Masaaki Sakai
Known for Acting · 56 credits
- Born
- 1946-08-06 (age 79)
- Also known as
- 堺 正章 · The Spiders · 사카이 마사아키 · 堺正明
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".
Known For
TV Shows (15)
Churasan
2001
as Kohagura Keibun
Furuhata Ninzaburo
1994
as 中村右近
Monkey
1978
as Monkey
Tokugawa Yoshinobu
1998
The Black Swindler
2006
Kono Subarashiki Sekai
2023
Best Friend
1995
as Kurosawa Michihiko
Tennō no Ryōriban
1980
Impossible Love
2008
as 타치키 쇼고
パパ・サヴァイバル
Papa Survival
1995
ザッツ宴会テイメント
2008
Sayonara Sankaku Mata Kite Shikaku
1982
The Most Useful School in the World
2004
The TOP10
1981
Movies (41)
Spirit World
2025
as Yuzo Nobusawa
A Hardest Night!!
2005
as Boss
Final Take: The Golden Age of Movies
1986
The Greatest Challenge of All
1967
My Sweetheart
1967
The Castle of Crossed Destinies
2012
I Am A Man of Honor
1977
The Notorious Bored Samurai 2
1988
as Sasao Kinai
High School Juniors (Part II)
1964
Tokyo wa Koisuru
1965
Beautiful World
2012
as Yuzo Tsutai
Yunagi City, Sakura Country
2007
as Asahi Ishikawa (Old)
喜劇 右向けェ左！
1970
Machi no Hi
1974
as Chiyomatsu Sakanoshita
Toshigoro
1973
as Okabe
The Fearless Otojiro's Company
2007
Long Wedding Road! Tokyo vs. Osaka Wakeari Kon Monogatari
2007
Locomotive Teacher
2004
The Tempters: Smile After Tears
1969
High School Third Graders
1963
Flowering Maidens
1965
as Sabu
The Spiders: The Reckless Operation
1967
as Masaaki
Let's Dance Bon-Odori in Hawaii
1964
as Masaya Matsui
The Sunset Is Crying
1967
The Notorious Bored Samurai 9
1994
as Kinai
The Age of Undutiful Children
1968
The School Cap
1963
as Matsubara
The Spiders' The Noisy Parade
1968
as Masaaki Sakai
Friends
1964
Japan Beauty Story
1974
The Spiders' The Road to Bali
1968
as Masaaki Sakai
Song of Happiness
1964
Bored Hatamoto: Letter of Death
1993
The Spiders: Big Commotion!
1968
Youth A Go Go!
1966
The Wonderful Ones
1968
Here Because of You
1964
as Akira Tanaka
Kigeki dokkiri dai tōsō
1970
A Girl of the Plateau
1965
as Sabu
Trinacria: Porsche 959
1987
Road to Hawaii
1954
About 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 characte… With 56 credits spanning from 1954 to 2025, Masaaki Sakai has appeared in 41 films and 15 TV shows.
Fans searching for Masaaki Sakai movies, Masaaki Sakai filmography, or the latest projects starring Masaaki Sakai can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Masaaki Sakai Movies
- Spirit World (2025) — as Yuzo Nobusawa
- A Hardest Night!! (2005) — as Boss
- Final Take: The Golden Age of Movies (1986)
- The Greatest Challenge of All (1967)
- My Sweetheart (1967)
Where to Watch Masaaki Sakai Films
Most Masaaki Sakai movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Masaaki Sakai, check our movies catalogue and browse page.