Who is Sana (Minatozaki Sana)?
Minatozaki Sana was born on December 29, 1996, in Osaka, Japan. Her interest in performing began at a young age with dance; she was particularly inspired by the performance videos of Japanese groups such as EXILE, which led her to dream of becoming a performer. Sana is seen as the energy source among the TWICE members, not only because of her sweet appearance but also because of her discipline and fun personality. In 2012, she participated in JYP Entertainment's Japan auditions in Osaka and moved to South Korea after being selected.
Starting this journey without knowing the language or culture, she quickly became one of Korea's most beloved idols. Since TWICE's debut in 2015, Sana has shone as the group's visual and energetic center. Her joy and sincerity on stage, especially the direct connection she builds with fans, have caught everyone's attention.
However, Sana's success is not limited to her cuteness; her hardworking nature, such as spending hours in rehearsals and taking notebooks full of notes to speak Korean flawlessly, also inspires admiration. Today, she is not only regarded as a “role model idol” among K-pop fans but also among professionals in the industry.
Recognized for Her Aegyo Talent
Sana has become an icon in the K-pop industry for her ability to display “aegyo,” or cuteness. In particular, her expression “Shy Shy Shy” went viral when she said it in the “Cheer Up” music video, spreading like wildfire not only among fans but also among celebrities in South Korea. This small line turned her into the face of not just a song, but an entire era. During that time, designs referencing Sana's expression could be seen everywhere, from stores to school bags to advertisements.
Tears Behind the Camera
Although she appears cheerful in public, Sana's emotional side is well known to those who know her. One of the most memorable moments was during one of TWICE's first solo concerts. Backstage after the show, she burst into tears when she realized that she had achieved her childhood dream. According to JYP staff, Sana says that she always thinks of her family in Japan during these moments. Sometimes, she even sends messages to her family with her tears, saying, “I was able to show myself to them.”
She Didn't Memorize Korean, She Thought
Sana's Korean is surprisingly fluent and natural for a foreigner. However, this fluency doesn't come from memorization alone. As she has repeatedly mentioned in interviews, she tried to learn the meanings of words by feeling them. During her training at JYP, she practiced by keeping a diary and learning everyday language from street signs and supermarket labels. She demonstrated such successful linguistic adaptation that some Korean fans admitted they had followed her for years without realizing she was Japanese.
Fashion Sense Inspired Brands
Sana's off-stage clothing choices caught the attention of not only fans but also fashion brands. Especially after 2020, her outfits combining Japanese minimalism and Korean style were frequently featured in street fashion blogs and Korean fashion magazines. The simple white dress Sana wore at an event was released the next day by three major brands with the tag “Sana dress” in their online stores.
Introduced to Korean TV series in her childhood
Sana's interest in Korean culture began long before TWICE. The Korean TV series she watched with her mother while in middle school in Japan laid the foundation for her admiration for Seoul. She has mentioned several times that after watching IU's performance in the TV series “Dream High,” she began to imagine herself singing. This admiration transformed her from a mere spectator into an active dreamer.
A Life Shaped by Dance
Sana's high school years were almost entirely spent on dance rehearsals. Before moving to Korea, she was studying at the Osaka TNS Dance Academy in Japan, where she was particularly prominent in K-pop cover groups. Her teachers often mentioned her obsession with practice. So much so that she was noticed practicing her dance routines under the desk even while the teacher was speaking in class.
She Closed Herself Off During Her First Days Living Alone
She was only 15 when she first moved to Korea, and it was the first time she had been away from her family for such a long period of time. She said that the first few months were psychologically difficult, that she stayed alone in her room for days without going out, and that she only forced herself to go out for training. Sana said that what helped her get through this period the most was the small “support club” she formed with her Japanese trainee friends at JYP.
Advertising Boom After “Cheer Up”
The sudden surge in popularity sparked by the “Shy shy shy” line in TWICE's “Cheer Up” song drew the attention of the Korean advertising industry to Sana. In the following months, nearly all cosmetic, beverage, and shopping app companies approached her with offers. Although JYP accepted only 20% of these offers, Sana appeared in 10 different advertising campaigns in a short period of time. One of these, a beverage advertisement for the Lotte brand, doubled sales in a week.
