For the Japanese swimmer, see Masato Sakai (swimmer).
Masato Sakai
Birth dateOctober 14, 1973 (age 52)
Birth placeKobe, Japan
ancestral home: Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
OccupationActor
Years active1992–present
SpouseMiho Kanno (m. 2013)
Websitesakai-masato.com

Masato Sakai (堺 雅人) is a Japanese actor. Since the success of Naoki Hanzawa (2013), he has become one of the most famous actors in Japan.

Career

Sakai aspired to become a bureaucrat until high school, but when he entered university, he decided to pursue a career as an actor.[1]

He won the award for best actor at the 31st Yokohama Film Festival for The Wonderful World of Captain Kuhio and The Chef of South Polar[2] and the award for best supporting actor at the 2008 Nikkan Sports Film Award, at the 33rd Hochi Film Award and at the 51st Blue Ribbon Awards. He also received a nomination for best supporting actor at the 32nd Japan Academy Film Prize.[3]

Personal life

He is married to Japanese actress and J-pop singer Miho Kanno.[4] He has two children with his wife, eldest being a boy born in 2015[5] and the younger being a girl born in 2018.[6]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2000HimawariYuichi Hirano[7]
2007The Wall ManNishinaLead role[8]
2008After SchoolKazuki Kimura[9]
2009The Chef of South PolarNishimuraLead role[10]
The Wonderful World of Captain KuhioCaptain KuhioLead role[2]
2011My So Has Got DepressionMikio[11]
2012Key of LifeSakuraiLead role[12]
2017Destiny: The Tale of KamakuraMasakazu IsshikiLead role[13]
2018Sakura Guardian in the NorthShūjirō Ezure[14]
2022Dr. Coto's Clinic 2022Kei NarumiCameo appearance[15]
2025A Moon in the OrdinaryKensho AotoLead role[16]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2000AudreyHideki SugimotoAsadora[17]
2004Shinsengumi!Yamanami KeisukeTaiga drama[18]
2008AtsuhimeTokugawa IesadaTaiga drama[19]
2011AntarcticaHimuro Haruhiko[20]
2012–13Legal HighKensuke KomikadoLead role; 2 seasons[21]
2013–20Naoki HanzawaNaoki HanzawaLead role; 2 seasons[22]
2015Dr. Rintaro, PsychiatristDr. Rintarō HinoLead role[23]
2016Sanada MaruSanada YukimuraLead role; Taiga drama[24]
2023–26VivantYūsuke NogiLead role; 2 seasons[25]

Dubbing

Live-action
YearTitleRoleVoice dub forNotesRef.
2018Christopher RobinChristopher RobinEwan McGregor[26]
Animation
YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2024MigrationMack Mallard[27]

References

  1. ^ "堺雅人、「もともとは官僚志望だった」". Sanspo. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  2. ^ "第31回ヨコハマ映画祭 2009年日本映画個人賞" (in Japanese). Yokohama Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2011-06-10. Retrieved 2010-12-12.
  3. ^ "第32回 日本アカデミー賞(2009年)". eiga.com. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  4. ^ "Sakai Masato & Kanno Miho register their marriage". tokyohive
  5. ^ "菅野美穂、第１子男児を出産！「家族が増えた喜びでいっぱい」". Sponichi Annex. 2015-08-13. Retrieved 2015-08-13.
  6. ^ "菅野美穂が第２子となる女児を出産「母子ともに健康です」". SANSPO.COM. 産経デジタル. 2018-12-03. Retrieved 2018-12-03.
  7. ^ "ひまわり(2000)" (in Japanese). eiga.com. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  8. ^ "壁男" (in Japanese). eiga.com. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  9. ^ "アフタースクール" (in Japanese). eiga.com. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  10. ^ "南極料理人" (in Japanese). eiga.com. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  11. ^ "ツレがうつになりまして。" (in Japanese). eiga.com. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  12. ^ "鍵泥棒のメソッド" (in Japanese). eiga.com. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  13. ^ "DESTINY 鎌倉ものがたり" (in Japanese). eiga.com. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  14. ^ "北の桜守" (in Japanese). eiga.com. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  15. ^ "Dr.コトー診療所:映画版にドラマキャストが復帰 神木隆之介、伊藤歩、蒼井優、堺雅人出演". Mantan-web. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  16. ^ "堺雅人「平場の月」で8年ぶり映画主演！ 井川遥と35年越し大人のラブストーリーに挑む" (in Japanese). eiga.com. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  17. ^ "連続テレビ小説 オードリー". NHK. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  18. ^ "新選組！の出演者・キャスト一覧". The Television. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  19. ^ "篤姫の出演者・キャスト一覧". The Television. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  20. ^ "南極大陸の出演者・キャスト一覧". The Television. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  21. ^ "『リーガル・ハイ』続編シリーズ、10月クールに放送決定". Oricon. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  22. ^ "半沢直樹:続編・最終回視聴率は32.7% 番組最高で有終の美「グッバーイ、death！」などが話題に". Mantan-web. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  23. ^ "Dr.倫太郎". TV drama database. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  24. ^ "堺雅人、『真田丸』1年2ヵ月の"長い旅"から帰宅「本当に楽しかった」". Crank-in!. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  25. ^ "堺雅人、阿部寛、二階堂ふみ、松坂桃李、役所広司が豪華共演 7月期TBS日曜劇場『VIVANT』放送決定". Crank-in!. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  26. ^ "プーと大人になった僕". Fukikaeru. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  27. ^ "堺雅人＆麻生久美子、イルミネーション新作「FLY!」でカモの夫婦に ヒコロヒーは"ワル"のハト役". eiga.com. Retrieved December 19, 2023.