Tak Sakaguchi was destined for greatness from the moment he was born. His exceptional motor skills and cat-like reflexes were evident from an early age, allowing him to excel in martial arts such as Judo and boxing.
As he grew older, Sakaguchi's stunning looks and charisma would have made him a natural fit for a career in acting, but it was not something he was actively pursuing. Instead, he was working as a street fighter, earning a reputation for his natural fighting skills and physical prowess.
It was here that he was discovered by an unknown director, Ryuhei Kitamura, who was still accumulating funds and financial resources for his independent film, Versus. Kitamura felt that Sakaguchi's skills should not go to waste fighting on the streets, and instead decided to bring him to film.
Sakaguchi threw himself into the role, pushing his body to the extreme limits, breaking ribs, bruising and cutting himself, and even losing a tooth. Instead of halting production, he had the tooth glued back in, demonstrating his dedication to the project.
The gamble paid off, and Versus became a hit in Japan, even with a low budget and a novice director. The film's success led to Sakaguchi and Kitamura launching their careers, working together on films such as the Azumi series, Alive, Aragami, and Battlefield Baseball.
While Sakaguchi's subsequent film ventures were successful, he had yet to match the success of Versus. However, 2005 proved to be a turning point, with Sakaguchi taking on more mainstream film roles in Shinobi: Heart Under Blade.
The following year, he directed the action scenes in Death Watch, and continued to work in both films and television. Sakaguchi has also demonstrated his versatility by working behind the camera, writing and directing his first film, Sakigake!! Otako juku (Be a Man! Samurai School).
With his strong dedication to his craft, whether as an actor, writer, or director, Tak Sakaguchi is an unstoppable force in the world of Japanese cinema.