Visible Emotional Transitions in Live Broadcasts
Sana's emotional transitions in live broadcasts are quite striking. Especially during VLive broadcasts held on her birthdays, her facial expressions change suddenly, her eyes well up, and she quickly regains her composure as she reads comments written by fans. In one such broadcast, when a message from her grandmother in Japan was suddenly read aloud, she stumbled over her words and was unable to speak for a few seconds. At that moment, she formed a genuine connection with the thousands of people watching the screen.
The Intimate Language She Uses with Fans
Sana has made the language she uses when addressing fans entirely her own. Her use of Japanese words interspersed with Korean or her charming pronunciation of English words set her apart from other idols. Especially in the special letters she wrote to the “ONCE” fan group, even grammatical mistakes are seen as “authentic” by fans and make her even more lovable. This language mix highlights her ability to connect with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
She Seeks Silence Before Going on Stage
Although she is known for her high energy before going on stage, she is known to be quite quiet backstage. Group members say that Sana usually retreats to a corner, closes her eyes, and talks to herself to gather her energy before a performance. This habit of “introspective preparation” is said to stem from her mentally rehearsing dance moves and facial expressions over and over again. This silence, which lasts only a few minutes, transforms into the liveliness she displays on stage.
Unknown Imitation Talent
Sana has a trait that she doesn't often show on entertainment programs but is well known among her friends: her talent for imitation. She can almost perfectly copy the facial expressions of TWICE members, especially Jihyo and Dahyun. It is said that she uses this talent to cheer up members who are feeling down backstage. On one occasion, she imitated one of JYP's dance instructors so successfully that the instructor thought it was his own video and didn't realize he was being imitated.
A Smiling Face Even During Stage Accidents
Sana's professionalism on stage shines even more during mistakes. During a performance in 2019, she slipped on stage and fell on her knees. However, she continued singing without missing a beat and never lost her smile. Behind-the-scenes footage showed that her knee was bleeding, but she didn't let it show until the program ended. This moment became a trending topic on social media in South Korea under the title “the definition of professionalism.”
JYP's Initial Hesitation About Her
During the SIXTEEN competition, JYP executives had lengthy discussions about whether Sana was suitable for the group. While her appearance was deemed cute, her stage persona was considered too naive. However, her stage presence and direct connection with the audience during live performances left even her hesitant trainers speechless. JYP CEO Park Jin-young stated in a post-competition interview, “Sana created her own star in a way we didn't expect at first.”
Local Popularity in Japan
Sana has contributed greatly to TWICE's popularity in Japan. In particular, the Japanese press often refers to her as “the idol who returned to her country and became the representative of K-pop in Japan.” In 2018, during a television program she participated in in Osaka, the number of fans gathered in front of the studio exceeded 5,000, and filming was interrupted for security reasons. This incident went down in history as the biggest “idol stampede” of the year in Japan.
She caused a language explosion with her “I Love You” line
Sana's simple “I love you” line went viral, especially among English-speaking fans. The phrase, spoken with her Japanese accent but with her unique charm, was repeatedly used in many TikTok and YouTube edits. So much so that some Korean students learning English shared on Reddit that they used this clip as a pronunciation example. Sana's voice has unintentionally become a pronunciation icon.
The Communication Bridge Within TWICE
When cultural or linguistic differences arise between Japanese and Korean members of the group, Sana often steps in. She especially helps Momo understand Korean when she has difficulty conveying her feelings. According to Nayeon, Sana acts as the group's “silent translator” and sometimes smooths over conflicts within the group without causing any friction. That's why she's the only member to have earned the nickname “secret leader.”
Obsessive tidiness
She has a habit of keeping everything in its place in her room. If group members accidentally put something in her personal closet, she notices it immediately. She is particularly systematic when it comes to packing her suitcase, using separate bags and boxes for shoes, cosmetics, and accessories. According to her managers, she starts reorganizing her bag even before the plane lands.
Songwriter When Alone
Contrary to her cheerful personality on stage, Sana takes on a rather introverted character when she is alone. According to the other members of TWICE, when she is alone in her hotel room, she usually writes quietly in her notebook instead of listening to music. These writings often turn into song lyrics. Although she has not yet released any official songs, some of her handwritten lyrics have been shown at fan events and have attracted attention for their emotional depth.
