Mina (Japanese singer)
A Japanese-born performer whose elegant, ballet-trained poise became a defining and beloved pillar of K-pop giant TWICE.
Born 1997 (age 29)·Japanese singer·Birthday: March 24·Generation Z
Biography
Mina Myoi, known mononymously as Mina, embarked on a journey that took her from a ballet studio in Texas to the pinnacle of global pop. Born in Texas and raised in Japan, she was pursuing a career in classical dance when JYP Entertainment scouts spotted her. She moved to South Korea, trading pointe shoes for pop choreography, and debuted in 2015 as a member of TWICE. Mina quickly stood out for her ethereal, graceful stage presence—a direct product of her ballet background—and her soft, understated vocal tone. She faced a challenging hiatus in 2019 due to anxiety, but her return was met with overwhelming support from fans, highlighting her resilience. As part of TWICE's first official subunit, MiSaMo, she helped launch a successful Japanese debut, cementing her role as a vital bridge between the group's Korean core and its massive Japanese fanbase.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Mina was born in 1997, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Mina Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
Mina's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Debuted as a member of TWICE, one of the best-selling K-pop girl groups of all time.
- Is a founding member of TWICE's first official subunit, MiSaMo, formed for the Japanese market.
- Successfully returned to performing after a well-publicized hiatus for anxiety in 2019-2020.
Did You Know?
She is a trained ballet dancer and studied the art for over a decade before becoming a K-pop idol.
She holds both Japanese and American citizenship, having been born in San Antonio, Texas.
Her nickname 'Black Swan' was given by fans due to her elegant ballet background and quiet demeanor.
“I carry the stillness of ballet into every note I sing.”
