Yakkun Sakurazuka facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yakkun Sakurazuka
桜塚 やっくん
Yakkun Sakurazuka as "Sukeban Kyoko" in April 2007
Born	Saitō Yasuo (1976-09-24)September 24, 1976 Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Japan
Died	October 5, 2013(2013-10-05) (aged 37) Mine, Yamaguchi, Japan
Occupation	Comedian singer voice actor
Years active	1999–2013
Known for	Sukeban Kyoko

Yasuo Saitō (斎藤 恭央, Saitō Yasuo, September 24, 1976 – October 5, 2013), also known by the stage name Yakkun Sakurazuka (桜塚 やっくん, Sakurazuka Yakkun), was a Japanese comedian, singer, and voice actor.

Early life

Saitō was born in Kanagawa Prefecture to Mitsuru and Misao Saitō on 24 September 1976. He had a younger brother named Masashi and graduated from Nihon University's College of Art. As a teenager, he was an active Johnny's member.

Career

In 1999, Saitō formed a comedy duo called Abare Nunchaku with fellow up-and-coming comedian Kosuke Takeuchi. The team broke up in 2005, but they reunited in 2006 on the show Enta no kami-sama, where Saitō appeared for the first time as Sukeban Kyoko, a schoolgirl always seen carrying shinai bamboo sword. He appeared as Sukeban on Quiz $ Millionaire in 2007, where he answered incorrectly in the final round, decreasing his earnings from ¥10,000,000 to ¥1,000,000.

He made his musical debut in 2006 with the release of the single Geki Maji Mukatsuku. By the time of his death, he had released seven albums: Gekimajimukatsuku, 1000% SO Zakune?, Christmaster, Doonacchattendayo, Kaisou Rasputin, Sakura Revolution, and Aserunda Joshi Ha Itsumo Medatanai K. He also sang with the band Bijomen Z.

As a voice actor, Saitō starred in shows such as Detective Conan and Inazuma Eleven, sometimes using the stage name Hiromi Ueda. He published his first book, 桜塚やっくんの都市伝説工場 (Cleavage or, literally, Urban Legend Factory), in 2008.

Death

Saitō was killed in a traffic accident on October 5, 2013, aged 37, on the Chugoku Expressway in Mine, Yamaguchi, while en route to a concert in Kumamoto Prefecture.

Discography

Filmography

Dubbing

• The Cabin in the Woods (Marty Mikalski (Fran Kranz))