB48 during the height of her popularity in Japan was probably not a good idea but considering that IZ*ONE is one of the top selling female groups of all time and as of 2020, currently had the largest selling album in Korea with “ONEIRIC DIARY” and also have had great sales for their singles in Japan and an upcoming debut Japanese album coming out this week.

 

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Oricon asked Miyawaki Sakura of how she felt when she decided to stop working in Japan to go to Korea.  Miyawaki said, “I thought that I would be working in parallel with my activities in Japan, so I was shocked when I heard that I would have to stop all my activities in Japan and move to Korea.  At that time, I didn’t understand Korean at all, so I was very worried if I could do it.  All the recordings are in Korean, so I was desperate to keep up with everyone at first, so I asked members who can speak a little Japanese to please teach me and I used Google translate to study.

When asked if there is a difference in culture and environment, Miyawaki said, “There are many.  For example, in Japan, I think that there are times when you get the feelings of the other person and don’t express your feelings honestly but in Korea, people can clearly express their opinions and clear say “I don’t like this” or “NO”.

When asked if she changed in such an environment, Miyawaki said, “I think there are some personalities that I never knew I had before.  Realizing the importance of communicating opinions, I gradually became able to express my feelings more clearly.  I think my personality has changed and my way of thinking has become more positive”.

When asked about practicing 10 hours a day, Miyawaki Sakura said, “I couldn’t sleep at all at the beginning because I felt I wanted all the dances to sync from the angle of my hands, taking a video and start over if there was even a sign of a shift.  Even if it’s hard, tomorrow will come, so I have to do it.  Even so, I repeated it everyday and got used to it.  Now I don’t think it’s too difficult”.

When asked about how she has time to practice to sing and dance.  Miyawaki said, “As with me, Korean groups often live together and I make a schedule on the premise of securing practice time.  Before shooting a music video, I can just practice for a whole week. When we feel that we are not practicing enough, we may ask ourselves to increase the amount of practice”.

“It’s really fun to show off what you have been practicing on stage and reach the audience.  Therefore, I think that no matter how hard it is, I will continue”.

When asked about the difference between Japanese and Korean idols, Miyawaki said, “Each has its own merits. In Korea, high quality is required. So it is necessary to show the completed performances from the time of debut.  Even if I’m watching a concert, the level is high as if I’m watching a show.  As for Japanese, I feel that I can be supported at a closer distance.  You can stand on stage even if you have hardly any experience.  That’s why you can see how one has grown at concerts and you can see them and get excited together.  The reactions are completely different, but I really like both of them”.

When asked about the popularity and excitement of K-Pop in Japan, Miyawaki said, “I really feel it.  I originally loved K-Pop Artists and thought they were wonderful, so I can agree that they are popular in Japan.  I think that every artist has a world-class level of quality and in Korea, I always thought that I was required to have a perfect figure but in Korea, there are fans who always say, “your singing has improved” and “your dancing has gotten better”.  Everyday, I feel that it is common to see growth and to be supported everywhere

In the upcoming Japanese album “TWELVE”, Miyawaki talked about how she wrote and composed the song “Yummy Summer”.  Miyawaki said, “I’m happy to be able to show one side of myself as a songwriter.  It will be IZ*ONE’s first summer song.  A member who didn’t know I made the song hear it and said, ‘Isn’t it a good song?’, so I said, ‘I made it’ (laughing).

Read the complete interview on Oricon