Hybe x Geffen’s Saint Satine: Sakura Tobi’s Whirlwind Debut Reflection

A 16-year-old from a small town in Toyama, Japan, Sakura Tobi, is preparing to step onto the global stage. She achieved this incredible feat by beating odds of 14,000-to-1 through Hybe and Geffen Records’ rigorous audition program, “World Scout: The Final Piece,” making her a member of the highly anticipated new global girl group, Saint Satine.

Sakura Tobi, officially selected as the fourth and final member of the upcoming four-member girl group Saint Satine, is set to debut later this year. She will join Emily, Lexie, and Samara — talented trainees previously introduced through “The Debut: Dream Academy,” the audition program that successfully launched the global girl group Katseye.

Remarkably, before joining Hybe x Geffen’s intense training camp, Sakura had never formally practiced dancing in front of a mirror or performed choreography with others. Her journey began with self-teaching singing and dancing, a passion she pursued before discovering an online recruitment notice that led her to apply for the prestigious audition program.

Despite entering the competition with minimal formal training, Sakura Tobi demonstrated extraordinary potential and grew rapidly throughout the program. Her impressive development and captivating stage presence ultimately led her to win the competition, as highlighted by the agency.

Ahead of her much-anticipated debut, Sakura Tobi shared her reflections on becoming the “final piece” of “World Scout: The Final Piece,” her profound experiences on the show, and her excitement for her upcoming debut with Saint Satine, through a written Q&A released by Hybe x Geffen Records.

It made me so happy that I could hardly believe my dream had come true. At the same time, I also felt that this wasn’t an end but rather the beginning of an incredible journey. It made me even more determined not to settle here and to work even harder moving forward to show better sides of myself as a member of Saint Satine.

I’ve always enjoyed watching famous audition programs, such as the Japanese version of “Produce 101,” since I was young. Although I had very little professional training experience, I slowly nurtured my dream of performing while on small local stages. Then one day, I happened to see the audition announcement for “World Scout: The Final Piece” online and applied without hesitation, eager for the chance to debut with Hybe x Geffen.

Maintaining a competitive yet supportive relationship with friends who shared the same dream wasn’t easy during the program. But through that process, I truly learned how to respect one another and grow together. I also improved tremendously as a performer. Before joining the audition program, I had never properly practiced in front of a mirror, matched choreography with others, or performed in front of cameras, so everything was a completely new experience for me, especially in preparation for a global girl group debut.

The final performance of “Party b4 the Party” at the iconic Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles with my fellow Saint Satine members, Emily, Lexie, and Samara, remains the most memorable. Since it was the final stage that concluded the audition, I’ll never forget it. Preparing for the midterm evaluation was also incredibly meaningful. Until then, the training process had felt like a battle against myself, but the midterm evaluation was different because it was a mission where we had to be evaluated as a team. While trying to support one another and show better performances together, I learned the crucial skill of collaboration.

I was truly grateful just to be able to train in such a professional environment. World-class coaches observed and guided us very closely. Rather than simply helping improve my skills, they carefully looked at my individuality, strengths, and areas I needed to improve. Their advice to “find ways to express yourself that highlight your own charm” really helped me. I realized that it’s not only important to do well, but also important to show who you are, especially as we prepare to debut in a global girl group.

We talk a lot while teaching each other our languages. We also recommend products or snacks from our respective countries. I think those little conversations help us build strong teamwork for Saint Satine. After I was selected as the final member, the members told me, “We finally found our final piece,” and “We’re so happy you joined us.” That made me really happy and made it feel real that I had become part of the team, ready to debut with Saint Satine.

My role model is Le Sserafim. After watching their performance of “Fearless,” I became convinced that I seriously wanted to pursue this path as a global artist. I really admire their hardworking attitude and professionalism. Another role model is Katseye. During “World Scout: The Final Piece,” I attended one of Katseye’s performances and was amazed by their skills and energy on stage. I hope Saint Satine can also become a globally loved group like Katseye.

I hope Saint Satine will be remembered as a group that delivers positive energy to fans worldwide. I want many people to gain strength by watching us perform. I’m especially looking forward to performing at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, performing in my hometown in Japan, and appearing on Korean music shows, which are considered the home of K-pop. I can’t wait to meet Saint Satine’s fans all around the world and share our music.

I sincerely thank everyone who has watched over and supported me throughout my journey to Saint Satine. I’ll show even more diverse sides of myself moving forward. Please continue to warmly support my growth as a member of Saint Satine, your new global girl group.

(This interview from a press release issued by Hybe x Geffen was translated into English using AI and edited by The Korea Herald staff. — Ed.)