About

Known credits:
49
Birthday:
1946-08-06
Place of birth:
N/A
Website:
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Masaaki Sakai

Overview

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".

Known for

Acting
2025 Spirit World Actor N/A
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2012 The Castle of Crossed Destinies Actor 58
Average
2012 Beautiful World Actor Yuzo Tsutai 59
Average
2008 Impossible Love Actor 타치키 쇼고 N/A
N/A
2008 ザッツ宴会テイメント Actor N/A
N/A
2007 The Fearless Otojiro's Company Actor N/A
N/A
2007 Yunagi City, Sakura Country Actor Asahi Ishikawa (Old) 58
Average
2005 A Hardest Night!! Actor Boss 59
Average
2004 The Most Useful School in the World Actor N/A
N/A
2004 Locomotive Teacher Actor N/A
N/A
2001 Churasan Actor Kohagura Keibun 70
Good
1998 Tokugawa Yoshinobu Actor N/A
N/A
1995 Best Friend Actor Kurosawa Michihiko N/A
N/A
1995 Papa Survival Actor 69
Fair
1994 The Notorious Bored Samurai 9 Actor Kinai N/A
N/A
1993 Bored Hatamoto: Letter of Death Actor N/A
N/A
1988 The Notorious Bored Samurai 2 Actor Sasao Kinai N/A
N/A
1982 Sayonara Sankaku Mata Kite Shikaku Actor N/A
N/A
1981 The TOP10 Actor N/A
N/A
1980 天皇の料理番 Actor N/A
N/A
1978 Monkey Actor Monkey 71
Good
1977 I Am A Man of Honor Actor N/A
N/A
1974 Japan Beauty Story Actor N/A
N/A
1974 Machi no Hi Actor Chiyomatsu Sakanoshita N/A
N/A
1973 Toshigoro Actor Okabe N/A
N/A
1970 喜劇 右向けェ左！ Actor N/A
N/A
1969 The Tempters: Smile After Tears Actor N/A
N/A
1968 The Age of Undutiful Children Actor N/A
N/A
1968 The Spiders' The Road to Bali Actor Masaaki Sakai N/A
N/A
1968 The Spiders: Big Commotion! Actor N/A
N/A
1968 The Spiders' The Noisy Parade Actor Masaaki Sakai N/A
N/A
1967 The Spiders' The Reckless Operation Actor Masaaki N/A
N/A
1967 The Greatest Challenge of All Actor N/A
N/A
1967 The Sunset Is Crying Actor N/A
N/A
1967 Las Vegas Free-For-All Actor N/A
N/A
1966 Youth A Go Go! Actor N/A
N/A
1965 A Girl of the Plateau Actor Sabu N/A
N/A
1965 Flowering Maidens Actor Sabu N/A
N/A
1964 Song of Happiness Actor N/A
N/A
1964 High School Juniors (Part II) Actor N/A
N/A
1964 Let's Dance Bon-Odori in Hawaii Actor Masaya Matsui 59
Average
1964 Here Because of You Actor Akira Tanaka 59
Average
1964 Nakamatachi Actor N/A
N/A
1963 The School Cap Actor Matsubara N/A
N/A
1963 High School Third Graders Actor N/A
N/A
1954 Road to Hawaii Actor N/A
N/A
パパ・サヴァイバル Actor N/A
N/A

Writing
2012 Family Song Writing Screenstory N/A
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Production
2012 Family Song Production Producer N/A
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