is a Japanese actor, director,

fight choreographer Stage combat, fight craft or fight choreography is a specialised technique in theatre designed to create the illusion of physical combat without causing harm to the performers. It is employed in live stage plays as well as operatic and ballet pr ...

, stuntman and martial artist. He is best known for his role in

Ryuhei Kitamura (born May 30, 1969) is a Japanese film director, producer, and screenwriter. Biography Early life Kitamura was born in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. He dropped out of high school at age 17 and relocated to Sydney, Australia, where he attended a sch ...

cult film A cult film or cult movie, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a cult following. Cult films are known for their dedicated, passionate fanbase which forms an elaborate subculture, members of which engage ...

, '' Versus''. Since his debut, Sakaguchi has worked with Kitamura several times, often appearing alongside fellow Kitamura staple

Hideo Sakaki (born June 4, 1970) is a Japanese actor and director. He is perhaps best known for his roles in the Japanese cult films '' Versus'', '' Battlefield Baseball'', and ''Alive''. He is a close friend of director Ryuhei Kitamura and appears in several ...

. He has also worked with frequent Kitamura collaborators

Yudai Yamaguchi Yudai may refer to: * Yudai Township, a township in Wanyuan, Sichuan, China *Jade Belt Bridge, also known as Yudai Bridge, a bridge in Summer Palace, Beijing, China * Yūdai, a masculine Japanese given name *Yudai (kickboxer) Yudai may refer to: * ...

and Yuji Shimomura. Sakaguchi is a talented martial artist, and most often appears in films featuring copious fight scenes, usually performing all of his own stunts. He is purportedly skilled in

Bajiquan Bajiquan () is a Chinese martial art that features explosive, short-range power and is famous for its elbow and shoulder strikes. Its full name is kaimen ba ji quan (). Origins Baji quan was originally called bazi quan ( or ) or "rake fist" ...

Shorinji Kempo is a Japanese martial art claimed to be a modified version of Shaolin Kung Fu. The name ''Shōrinji Kempo'' is the Japanese reading of ''Shàolínsì Quánfǎ''. It was established in 1947 by , a Japanese martial artist and former military ...

Boxing Boxing (also known as "Western boxing" or "pugilism") is a combat sport in which two people, usually wearing protective gloves and other protective equipment such as hand wraps and mouthguards, throw punches at each other for a predetermined ...

Kickboxing Kickboxing is a combat sports, combat sport focused on kicking and punch (strike), punching. The combat takes place in a boxing ring, normally with boxing gloves, mouthguards, shorts, and bare feet to favour the use of kicks. Kickboxing is pract ...

, and while recently filming Re:Born learned the tactical martial art Zero Range Combat developed by Yoshitaka Inagawa.

Biography

Before entering into the film industry, Sakaguchi was an underground street fighter who was well known for his skill in the martial arts. He was discovered by then-unknown director

, who recruited Sakaguchi for a lead role in ''Versus''. Since then, Sakaguchi has appeared in several films directed by Kitamura, including the ''

Azumi is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yū Koyama. Its story concerns the title character, a young woman brought up as part of a team of assassins, charged with killing the warlords that threaten the uneasy peace in Feudal Jap ...

'' films, Kitamura's short in the ''

Jam Films ''Jam Films'' and its sequels are collections of short films, each by a different Japanese director. ''Jam Films'' ''Jam Films'' is a 2002 suite of 7 shorts produced by Sega/Amuse (various production companies participated in the production of the ...

'' titled ''The Messenger'', and minor roles in '' Aragami'' and ''

Alive Alive may refer to: *Life Books, comics and periodicals * ''Alive'' (novel), a 2015 novel by Scott Sigler * '' Alive: The Final Evolution'', a 2003 shonen manga by Tadashi Kawashima and Adachitoka * '' Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors'', ...

''. He played a larger role in the quirky, yet successful '' Battlefield Baseball'' (produced by Kitamura and directed by

). 2006 saw Sakaguchi in more mainstream roles, such as Yashamaru in '' Shinobi: Heart Under Blade'', and "Grave" in '' Death Trance''. He also guest-starred in the Japanese

tokusatsu is a Japanese term for live action film or television drama that makes heavy use of practical special effects. ''Tokusatsu'' entertainment mainly refers to science fiction, War film, war, fantasy, or Horror film, horror media featuring such te ...

show, ''

Kamen Rider Kabuto is a Japanese tokusatsu superhero television series. It is the sixteenth installment in the popular Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu programs. It is a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei. The series was broadcast on TV Asa ...

