Moka

Who Is Moka of ILLIT?

Moka is one of two Japanese members in the K-pop girl group ILLIT, BELIFT LAB’s rookie act that debuted on March 25, 2024, with the EP “Super Real Me.” Born Sakai Moka on October 8, 2004, in Fukuoka, Japan, Moka is often called the “mother” of ILLIT by both fans and her fellow members, thanks to her calm, nurturing presence in the group.

A Performer Long Before Debut

Moka’s love of K-pop started at home — her mother is a longtime BIGBANG fan, and that early exposure led Moka to admire BLACKPINK’s Jennie as a performer she looked up to while dreaming of her own stage career. She trained at Dance School BRIDGE in Japan before joining HYBE Labels Japan in 2020. In 2022, she relocated to South Korea to train under BELIFT LAB, where she spent about three years preparing before competing on the 2023 survival show R U Next? and earning her place as one of ILLIT’s five debuting members.

Her Role in ILLIT

Since debut, Moka has promoted ILLIT’s full discography, including the EPs Super Real Me, I’ll Like You, Bomb, and Mamihlapinatapai, plus the single album Not Cute Anymore. As one of the group’s two Japanese members, she has played a particularly important role in ILLIT’s push into the Japanese market, helping lead the group’s official Japanese debut with the single “Toki Yo Tomare” in September 2025. In February 2025, she and member Iroha were also named Tone Up UV ambassadors for the skincare brand La Roche-Posay.

Getting to Know Moka

Off stage, Moka is known for her calm, easygoing energy, though she admits she is afraid of heights and roller coasters and struggles to wake up in the mornings, often setting five alarms. She loves cooking — she is especially proud of her gyeranmari (rolled omelette) and miso doenjangguk — and she enjoys horror movies and sweet treats like tanghulu and fruit-topped cakes.

From a childhood spent watching BIGBANG and BLACKPINK performances in Japan to standing on stage as one of ILLIT’s five members, Moka’s journey highlights just how international BELIFT LAB’s vision for the group has always been.