Commercial Star in ‘I Will Definitely Become Beautiful’ Does Nude Scene: Maki Sakai’s Acting Journey
A full nude sex scene with Shingo Tsurumi shocked fans.
In August, the movie “Manga Artist Mamoru Hori” is set to be released, and Maki Sakai is currently appearing in the NHK Drama 10 series “I Didn’t Love You Because We Were Family, We Became Family Because I Loved You.” Having debuted in the early ’90s and gained attention through commercials, she will turn 54 in 2024 and continues to mature as an actress, playing roles such as a mother in the aforementioned works.
Born on May 17, 1970, in Tokyo, Sakai started modeling in 1988 while still in high school. In 1990, she became the fourth Rehouse Girl for Mitsui’s Rehouse. She made her acting debut in the 1992 drama “90 Days Tottenham Pub.”
Sakai gained significant attention for her line “I will definitely become beautiful” in the Tokyo Beauty Center commercial. Reflecting on this, she said, “I was able to concentrate really well. It was the first time I could act without worrying about the camera” (February 1993 issue) and “Even now, I think I look cute in it (laughs)” (Weekly Bunshun, September 30, 2010 issue).
In 1992, she further advanced her acting career by appearing in “I Have Always Loved You” and in 1993, in “Double Kitchen” and “When the Pager Doesn’t Ring.” She also made her singing debut with the single “The Sun Teaches Me.”
Her past relationship with Issei Ishida.
As mentioned in the August 1992 issue of DENIM magazine, I have confidence in my bravery. From 2001 to 2007, I showcased my comedic talents on the variety show “Cocorico Miracle Type.” One of the bravest moments came in 2008 when I starred in the film “Nonko 36 Years Old (Housewife Helper),” where I surprised many fans by appearing in a steamy scene in the nude alongside my ex-husband, Shingo Tsurumi.
In my personal life, I started dating Issei Ishida in 1995 but broke up in 1997. During that time, there were reports of secret meetings with Hiroto Kamo from THE HIGH-LOWS. In 2009, I married photographer Shin Suzuki, who had worked as a still photographer on the film “Soup Opera,” in which I starred.
Although some reports suggested that we met during the filming of this movie, during an interview with Sawako Agawa, the original author, I revealed, “We were already dating when we were filming, so I thought I should say that,” in the September 30, 2010 issue of Weekly Bunshun. In 2011, I gave birth to a daughter, but my husband’s affair led to our divorce in 2020.
Even after the scandal and divorce, my work was not affected at all. I appeared in several notable films, including “461 Bento” (2020), which depicted the bond between father and child through lunch boxes, “Burn My Sword” (2021), which was made into a film for the first time in 54 years, “Father of the Galaxy Railway” (2023), depicting Kenji Miyazawa and his family, and “Analog” (2023), based on a work by Takeshi Kitano. Among many great actors, I am becoming an indispensable presence in supporting roles.
Interview and text by： Diesuke Takahashi
