Top Actor Ryuji Sato Breaks 15 Roof Tiles with One Hand to Celebrate 30th Birthday

Sato, who has gained national popularity for his roles in the musical Touken Ranbu (as Kashiwa Kiyomitsu) and the stage production Jujutsu Kaisen (as Yuji Itadori), has also made a solid presence in films and dramas. On his 30th birthday, Sato appeared before his fans, and we report on the second part of his birthday event.

The event venue, which seats 1,000, was mostly filled with female fans, with even the second-floor seats being packed. The tickets were reportedly highly sought after. As a guest for the second part of the event, Sato’s close friend, actor Ueki Satoshi (from Gekidan 4 Dollar 50 Cent), celebrated, saying, “I’m 34, so welcome to your 30s, Ryuji!” The event continued with five video messages from close friends, including actors Koki Maeda and Ryo Matsuda, who sent their best wishes in a playful and heartfelt manner.

In the middle of the event, the second guest, kabuki actor Nakamura Sōgyoku, joined. In the segment where Sato answered questions sent by fans, one question was, “If Ryūji-kun were a girl, which actor would you want to date?” Sato responded, “Katsunori Takahashi. He’s amazing, that guy. He’s way too cool,” praising the great actor with whom he had just performed in the play “Ōten no Mon.”

With a serious expression, Sato began, “As a declaration of my resolve, I’m going to take on something.” What was prepared on stage were roof tiles. Having experience in karate, Sato said, “I want to properly show everyone how seriously I’ve approached karate,” and decided to perform a tile-breaking demonstration. Uekiya Satoshi, who had tried it first, successfully broke 10 tiles in his first attempt, getting the crowd excited. However, Sato, with a smile, commented, “The fact that the broken pieces are of different sizes shows that I’m not doing it well. I still have a lot of training to do.”

Using a technique called “sunkei” (a precise strike), Sato took on the challenge of breaking 15 tiles. After taking a slow, deep breath, he focused all his energy into one hand and, in an instant, broke all 15 tiles. The elegance of his execution stunned the audience into silence before they erupted into applause. “It was my first time trying this many tiles, but I’m glad I broke them properly. Pretty cool, right?” Sato said with a shy smile, and at his feet, the neatly broken tiles lay in perfect halves.

After seeing off the guests, the event moved into its final stage, where Sato delivered a powerful song performance. He chose “Haru yo, Koi” by Yumi Matsutoya, his strong voice echoing throughout the venue. Afterward, he teased, “The next song, you probably won’t get many chances to hear me sing in this outfit, so listen up carefully.” The music that played next was “Toke nai Mahō” (Unbreakable Magic) from the musical Touken Ranbu. This rare performance, typically only seen on stage, caused the audience to erupt in cheers that bordered on screams. After finishing his dance and singing, Sato laughed and said, “This song is really tough, though (laughs). I can’t believe some people sing and dance to it at the same time—how amazing is that?” He reflected on his role as Kiyomitsu Kashu in the show, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Just when it seemed like the event was coming to a close, Sato made an announcement: “I have an announcement for everyone, so please watch this movie.” On the screen, a video of Sato, filmed in his hometown of Sendai, was shown. As the video revealed that it was announcing the release of his photo book, the audience erupted in the loudest cheers of the day!

Lying on the stage and watching the movie with his fans, Sato said, “I’m releasing a photo book, once again! This will be my fourth one. Not many people put out this many (laughs). But it’s a good milestone turning 30, so I thought I’d capture myself at this point in time.” His words were met with warm applause.

With that happy surprise at the very end, the birthday event came to a successful conclusion. “Please continue to support me as a 30-year-old Ryuji Sato!” The audience’s excitement for his continued success as a top actor in 2025 only grew.

Due to editorial limitations, this report only covers the second half of the event, but in the first half, Sato’s fellow actors from the musical Touken Ranbu, Mario Kuroba and Daigo Kato, made a surprise appearance. The two were kept secret until the day of the event, and the crowd greeted them with excitement. Sato, along with his guests, enjoyed quizzes and games, and in the later part of the event, Kuroba and Kato also took part in breaking tiles, adding to the energy of the event.

Ryuji Sato’s 4th Photo Book Reason

Release Date: April 25, 2025 (Friday)
Published by: Kodansha
112 pages / Price: 3,850 yen
Filmed in Sendai, his hometown, the photo book takes readers on a journey through his roots and familiar places, showing off his natural self.

Ryuji Sato’s Comment

“I’m releasing a photo book. This will be my fourth, which is surprising, even to me. Though it was my idea to release it (laughs). It’s more conceptual and natural than ever before. Please check it out!”

A photo book release event has been confirmed! Further details will be announced later, and the latest updates will be available on the official X (formerly Twitter) account @ryuji4th_book.