is a Japanese actor, screenwriter and film director. He grew up in Tōgō, Aichi District. He is represented with From First Production. He graduated from Shinshu University Faculty of Economics.
Career After graduating from university, Sato joined Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd. However, feeling that he did not fit in with the company's culture during the company's induction ceremony, he left after just one day. He then pursued a career in acting and joined several theater companies, but his time with each was short-lived. Concluding that he was not suited for acting, he took a job at a small advertising agency. Assigned to the sales department, he quickly became the company's top salesperson.
Unable to give up his dream of acting, Sato co-founded the theater unit Chikarawaza in 1996. He later caught the attention of director Yuichi Fukuda and became a regular cast member in Fukuda's productions.
In 2024, Sato revealed that he had been living with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) for many years.
In 2026, his performance in Suzuki=Bakudan earned him the Best Supporting Actor award at the 49th Japan Academy Film Prize.
Controversies On July 1, 2026, Shūkan Bunshun reported that Sato had been accused of workplace harassment by actress Ai Hashimoto, with whom he had appeared in the Fuji Television drama . According to the report, Hashimoto had requested restrictions on physical contact before filming because she had experienced harassment during a previous production. The producer conveyed the request to Sato's manager, but the manager did not relay it to Sato, and the producer accepted that the information had not been passed on. During a scene filmed on March 22nd, Sato touched Hashimoto's chin while giving acting instructions. The following day, the producer informed Sato directly of Hashimoto's request that physical contact be limited to her shoulders and arms unless prior consent had been obtained. According to Sato's agency, he complied with the restrictions thereafter.
In an interview with Shūkan Shinchō, Sato stated that he had not been informed of Hashimoto's request until after the on-set incident because his manager had not relayed the producer's message. He said that he then requested a meeting in Hashimoto's dressing room without a prior appointment and explained that, because they were portraying a married couple, he could not guarantee that there would be no physical contact during filming. According to Sato, he was later summoned by the chief producer to a meeting attended by Hashimoto and the president of her agency, where both sides agreed that physical contact would generally be limited to her shoulders and arms, while contact with other areas would require prior consent. Sato further stated that, after the first episode aired, he revisited Hashimoto's dressing room to praise her performance and told her that, if she intended to impose physical-contact restrictions while portraying a married couple, she should not continue working as an actor. He stopped greeting her. According to the report, a lawyer retained by Fuji Television instructed Sato not to enter Hashimoto's dressing room, to communicate important matters through his manager, to avoid physical contact except where required for filming and with prior consent, and that he should limit future interactions with her.
Fuji TV's investigation report stated that, following the second dressing-room visit, Hashimoto became unable to participate in promotional activities because of her deteriorating condition. The report also stated that Hashimoto expressed concern that "the male actor might disclose information relating to this matter." Sato stated in his Shukan Shincho interview that he had discussed the dispute with a fellow actor who was his friend and later told Hashimoto that the actor agreed with his view of the situation.
On July 7, he announced on X that he was severing ties with Fuji TV, and requested that his starring scenes be cut from the upcoming film , scheduled to be released in September.
Filmography TV drama Year Title Role Notes 2001Black Jack: Karute II Doctor 2003–06Kētai Keiji Zenigata series Mysterious man and others 4 seasons 2005 Densha Otoko Monto Kuroki Kiken na Aneki Jun Madarame Yaoh Kinshiro 2008Gokusen Toyosaku Ushijima season 3 2009–14 Yō-jū Mameshiba Jiro Shiba Lead role; 4 seasons 2011 Yūsha Yoshihiko Hotoke 2015 Death Note Kanzo Mogi 2016 Kami no Shita o Motsu Otoko Kanji Miyazawa 2020 Daddy is My Classmate Tetsuo Akasaka 2022 The 13 Lords of the Shogun Hiki Yoshikazu Taiga drama 2026 Lead role
Films Year Title Role Notes 2009Yō-jū Mameshiba Jiro Shiba Lead role 2015The Big Bee Imaeda-kachō 2017 Gin Tama Takeichi Henpeita Mary and the Witch's Flower Flanagan (voice) 2019 The Fable Kenjiro Takoda 2021 Kaguya-sama Final: Love Is War Shozo Tanuma and Narrator The Fable: The Killer Who Doesn't Kill Kenjiro Takoda 2022 Missing Satoshi Harada Lead role Violence Action Sandaime Black Night Parade Teru Yoshikawa 2023 Revolver Lily Hiraoka Once Upon a Crime King Bovell 2024 The Floor Plan Kurihara Lead role A Girl Named Ann Tamotsu Tatara Saint Young Men: The Movie Hermit A Conviction of Marriage Shingo Fujita 2025 Under Ninja Akikazu Yoshida True Beauty: Before Shigemichi Yoda True Beauty: After Shigemichi Yoda The Killer Goldfish Suzuki=Bakudan Tagosaku Suzuki New Interpretation of the End of Edo Period Saigō Takamori Lead role 2026 The Brightest Sun Yonemoto Nameless Taro Yamada Lead role; also writer Sakamoto Days A Rambo-like hitman Shin Gekijōban Keroro Gunsō: Fukkatsu Shite Sokkō Chikyū Metsubō no Kiki de Arimasu! Hotoke (Buddha) (voice) Bayside Shakedown: N.E.W Hikaru Sashikata Kimi no Oto Kuniharu Shimizu
Video games Year Title Role Notes 2020 Death Come True Kenichi Mino
Japanese dub Live-action Year Title Role Voice dub for Notes 2018 The House with a Clock in Its Walls Jonathan Barnavelt Jack Black 2019 Shazam! Mall Santa Brian Kaulback 2019 The Lion King Pumbaa Seth Rogen Animation Year Title Role Notes 2015 Inside Out Bing Bong 2023 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem Superfly
Bibliography Year Title 2016 Jiro Sato Nau
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work(s) Result 202247th Hochi Film AwardsBest ActorMissing 202377th Mainichi Film AwardsBest Actor65th Blue Ribbon AwardsBest Actor202579th Mainichi Film AwardsBest Supporting PerformanceA Girl Named Ann67th Blue Ribbon AwardsBest Supporting ActorA Girl Named Ann and others48th Japan Academy Film PrizeBest Supporting ActorA Girl Named Ann50th Hochi Film AwardsBest Supporting ActorSuzuki=Bakudan38th Nikkan Sports Film AwardsBest Supporting Actor202680th Mainichi Film AwardsBest Supporting Performance68th Blue Ribbon AwardsBest Supporting Actor49th Japan Academy Film PrizeBest Supporting Actor50th Elan d'or AwardsElan d'or AwardHimself99th Kinema Junpo AwardsBest Supporting ActorSuzuki=Bakudan and others
References
External links
Official profile