Masaaki Sakai

Masaaki Sakai

1946-08-06

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".

Also appears in

The Greatest Challenge of All

The Greatest Challenge of All

Not yet rated

Spirit World

Spirit World

Not yet rated

Las Vegas Free-For-All

Las Vegas Free-For-All

Not yet rated

The Spiders’ The Noisy Parade

The Spiders’ The Noisy Parade

Not yet rated

Yunagi City, Sakura Country

Yunagi City, Sakura Country

7.0

A Hardest Night!!

A Hardest Night!!

6.2

My Sweetheart

My Sweetheart

Not yet rated

I Am A Man of Honor

I Am A Man of Honor

Not yet rated

The Castle of Crossed Destinies

The Castle of Crossed Destinies

6.3

The Age of Undutiful Children

The Age of Undutiful Children

Not yet rated

Let’s Dance Bon-Odori in Hawaii

Let’s Dance Bon-Odori in Hawaii

5.3

The School Cap

The School Cap

Not yet rated

High School Third Graders

High School Third Graders

Not yet rated

The Spiders’ The Road to Bali

The Spiders’ The Road to Bali

Not yet rated

High School Juniors (Part II)

High School Juniors (Part II)

Not yet rated

The Spiders’ The Reckless Operation

The Spiders’ The Reckless Operation

Not yet rated

Japan Beauty Story

Japan Beauty Story

Not yet rated

Youth A Go Go!

Youth A Go Go!

Not yet rated

Song of Happiness

Song of Happiness

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Locomotive Teacher

Locomotive Teacher

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