Biography
Born the son of Shunji Sakai, a famous comedian in Japan, Sakai initially came to fame by fronting the group sounds band The Spiders. This group, formed in 1962, was popular throughout the 1960s; they spawned several hit songs as well as thirteen situation comedy films featuring their music.
He took the title role of Songoku (Monkey) in the 1970s Japanese TV program Saiyūki. This gained him fame in many English-speaking countries in the early 1980s when it was dubbed by the BBC and retitled Monkey. Due to his fame playing the mythical character Songoku, Sakai created a dance called "the Monkey" which became a craze in Japan. Sakai went on to a successful solo career after The Spiders disbanded, and continued acting in films and on television.
In 1999, he formed the band Sans Filtre with two former Spiders, Hiroshi Kamayatsu and Takayuki Inoue. They released their first album Yei Yei in 2000.
Sakai is known in Japan as a car enthusiast and regularly took part in the annual Mille Miglia race in Italy with his wife as a co-driver. He won a similar Japanese road race on October 18, 2000 driving a 1947 Cisitalia 202 MM with Inoue Takayuki (the guitarist from Sans Filtre) as co-driver. Due to business commitments he gave up racing in 2002 and gave his Alfa Romeo race car to Masahiko Kondō who is also a singer and race enthusiast. He is also a hobby archer.
Sakai has been married and divorced twice, and has two daughters. He is an active supporter of AIDS charities. His show-business nickname is "Machaaki".
Filmography
all 49
Movies 33
TV Shows 16
self 2
Producer 1
Spirit World (2025)
Awaiting Kirin (2020)
The Castle of Crossed Destinies (2012)
Beautiful World (2012)
Family Song (2012)
Impossible Love (2008)
ザッツ宴会テイメント (2008)
The Fearless Otojiro's Company (2007)
Yunagi City, Sakura Country (2007)
The Black Swindler (2006)
A Hardest Night!! (2005)
The Most Useful School in the World (2004)
Locomotive Teacher (2004)
Churasan (2001)
Tokugawa Yoshinobu (1998)
Best Friend (1995)
Papa Survival (1995)
Furuhata Ninzaburo (1994)
Bored Hatamoto: Letter of Death (1993)
The TOP10 (1981)
天皇の料理番 (1980)
Monkey (1978)
Truck Rascals VI: Momojiro, The One and Only (1977)
Japan Beauty Story (1974)
Machi no Hi (1974)
Toshigoro (1973)
喜劇 右向けェ左! (1970)
The Tempters: Smile After Tears (1969)
The Age of Undutiful Children (1968)
The Spiders' The Road to Bali (1968)
The Spiders: Big Commotion! (1968)
The Spiders' The Noisy Parade (1968)
The Spiders' The Reckless Operation (1967)
Greatest Challenge of All (1967)
The Sunset Is Crying (1967)
Las Vegas Free-For-All (1967)
Youth A Go Go! (1966)
A Girl of the Plateau (1965)
Flowering Maidens (1965)
Song of Happiness (1964)
High School Juniors (Part II) (1964)
Let's Dance Bon-Odori in Hawaii (1964)
Here Because of You (1964)
Nakamatachi (1964)
The School Cap (1963)
High School Third Graders (1963)
Road to Hawaii (1954)
パパ・サヴァイバル
Sayonara Sankaku Mata Kite Shikaku
Ratings
Information
Known ForActing
GenderMale
Birthday1946-08-06 (77 years old)
Birth Name栗原 正章
Birth PlaceSetagaya-ku, Japan
Height163-centimeter
RelationshipsMiri Okada (1989-01-01 - 2001-01-01), http://www.wikidata.org/.well-known/genid/a45c5e5bcda0f686564587731ddd30b5 (1974-01-01 - 1980-01-01)
Spousehttp://www.wikidata.org/.well-known/genid/676e236eca00f0c6889b47617cb50883
ChildrenKoharu Kurihara
FatherShunji Sakai
CitizenshipsJapan
Also Known As堺 正章, The Spiders, 사카이 마사아키, 堺正明
AwardsElan d'or Award for Newcomer of the Year, Kikuta Kazuo engeki shō, Golden Arrow Award
This article uses material from Wikipedia.
- Masaaki Sakai
- Filmography
- Information
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