After IZ*ONE—the project girl group formed on Produce 48, the third season of the Produce 101 franchise—disbanded, its Japanese members returned to their home country. But one of them may be making her big K-pop comeback soon.

Miyawaki Sakura of the Japanese girl group HKT48 placed second on Produce 48, which was enough to earn her a place in IZ*ONE. Sakura and the other members debuted on October 29, 2018, with the single “La Vie en Rose.” They went on to enjoy massive success for the two and a half years they promoted together.

Sakura’s last performances as a member of IZ*ONE took place in April of this year, after which she and fellow IZ*ONE alum Yabuki Nako returned to HKT48.

Many expected Sakura to take over as the new ace of HKT48, but it was not to be. She graduated from the Hakata, Fukuoka-based group on June 19, 2021. HKT48 sent her off in style with a concert titled HKT48 Miyawaki Sakura Graduation Concert ~Bouquet~.

Rumor has it Sakura will be joining a new girl group under HYBE, the label behind K-pop legends BTS.

No official announcement has been made regarding Sakura’s future plans when it comes to her career, but when she said she was leaving HKT48, she said she planned to "go back out into the world to forge a new path."

Isn't that interesting?