Masato Sakai facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Masato Sakai
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| Born | October 14, 1973 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Miho Kanno
(m. 2013) |
| Children | 2 |
Masato Sakai (堺 雅人) is a famous Japanese actor. He became very well-known after his hit TV show Naoki Hanzawa in 2013. Many people in Japan know him for his amazing acting skills.
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Masato Sakai's Acting Journey
Masato Sakai was born in Kobe, Japan, on October 14, 1973. When he was younger, he thought about becoming a government worker. But when he went to university, he decided to follow his dream of becoming an actor instead. He started his acting career in 1992.
Early Acting Success
Masato Sakai quickly gained recognition for his talent. He won several awards for his roles in movies. For example, he won the best actor award at the 31st Yokohama Film Festival. This was for his lead roles in The Wonderful World of Captain Kuhio and The Chef of South Polar. He also won awards for best supporting actor in 2008.
Becoming a Star
After 2013, Masato Sakai became one of Japan's most famous actors. This was largely thanks to his role in the TV series Naoki Hanzawa. In this show, he played the main character, Naoki Hanzawa. The show was a huge success and made him a household name.
Masato Sakai's Family Life
Masato Sakai is married to Miho Kanno, who is also a well-known Japanese actress and singer. They got married in 2013. They have two children together. Their first child, a boy, was born in 2015. Their second child, a girl, was born in 2018.
Movies and TV Shows
Masato Sakai has acted in many popular movies and TV shows. He often plays lead roles, meaning he is the main character.
Popular Movies
- 2009: The Chef of South Polar - He played Nishimura, the main character.
- 2009: The Wonderful World of Captain Kuhio - He played Captain Kuhio, the main character.
- 2017: Destiny: The Tale of Kamakura - He played Masakazu Isshiki, the main character.
- 2022: Dr. Coto's Clinic 2022 - He had a small role as Kei Narumi.
- 2025: Hiraba no Tsuki - He is set to play Kensho Aoto in a lead role.
Popular TV Shows
- 2004: Shinsengumi! - He played Yamanami Keisuke in this historical drama.
- 2008: Atsuhime - He played Tokugawa Iesada in another historical drama.
- 2012–13: Legal High - He played Kensuke Komikado, the main character, for two seasons.
- 2013–20: Naoki Hanzawa - He played Naoki Hanzawa, the main character, for two seasons. This show made him very famous.
- 2016: Sanada Maru - He played Sanada Yukimura, the main character, in this historical drama.
- 2023–26: Vivant - He plays Yūsuke Nogi, the main character, in this ongoing series.
Voice Acting Roles
Masato Sakai has also lent his voice to characters in movies.
- 2018: Christopher Robin - He was the Japanese voice for Christopher Robin, originally played by Ewan McGregor.
- 2024: Migration - He voiced the character Mack Mallard in the Japanese version of this animated movie.
