Acting
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".
Filmography
Spirit World
Film · 2025
Kono Subarashiki Sekai
Series · 2023
Beautiful World
Film · 2012
The Castle of Crossed Destinies
Film · 2012
ザッツ宴会テイメント
Series · 2008
Impossible Love
Series · 2008
The Fearless Otojiro's Company
Film · 2007
Yunagi City, Sakura Country
Film · 2007
Long Wedding Road! Tokyo vs. Osaka Wakeari Kon Monogatari
Film · 2007
The Black Swindler
Series · 2006
A Hardest Night!!
Film · 2005
Locomotive Teacher
Film · 2004
The Most Useful School in the World
Series · 2004
Churasan
Series · 2001
Tokugawa Yoshinobu
Series · 1998
Papa Survival
Series · 1995
Best Friend
Series · 1995
The Notorious Bored Samurai 9
Film · 1994
Furuhata Ninzaburo
Series · 1994
Bored Hatamoto: Letter of Death
Film · 1993
バラ色の日々に
Film · 1990
The Notorious Bored Samurai 2
Film · 1988
Trinacria: Porsche 959
Film · 1987
Final Take: The Golden Age of Movies
Film · 1986
Sayonara Sankaku Mata Kite Shikaku
Series · 1982
The TOP10
Series · 1981
Tennō no Ryōriban
Series · 1980
Monkey
Series · 1978
I Am A Man of Honor
Film · 1977
Japan Beauty Story
Film · 1974
Machi no Hi
Film · 1974
Toshigoro
Film · 1973
喜劇 右向けェ左！
Film · 1970
Kigeki dokkiri dai tōsō
Film · 1970
時間ですよ
Series · 1970
The Tempters: Smile After Tears
Film · 1969
The Age of Undutiful Children
Film · 1968
The Spiders: Big Commotion!
Film · 1968
The Spiders' The Road to Bali
Film · 1968
The Spiders' The Noisy Parade
Film · 1968
The Wonderful Ones
Film · 1968
The Greatest Challenge of All
Film · 1967
The Spiders: The Reckless Operation
Film · 1967
The Sunset Is Crying
Film · 1967
My Sweetheart
Film · 1967
Youth A Go Go!
Film · 1966
Flowering Maidens
Film · 1965
A Girl of the Plateau
Film · 1965
Tokyo In Love
Film · 1965
Song of Happiness
Film · 1964
Here Because of You
Film · 1964
Let's Dance Bon-Odori in Hawaii
Film · 1964
High School Juniors (Part II)
Film · 1964
Friends
Film · 1964
High School Third Graders
Film · 1963
The School Cap
Film · 1963
Road to Hawaii
Film · 1954
パパ・サヴァイバル
Series