
Masaaki Sakai
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".
Acting (37 movies)

Toshigoro
1973

The Age of Undutiful Children
1968

The Fearless Otojiro's Company
2007

I Am A Man of Honor
1977

Flowering Maidens
1965

A Girl of the Plateau
1965

The Greatest Challenge of All
1967

The Tempters: Smile After Tears
1969

Locomotive Teacher
2004

喜劇 右向けェ左!
1970

Japan Beauty Story
1974

Spirit World
2025

The Spiders: Big Commotion!
1968

Road to Hawaii
1954

A Hardest Night!!
2005

Yunagi City, Sakura Country
2007

Beautiful World
2012

High School Third Graders
1963

Here Because of You
1964

Let's Dance Bon-Odori in Hawaii
1964

Las Vegas Free-For-All
1967

High School Juniors (Part II)
1964

The Spiders' The Road to Bali
1968

The Spiders' The Noisy Parade
1968

The School Cap
1963

The Spiders' The Reckless Operation
1967

The Sunset Is Crying
1967

Youth A Go Go!
1966

Machi no Hi
1974

Bored Hatamoto: Letter of Death
1993

Friends
1964

My Sweetheart
1967

The Castle of Crossed Destinies
2012

Long Wedding Road! Tokyo vs. Osaka Wakeari Kon Monogatari
2007

Kigeki dokkiri dai tōsō
1970

Tokyo wa Koisuru
1965

Trinacria: Porsche 959
1987
| Title | Year | Job | 
|---|