'', as the villain Reiji Nogi/Cassisworm. In 2008, Sakaguchi made his directorial debut with ''

Sakigake!! Otokojuku , also known as simply ''Otokojuku'', is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Akira Miyashita. It was originally serialized in Shueisha's ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' from 1985 to 1991. It is staged in an all-boys school that ...

'' (a.k.a. " Samurai School"), in which he also starred, wrote the screenplay, and choreographed the action sequences. He made a cameo appearance in

Yoshihiro Nishimura is a Japanese film director, special effects and makeup effects artist, and a screenwriter who has worked predominantly in the horror genre. Nishimura has been described as "a legendary director and effects artist" and "the Tom Savini of Japan ...

's 2008

exploitation film An exploitation film is a film that tries to succeed financially by exploiting current trends, niche genres, or lurid content. Exploitation films are generally low-quality "B movies", though some set trends, attract critical attention, become hi ...

, ''

Tokyo Gore Police is a 2008 Japanese action splatter film co-written, edited and directed by Yoshihiro Nishimura and starring Eihi Shiina as Ruka, a vengeful police officer. ''Tokyo Gore Police'' was released to several film festivals in North America. It rece ...

'', as well as directed/starred in '' Yoroi: Samurai Zombie'', based on a story by Ryuhei Kitamura. In 2011, Sakaguchi reprised his role as Yakyû Jubei in ''

Deadball is a 2011 Japanese splatter comedy film directed by Yudai Yamaguchi. The film stars Tak Sakaguchi as Jubeh Yakyu, a seventeen-year-old who accidentally kills his father with his extra powerful baseball arm. Years later, he is a juvenile delin ...

'', a reimagining of ''Battlefield Baseball'', and also co-directed/starred in ''

Yakuza Weapon is a 2011 Japanese film directed and written by Tak Sakaguchi and Yūdai Yamaguchi. Based on the manga by Ken Ishikawa, the film is about Shozo Iwaki (Tak Sakaguchi) who works as a mercenary in South America. Iwaki is informed of the death of his ...

'', based on the manga ''Gokudō Heiki''. In 2013, Sakaguchi announced his retirement from acting to focus on work behind the camera. Despite this, he is expected to reprise his role as KSC2-303 in Ryuhei Kitamura's '' Versus 2'', and has stated that he is currently working on a sequel to '' Death Trance''.

Filmography

Actor

*'' Versus'' (2000) – Prisoner KSC2-303 *''

'' (2002) – Zeros *'' Battlefield Baseball'' (2003) – Yakyū Jubei *''The Messenger'' (2003, ''

'' segment) – Man *'' Aragami'' (2003) – Future Challenger *''

'' (2003) – Sanzo Sajiki *'' Godzilla: Final Wars'' (2004 – X-Seijin) *'' Azumi 2: Death or Love'' (2005) –

Tsuchigumo is a historical Japanese derogatory term for renegade local clans, and also the name for a race of spider-like yōkai in Japanese folklore. Alternative names for the mythological Tsuchigumo include and . In the ''Kojiki'' and in '' Nihon Shoki ...

*'' Shinobi: Heart Under Blade'' (2005) – Yashamaru *''

Cromartie High - The Movie Cromartie or Cromarty may refer to: People Sport * Antonio Cromartie (born 1984), American football cornerback * Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith (born 1987), American football safety * Marcus Cromartie (born 1990), American football cornerback * Russell ...

'' (2005) – Ichiro Yamamoto *'' Death Trance'' (2006) Grave *''

Yo-Yo Girl Cop ''Yo-Yo Girl Cop'', known in Japan as is a 2006 Japanese live-action feature film, the third to be based on the manga ''Sukeban Deka'', directed by Kenta Fukasaku. The film stars Aya Matsuura in the lead role of Saki Asamiya and Rika Ishikawa as ...

'' (2006) – Enola Gay gang member *''The Red Army'' (2007, directed by

Kōji Wakamatsu was a Japanese film director who directed such ''pinku eiga'' films as and . He also produced Nagisa Ōshima's controversial film ''In the Realm of the Senses'' (1976). He has been called "the most important director to emerge in the pink film ...

) – Takaya Shiomi *''

'' (2008) – Momotaro Tsurugi *''

'' (2008) – (cameo) *''Elite Yankee Saburo The Movie'' (2009) – Hammerhead Boss *''

Mutant Girls Squad is a Japanese film by Noboru Iguchi, Yoshihiro Nishimura and Tak Sakaguchi. The film is about Rin, a sixteen-year-old mutant girl who meets a gang of rebel mutants who aim to take revenge on humans for persecuting their race. The film had its inte ...

