Mina Myoi

Mina Myoi (Japanese: 名井 南, Hepburn: Myōi Mina, born Mina Sharon Myoi, March 24, 1997), known mononymously as Mina (Korean: 미나; Japanese: ミナ), is a Japanese singer and dancer based in South Korea. She is a member of the South Korean girl group Twice, formed by JYP Entertainment in 2015.

Mina was born on March 24, 1997, in San Antonio, Texas, United States, to Japanese expatriate parents Sachiko (née Terao) and Akira Myoi. As a toddler, Mina and her family soon moved back to Japan, growing up in the Kansai region of Nishinomiya in Hyōgo Prefecture. Her father is an orthopedic surgeon at Osaka University Hospital in Suita. She has one brother named Kai, who is five years older than her. Mina trained in ballet from a young age, having practiced it for eleven years before debuting with Twice. She attended Obayashi Sacred Heart School [ja] in Takarazuka, Hyōgo until 2013. She did not graduate because she moved to South Korea to become a trainee. By virtue of birthright citizenship in the United States, in 2017, it was reported at the time that Mina held dual Japanese and American citizenship. She gave up her American citizenship in 2019.

2014–2015: Early career

Mina was shopping with her mother in Osaka when she was approached and offered an audition by a recruiter from JYP Entertainment. She moved to South Korea in January 2014 to become a trainee at JYP Entertainment. In 2015, Mina participated in the South Korean reality television show Sixteen, created by JYP Entertainment and co-produced by Mnet. As one of nine successful participants, she went on to join the newly formed girl group Twice.

2015–2019: Debut with Twice and rising popularity

In October 2015, Mina officially debuted as a member of Twice with the release of their first extended play, The Story Begins. Its lead single "Like Ooh-Ahh" was the first K-pop debut song to reach 100 million views on YouTube.

Since her debut, Mina has been recognized as one of Twice's strongest dancers along with Momo, in both South Korea and abroad. The Chosun Ilbo credits her popularity with helping improve relations between Japan and South Korea. In Gallup Korea's annual music poll of 2019, she was voted the 20th most popular idol in South Korea.

2019–2020: Health issues

On July 11, 2019, JYP Entertainment announced that Mina would sit out the remainder of the Twicelights World Tour due to her extreme anxiety and insecurity regarding onstage performances. She was later diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.

In February 2020, it was reported that Mina's condition had improved and that she was ready to return to performing live with Twice.

2023–present: Debut with MiSaMo

On February 9, 2023, JYP announced that Mina, alongside bandmates Sana and Momo, will officially debut in Japan on July 26 as a sub-unit named MiSaMo with the extended play titled Masterpiece. 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: Children's Heart Clinic [ja].

Endorsements

In early 2022, Mina was announced as the new muse of the popular South Korean luxury fashion brand Metrocity. In March of the same year, she was announced as the global brand ambassador of SK-II, Japan's leading cosmetic brand.

Songwriting credits

All song credits are adapted from the Korea Music Copyright Association's database unless stated otherwise.

Television shows

Photobooks