Sana (singer)
Japanese singer (born 1996)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sana Minatozaki (Japanese: 湊﨑 紗夏;[1] born December 29, 1996), known mononymously as Sana (Korean: 사나; Japanese: サナ), is a Japanese singer based in South Korea. She is a member of the South Korean girl group Twice, formed in 2015 by JYP Entertainment, and its subunit MiSaMo, formed in 2023.
Sana | |
|---|---|
Sana in April 2026 | |
| Born | Sana Minatozaki December 29, 1996 Osaka, Japan |
| Occupation |
|
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Seoul, South Korea |
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 2015–present |
| Labels | |
| Member of | |
| Japanese name | |
| Kanji | 湊﨑 紗夏 |
| Revised Hepburn | Minatozaki Sana |
| Signature | |
 | |
Career
Early life and pre-debut
Sana was born on December 29, 1996[2] in Tennōji-ku, Osaka, Japan,[3][4] as an only child.[5] Sana stated that she wanted to become a singer and dancer early on and was inspired by the K-pop group Girls' Generation.[5] Sana began training with EXPG in Osaka in 2009, originally planning to be a singer in Japan, rather than South Korea.[6] During her middle school years, she was scouted by a JYP Entertainment (JYPE) employee at a shopping mall and was invited to participate in the annual JYP Japan audition the following day.[7] Sana passed the audition[7] and joined the JYPE trainee program in South Korea in April 2012.[8][9] She trained for over three years before her eventual debut with Twice.[8] In 2012, she was expected to become a member of a four-member girl group aimed at the Japanese market, but plans for the group were cancelled in part due to tensions between Japan and Korea following the Liancourt Rocks dispute; she was later scheduled to debut in a six-member group called 6Mix, but the group's debut was also cancelled due to the sinking of MV Sewol.[8][10] In 2014, Sana appeared in Got7's music video for "A" as a waitress.[11]
2015–present: Sixteen, Twice, solo activities, and MiSaMo
In 2015, Sana participated in the music survival show Sixteen, a reality television series to determine the members of Twice.[12][13] Out of the sixteen contestants, Sana was selected as one of the nine members of the newly formed girl group.[12][14] She officially debuted with Twice in October 2015 with the title song "Like Ooh-Ahh" from their debut extended play The Story Begins.[15]
In February 2021, Sana became the first Twice member to release a solo single after she covered "Sotsugyou", a 2020 single by Japanese band Kobukuro.[16] The cover, which includes an a cappella version, was released as a digital single through Warner Music Japan.[17] She released a version with Kobukuro themselves in March 2021.[18]
On February 9, 2023, JYPE announced that Sana, alongside bandmates Momo and Mina, would officially debut in Japan on July 26 as a sub-unit named MiSaMo with the extended play titled Masterpiece.[19] Prior to the trio's debut, on January 25, they released the track "Bouquet" as part of the soundtrack of TV Asahi's drama series Liaison: Kodomo no Kokoro Shinryōjo.[20]
In September 2023, Sana appeared as a guest on Dex's Fridge Interview, a YouTube talk show hosted by Dex.[21] Sana's episode became the most viewed video on the channel, exceeding 10 million views.[22] She replaced Dex as the host from March to June 2024, and returned for a second season from March to August 2025. During this time the show was known as Sana's Fridge Interview.[22][23] In December 2025, Sana appeared in Daesung's music video for "Hando-Chogua".[24]
Image and influence
Sana has received recognition in both South Korea and abroad for her energetic and cheerful personality.[12][5][25][26] Her popularity also has been credited with helping to improve relations between Japan and South Korea.[6][27] In Gallup Korea's annual music poll for 2018, Sana was voted the 17th most popular idol in South Korea, the highest-ranked Japanese individual in the poll.[28] She ranked 15th in the 2019 poll.[29][30] In 2019, Sana also ranked as the most popular female K-pop idol in a survey of soldiers completing mandatory military service in South Korea.[26]
Endorsements
Outside of Twice, Sana was featured in several advertisements and has promoted various brands and products.[5] In 2021, Sana and Twice bandmate Dahyun became models for skincare brand A'pieu.[31] In March 2022, Sana became a model for Olive Young's cosmetics brand WakeMake.[32][33]
In March 2023, Sana was selected as an ambassador for both the South Korean skin care brand Missha[34] and the makeup brand Espoir.[35] In July 2023, Sana became the first Japan ambassador for British multinational jeweller Graff.[36] In September 2023, Italian luxury fashion house Prada named Sana as their brand ambassador.[37][38] In December 2023, cosmetics brand YSL Beauty appointed Sana as their newest brand ambassador in Japan.[39] On November 14, 2024, Ralph Lauren Japan announced Sana as their brand ambassador.[40]
Discography
Singles
Other charted songs
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZ Hot [43] |
US World [44] | ||||
| "I'll Show You" (with Jihyo, Nayeon, Chaeyoung, Bekuh Boom and Annika Wells as K/DA) |
2020 | — | 38 | 10 | All Out |
| "Decaffeinated"[a] | 2025 | 164 | — | — | Ten: The Story Goes On |
Songwriting credits
All song credits are adapted from the Korea Music Copyright Association's database unless stated otherwise.[45]
| Title | Year | Artist | Album | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Shot Thru the Heart" | 2018 | Twice | Summer Nights | As lyricist |
| "Turn It Up" | 2019 | Fancy You | ||
| "21:29" | Feel Special | |||
| "Do What We Like" | 2020 | Eyes Wide Open | ||
| "Conversation" | 2021 | Taste of Love | ||
| "Celebrate" | 2022 | Celebrate | ||
| "Rewind You" | 2023 | MiSaMo | Masterpiece | |
| "Mirage"[b] | 2024 | Haute Couture | ||
| "Me+You" | 2025 | Twice | Ten: The Story Goes On |
Filmography
Television shows
| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Sixteen | Contestant | [13] |
| 2016 | Show! Music Core | Host | [46] |
| 2016 Idol Star Athletics Rhythmic Gymnastics Futsal Archery Championships | [47] | ||
| 2017 | KBS Song Festival | [48] | |
| 2018 | M Countdown | [49] | |
| 2019 | 2019 Idol Star Lunar New Year Athletics Bowling Archery Rhythmic Gymnastics Penalty Shoot-out Championships | [50] | |
| 2020 | Nizi Project: Part 2 | Special judge + Host[c] | [51][52] |
Web shows
Bibliography
Photobooks
| Title | Release date | Publisher | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes, I am Sana. | April 16, 2021 | JYP Entertainment | [53] |
