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Masaaki Sakai

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".


Aliases
  • Sakai Masaaki
English 日本語

麒麟がくる

2020
as 望月東庵

無理な恋愛

2008
as Tachiki Shogo

ちゅらさん

2001
as 古波蔵 恵文

西遊記

1978
as Monkey

Writer

Series インフォ-マ -INFORMA- 2023
Episode 絶対零度
悲しみを溶かす日
2010
Episode 絶対零度
時効7日前の魔物
2010
Episode 絶対零度
秘密
2010
Episode 絶対零度
慟哭
2010
Episode 絶対零度
解放
2010
Episode 絶対零度
悲しみを打砕く日
2010
Episode 絶対零度
絶対零度〜未解決事件特命捜査〜Special
2011
Episode 絶対零度
誠意の嘘
2011
Episode 絶対零度
3つの嘘
2011
Episode 絶対零度
最期の日、その先に見たもの
2011

Host

Episode NHK紅白歌合戦
第44回NHK紅白歌合戦
1993
Episode NHK紅白歌合戦
第43回NHK紅白歌合戦
1992
Episode NHK紅白歌合戦
第42回NHK紅白歌合戦
1991

Guest Star

Episode 古畑任三郎
動く死体
1994
Episode クロサギ (2006)
宝石詐欺: 5千万ダイヤの行方
2006
Episode チコちゃんに叱られる!
『麒麟(きりん)がくる!』コラボSP お年玉/たこあげほか
2020