'' (2010) – Kisaragi *''

'' (2011) – Yakyû Jubei *''

'' (2011) - Shozo *''Men's egg Drummers'' (2011) *''Snot rocket'' (2012) - Sankichi Tabana *''

Why Don't You Play in Hell? is a 2013 Japanese film directed, written and scored by Sion Sono. The movie is an action film based on a screenplay written by Sono fifteen years earlier. North American distributor Drafthouse Films announced its acquisition before it made it ...

'' (2013) – Sasaki *''Snake of Violence'' (2013) – Kenji *''Max the Movie'' (2016) - Sakaguchi *'' Re:Born'' (2017) - Toshiro Kuroda *''Red Blade'' (2018) - Saizo *''

Kingdom Kingdom commonly refers to: * A monarchy ruled by a king or queen * Kingdom (biology), a category in biological taxonomy Kingdom may also refer to: Arts and media Television * ''Kingdom'' (British TV series), a 2007 British television drama s ...

'' (2019) - Saji *''Rise of the Machine Girls'' (2019) - Matsukata *
Crazy Samurai Musashi
' (2020) –

Miyamoto Musashi , also known as Shinmen Takezō, Miyamoto Bennosuke or, by his Buddhist name, Niten Dōraku, was a Japanese swordsman, philosopher, strategist, writer and rōnin, who became renowned through stories of his unique double-bladed swordsmanship a ...

*''Osaka girl'' (2020) - Toshiro Kuroda *''Tokyo dragon hanten'' (2020) *''Ninja Jaja-maru-kun'' (2020) *''Koi-no-haka'' (2020) *''Boryoku Muso'' (2021) *''

Prisoners of the Ghostland ''Prisoners of the Ghostland'' is a 2021 American horror Western film directed by Sion Sono, from a script by Aaron Hendry and Reza Sixo Safai. It stars Nicolas Cage, Sofia Boutella, and Bill Moseley. Its plot revolves around a notorious crimi ...

'' (2021) *''1%er: One-Percenter'' (2022) * ''Bad City'' (2023) - Han

Director

*''

'' (2008) *'' Yoroi: Samurai Zombie'' (2008) *''

'' (First segment) (2010) *''

'' (2011)

Writer

*''

'' (2008) (screenplay)

Fight choreographer

*'' Godzilla: Final Wars'' (2004) *'' Death Trance'' (2006) *''

Akihabara@DEEP is a 2004 novel by Ira Ishida which spawned a manga, television drama, and movie adaptation. The drama and manga versions have considerable differences from the original novel. The original novel focuses on a group of outcasts and thei ...

'' (2006) *''

'' (2008) *''Ai no Mukidashi (2009)'' *''Yakuza girl (2010)'' *''Cold fish (2010)'' *''Himizu (2012)'' *''Kurocorch (2013)'' *''Tokyo tribe (2014)'' *''Torakage (2015)'' *''Iron grandmother (2015)'' *''Real Oni gokko (2015)'' *HiGH&LOW THE RED RAIN （2016) *Blue hearts ga kikoeru (2017) *Tokyo vampire hotel (2017) *Sekai ha kyo-kara kimi no mono (2017) *Kodoku meat ball machine (2016) *Final life (2017) *Demekin (2017) *Kuso yaro to Utsukushiki sekai ianist o utsuna(2018) *Iron grandmother 2 (2018) *Genin akai kage (2019) *Genin Aoi kage (2019)

TV drama

*'' Be-Bop High School'' Series (2005-2005) – Toshimitsu Yamada (fight director) *Koi wa jikka ja Umarenai (2005) *Satomi Hakkenden (2006) - Suketomo Ota *''

'' (2006) – Reiji Nogi/Cassis Worm *Kagero no tuji (2007) *Otome no Punch (2008) *Yukemuri Sniper (2009) *Crover (2012) - Hiroki Mido *Bouncer (2017) - Seijiro Torai *7nin no hisho (2020) - Kuroda *Red eyes (2021) - Mayumi

Notes

References

Midnight Interview with Ryuhei Kitamura

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Sakaguchi, Tak Japanese male actors 1975 births Living people People from Ishikawa Prefecture Action choreographers Japanese choreographers Japanese film directors Japanese stunt performers