FIRST READ · MON 7 AM ETTHE WEEKEND LEXICON · SAT 9 AM ETSana
- Stage name
- Sana
- Birth name
- Minatozaki Sana
- Born
- Dec. 29, 1996
- Hometown
- Tennoji-ku, Osaka, Japan
- Position
- Sub-vocalist and performance specialist
- Agency
- JYP Entertainment
- Fandom
- ONCE
- Debut
- 2015
- Generation
- 3rd gen
Where they grew up
Sana was born in Tennoji-ku, Osaka, Japan. At 14 she was scouted by JYP Entertainment while out shopping with friends, a story that has become well known among K-pop fans. She moved to South Korea in 2012 and spent about three years as a trainee. She then joined the survival show Sixteen, which decided the final TWICE lineup, and the group debuted in October 2015.
Birth details: twicetours.com
Timeline
- 2010Scouted by JYP Entertainment
At age 14, while shopping with friends in Osaka, she was approached by JYP Entertainment.
- 2012Moved to South Korea
She relocated to begin trainee life and trained for roughly three years.
- 2015Sixteen and TWICE debut
She earned a place in the final TWICE lineup through the survival show Sixteen, and the group debuted in October 2015.
- 2024STRATEGY era
She took part in TWICE's STRATEGY release, one of the albums tied to the group's current cycle.
- 2025Solo track DECAFFEINATED
Her solo track appears on TEN: The Story Goes On and leans toward a moodier, more restrained style.
- 2025MISAMO album PLAY
- 2025THIS IS FOR world tour begins
She joined TWICE's sixth world tour, which started in July 2025 and continued into 2026.
Our coverage
TWICE's Nayeon Faces AI Backlash Over 'NA-sty' Intro Film Before Nov. 20 Release
The teaser for the TWICE member's solo single arrived on Nov. 5, and commenters are asking why JYP Entertainment leaned on AI instead of its artist.
JYP Says No Proposal Has Arrived as NEXROC Weighs a 50% Stake
The would-be buyers floated a 30% premium and a Nov. 20 start date, but a $50 million SEC filing listing zero investors has Korean analysts asking who is actually paying.
Why Every K-pop Group Gives Its Fans a Name, From ARMY to FOHA
Our Lexicon entry on the fandom name: what it means, who picks it, and the wordplay behind CARAT, MOA, ONCE and hundreds more.
What 'Presale' Means for K-pop Fans: Codes, Fan Clubs and the Early Ticket Rush
From Weverse sign-up deadlines to case-sensitive fan club codes, here is the early ticket window K-pop tours run on, and why a code never guarantees a seat.
Daesang Decoded: K-pop's Top Trophy, From Byun Jin-sub to Stray Kids
The grand prize at Korea's year-end award shows: what it rewards, how it differs from a bonsang, and who has collected the most of them.
BTS and Stray Kids Were Right: The Grammys' Asian Pop Award Is a Language Box
K-pop's four biggest companies reportedly sat it out, and the new category drew 116 entries to best Latin song's 519. That gap is a verdict on the category.
TWICE's Nayeon Trades Summer for November With Third Solo Record 'NA-sty'
The November date takes TWICE's summer specialist out of her usual season, following two solo EPs that both reached the Billboard 200 top 10.
TWICE's Jihyo Marks 'A New Chapter' With Profile Photos From Her New Agency EMITHAUS
The images are the first look from the company Jihyo set up after closing out 21 years at JYP Entertainment, posted to Instagram on Thursday.
TWICE's Nayeon Sets Her Sights on a Late November Solo Album
JYP Entertainment confirms the TWICE member is preparing new solo music, with the third week of November as the tentative target.
TWICE's Dahyun Starts Shooting 'Clouds Roll Like Gureumi' Opposite Cha Woo Min
Dahyun plays an art club student who uses a wheelchair and falls for a sidelined swimmer in a first-love film aimed at 2027.
TWICE's Jihyo Starts One-Person Label EMITHAUS, Vows to Stay on Stage With TWICE
Jihyo becomes the third TWICE member to exit JYP, announcing the move in a handwritten Instagram letter that promises she isn't leaving the group.
TWICE's Nayeon, LE SSERAFIM, ENHYPEN Among First Acts Booked for 2026 MAMA AWARDS
The two-night ceremony lands at Kyocera Dome Osaka on November 20 and 21, with 12 acts split across CHAPTER 1 and CHAPTER 2.
- twicetours.com: Sana of TWICE: 2026 Tour Stages, Solo Music, Latest Profile
- gwangjunewsgic.com: Twice: From Biggest Tour to Solo Projects
Last researched Nov. 12, 2026