Sakura Tobi Debuts as Final SAINT SATINE Member After HYBE x Geffen Audition Finale

Sakura Tobi has been confirmed as the final debut member of SAINT SATINE, the new four-member girl group formed through HYBE x Geffen Records’ audition program ‘WORLD SCOUT: THE FINAL PIECE.’ The result was revealed in the program’s 12th and final episode, broadcast by ABEMA on May 12, 2026, after a selection process involving about 14,000 applicants.¹

The announcement places Sakura alongside Emily Kelavos, Lexie Levin, and Samara Siqueira in SAINT SATINE, with the group name also disclosed during the finale. The group is scheduled for a U.S. debut in 2026.²

Sakura Tobi Selected as the ‘FINAL PIECE’

‘WORLD SCOUT: THE FINAL PIECE’ was built around a narrow premise: finding one final member for a new four-member girl group. Newsis reported before the premiere that the program would begin on ABEMA on February 24, 2026, and that the eventual winner would join Emily Kelavos, Lexie Levin, and Samara Siqueira for a debut within 2026.³

The finale confirmed Sakura as that final member. ABEMA’s release stated that Sakura was chosen from about 14,000 applicants and would debut as part of SAINT SATINE.¹ Modelpress also reported that the May 12 episode decided Sakura Tobi as a debut member and described her as HYBE America’s first Japanese artist.²

The final result followed a direct competition between Sakura Tobi and Ayana Kuwahara. ABEMA TIMES reported on May 6 that the Los Angeles stage had included Hiori, Ayana, Aoi, and Sakura, before Hiori’s withdrawal led to Rinka joining as an additional member. The process eventually narrowed to Ayana and Sakura competing for the last place in the group.⁴

In the final review, Sakura performed ‘PARTY b4 the PARTY,’ while Ayana performed ‘WE RIDE.’ Modelpress reported that the final stage took place at The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles in front of 200 audience members, and that it was Sakura’s first large stage in front of an audience.⁵

From First Audition to SAINT SATINE Debut

Sakura’s profile became one of the main points of attention during the program. Modelpress listed her birth date as February 10, 2010, and reported that she was from Toyama Prefecture and 15 years old at the time of the audition. The same report stated that she had no prior experience in singing or dancing.²

WEB The Television previously reported on Sakura’s appearance in the program’s second episode, broadcast on March 3, 2026. The article said she had not formally learned singing or dance and did not have a lesson studio available in Toyama Prefecture. Sakura said she practiced “in front of the refrigerator at home,” using its reflection as a mirror.⁶

That early-stage profile became part of the public framing around her progression. WEB The Television reported that Sakura passed the second screening in 12th place, while later reports confirmed that she advanced through the Los Angeles segment and reached the final face-off with Ayana.⁶⁵

During the final performance, Sakura joined the three already confirmed members for ‘PARTY b4 the PARTY.’ ABEMA’s release said the final episode showed her performing with Emily, Lexie, and Samara before being named the ‘FINAL PIECE.’¹

After the result was announced, Sakura said, “I am really glad that my dream could come true here,” according to Modelpress.⁵ ABEMA’s release also included a reaction from Hikorohi, who described the outcome as “a HYBE Cinderella story.”¹

Reaction Around the Final Lineup

The announcement of SAINT SATINE’s final lineup also arrived amid online debate around the group and the audition format. The phrase SAINT SATINE backlash has circulated in relation to reactions to the new HYBE x Geffen group and the way its final member was chosen, particularly as the program reduced the last spot to a direct contest between two finalists.

ABEMA TIMES reported before the finale that viewers responded to the finalist structure with comments calling the setup “too cruel.”⁴ That reaction centered on the format of having Ayana and Sakura compete for a single remaining position after earlier stages had already narrowed the field from the wider pool of applicants.

The confirmed facts, however, remain straightforward: Sakura was selected in the final episode, Ayana was not chosen for the final spot, and Sakura will join Emily, Lexie, and Samara in SAINT SATINE. The available source material does not include further official comment from HYBE, Geffen Records, or ABEMA on controversy surrounding the group name or viewer criticism beyond the reports about reaction to the finalist structure.

Sakura Tobi’s selection closes the central storyline of ‘WORLD SCOUT: THE FINAL PIECE,’ moving the project from audition program to debut preparation. With the final lineup now set as Sakura Tobi, Emily Kelavos, Lexie Levin, and Samara Siqueira, SAINT SATINE is positioned for its stated 2026 U.S. debut.

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Cloi Lee

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