Pasta and Cheese Obsession
Despite her strict diet, there are two things that Sana can never give up: cheese and pasta. It is known that she has some Japanese cheese varieties that are hard to find in Korea specially shipped to her. Her teammates say she hides small pieces of cheese in her bag and eats them secretly, even during her diet. During a program, when she mentioned that her favorite dish was “three-cheese black pepper pasta,” her face lit up with a childlike expression.
Secretly Archiving Fan Illustrations
She frequently searches for fan illustrations drawn for her on social media and saves them to her phone. TWICE's graphic design team has mentioned that she often expresses a desire to use these images as storyboards. She has a particular fondness for pastel-toned fan art drawn by Japanese fans. Although she doesn't say so explicitly in interviews, it is known that she uses some of these images as her desktop wallpaper.
Secret Fear: Loud Explosions
Despite her confidence on stage, Sana is known to be afraid of loud explosion effects, and she involuntarily closes her eyes, especially during scenes with fireworks. This has happened several times during concert rehearsals, forcing pyrotechnic coordinators to use softer effects in areas where she is present. Such details are taken into account in stage planning to ensure Sana's comfort.
Inspired by an Anime Character
It is a little-known detail that Sana's stage style is inspired by the character Usagi Tsukino from the “Sailor Moon” series. She says that she has been a fan of this character since childhood and that she has incorporated the balance of being “cute and brave at the same time” into her own personality. Some fans have even noticed that Sana deliberately references Usagi's outfits in certain concert outfits. This resemblance has become so widespread that a Korean cartoonist even created a mini manga pairing the members of TWICE with Sailor Moon characters.
The Member Who Laughs the Most on Stage
When something funny happens during a live broadcast or concert, the TWICE member who struggles the most to control herself is undoubtedly Sana. In fact, there have been moments during live performances where she laughed so hard that she completely forgot her lines. During one concert, she accidentally put the microphone on backwards while walking onto the stage, made eye contact with Momo, and started laughing, causing her to skip the first line of the song. For the audience, this was one of the most memorable moments of the group's performances.
Preparing Small Gifts for Security Guards
Sana's respect for the crew off stage is a behavior that is often praised in the industry. She is known for giving small gifts to security guards and behind-the-scenes staff on their birthdays or special occasions. These are not expensive gifts; sometimes they are handwritten notes, sometimes small Japanese snacks. Employees at JYP often say that thanks to her attention to detail, she is known not only as an idol but also as a good person.
His Silent Admiration for IU and Taeyeon
Sana shared the stage with many artists during her years in the industry, but she always kept two names separate: IU and Taeyeon from Girls' Generation. She never expressed her admiration for them out loud, but her voice softened noticeably when their names came up in interviews. It is known that she wrote the lyrics of the songs on IU's album “Palette” many times and noted them in her notebook. It is said that she watches Taeyeon's voice rehearsal videos over and over again to motivate herself before going on stage.
Backstage Encounter with BTS Jimin
A rare but much-discussed moment in the K-pop world occurred between BTS's Jimin and Sana. At the 2018 Melon Music Awards, they accidentally collided backstage when they were heading in the same direction. Before falling to the ground, Sana reflexively grabbed Jimin's jacket. This brief moment was not even caught on camera, but after a stylist who was there that night recounted the incident on social media, it became a story that was talked about for a long time among TWICE and BTS fans.
Post-Performance Routine: Herbal Tea and Silence
After concerts or busy filming days, Sana has an unchanging habit: drinking herbal tea and retreating to a quiet corner. While the group members watch entertainment shows or listen to music to relax, she often sits by the curtain, sipping her warm drink for hours without saying a word. This ritual is not just physical but also a mental detox for her.
Secret Codes with Tzuyu During Their Time Living Together
When the TWICE members lived together, Sana usually shared a room with Tzuyu. During this period, they developed a kind of “silent communication language” that was difficult for outsiders to understand. Small but regular behaviors such as communicating with eye contact, turning their heads at the same time, or turning off the night light at the same time were striking. One of the members jokingly said, “They understood what each other wanted just by looking at each other, which was a little scary.”
Dream Project: An Animal-Themed Travel Program
One of Sana's secret projects is to host a travel program dedicated to animals. This idea, which combines her sympathy for animals and her love of travel, perfectly matches her fun personality. Her ease in communicating with street animals is often noticed by fans in videos. In several interviews, she has mentioned that if she weren't an idol, she would probably consider becoming a veterinarian or a travel vlogger.
Thinking Aloud While Reading Fan Letters
She doesn't just read fan letters; she analyzes them as if thinking aloud. Sometimes she underlines a sentence and tries to understand why it was written that way. Especially with handwritten letters from Japan, she says she thinks she can sense the writer's age, mood, or the kind of life they've lived based on their handwriting. Thanks to this trait, she often catches details that fans might miss and writes personalized responses to them.
Rising Drama Acting Dreams in TWICE
After years on the K-pop scene, Sana's interest in acting has grown over time. Although she has not yet signed on for an official TV series or film project, she is known to have met with directors in the industry and read scripts. A behind-the-scenes visit to a short Japanese web series of the comedy-drama genre, where she spent hours chatting with the scriptwriter, is one of the rare moments that confirms her interest in this direction.
The Story of Meeting a Fan in a Taxi
After one of her busy schedules in Seoul, Sana got into a taxi with her manager and soon realized that the person in the driver's seat was ONCE. The driver looked back through the rearview mirror after hearing a voice from the back seat, made eye contact, and couldn't hold back his tears out of excitement. At that moment, Sana quietly smiled and handed the driver a small sticker she had taken out of her pocket, saying, “This is just for you.” Years later, when a fan shared this story on a forum, it became one of the most heartfelt memories of the TWICE fan culture.
Silent Censorship on Japanese Television
During a major music award ceremony broadcast in Japan, Sana's name was omitted from the presentation. When the TWICE members were called to the stage, their names were announced one by one, but only Sana's name was omitted, which drew serious reactions from Japanese fans. Although the broadcaster claimed it was a technical error, the incident sparked debate in the Japanese media about how South Korea-Japan relations are sometimes reflected through young idols. Sana did not comment on the matter, but after the ceremony, she quietly sent a special greeting to her fans in Japan.
Her unforgettable vacation in Thailand
TWICE's short vacation to Thailand became one of Sana's personal moments of transformation. There, she visited a small Buddhist temple and had the opportunity to talk to a monk. Although they could not communicate in Korean, they connected through eye contact and gestures, and Sana later shared that this experience helped alleviate her mental fatigue. Upon her return, she still carries a small handmade prayer bead necklace in her bag.
TWICE's Dreams After TWICE: Running a Quiet Bookstore
When asked what she wanted to do after her idol life ended, Sana changed her answer many times, but one dream remained constant: to run a small, quiet bookstore. She envisions a place by the sea in Japan where visitors can read books in peace, with small tea cups on the shelves. During an event, it was noticed that she had written “Once Always Welcome” on the bookshelf she drew while sketching this dream. This small detail shows how deeply she values her connection with her fans.
She Grows a Plant Species Named After Herself
Known for her love of plants, Sana grows a plant species named after herself. A small succulent plant in the relaxation room of the JYP building, known as “Sana's Green” by the staff, is her gift. She first learned about this plant from her grandmother in Japan. It is known that she cleans each leaf by hand and checks if it gets sunlight in the morning. This shows her attention to detail and how deeply connected she is to nature.
Not Being Recognized by Her Fans Affected Her
During a busy visit to Japan, Sana disguised herself and took the subway. She said that she felt a great sense of freedom when people did not recognize her, but also felt a slight emptiness. At that moment, she realized how invisible the bonds she had built over the years could be. However, shortly afterwards, a primary school student asked her, “Sana-chan?” and her eyes filled with tears when the student asked her mother, “Is this real?” Sana bowed and gave a small wave.
A Desire for Musical Togetherness: Not with Someone, but with Silence
When asked who she would like to duet with if given the chance in the future, Sana gave a surprising answer: “With no one… With silence.” She explained this by saying, “I would like to participate in an instrumental piece without vocals, because sometimes it’s not about singing, but just about conveying a feeling.” This statement was one of the rare moments that revealed her understanding of music as being not just about sound, but about emotion.