Ryotaro Sakaguchi Reflects on Appearance Struggles That Fueled His Success

The masterpiece that became his starting point

“I’ve always been told I resemble all sorts of creatures. Animals, insects, the comedian ‘Hyokkori-han,’ and recently, people say I even look like a character from ‘Hanakappa’ (laughs). You know the doppelgänger phenomenon? That’s nonsense. I’ve already met hundreds of people who look just like me (laughs).”

Speaking with self-deprecating humor and without hesitation is Ryotaro Sakaguchi (34), an actor known for his distinctive appearance and strong-character roles, often described as a quirky actor. He first gained attention for his role as Hiroshi Kinashi, nicknamed “Hyoro-kun,” in the movie Chihayafuru, and later appeared in NHK’s morning dramas Ochoyan and Ranman. This season, he is appearing in Ai no, Gakkou. (Fuji TV), and he also gave a notable performance in the film Under Ninja, released this January.

Beyond acting, Sakaguchi engages in other forms of artistic expression as a dancer, choreographer, and singer-songwriter. On August 6, he released his first essay collection, Today, I Dance on the Chabudai Stage.

What makes Sakaguchi so sought after in numerous popular works? He traces it back to a formative encounter in his childhood.

“When I was in third grade, I was taken to see the Shiki Theatre Company’s musical Cats. I was absolutely stunned by the song ‘Memory’ performed on stage. At the time, I don’t even know why, but I just started crying (laughs). I decided right then that I had to stand on that stage one day. From that day, I began singing the musical numbers on the chabudai table in our living room, imitating the songs. That was my starting point—the origin of everything. That’s also why I included ‘chabudai’ in the title of my essay.”

In middle school, he started attending a dance studio run by the parents of actor Mirai Moriyama (40), and at 17, he made his stage debut as a dancer in a performance starring Moriyama. He continued auditioning to become an actor, but results did not come easily.

A turning point came unexpectedly through a hair rule at a part-time job.

“At the time, the izakaya I worked at had strict rules about hair—hair covering the ears was prohibited. So, I boldly tried a bob cut, and it actually suited me well. After that, I started passing more auditions. It made me realize that even a small trigger can dramatically change your life. That event was a major turning point, not just for my acting career, but also for my personal life.”

Childhood struggles with his own appearance

At 19, he made his film debut, but the real turning point came when he appeared as Hiro Kinashi, nicknamed “Hyoro-kun,” in the Chihayafuru film series (2016–2018). He drew attention for perfectly embodying the character’s appearance, which many thought impossible to replicate. However, behind the scenes, he faced struggles that were hard to imagine.

“I’ve had complexes about my appearance since I was a child. When I was little, I admired ‘Morning Musume.’ But my friends would say, ‘You’re basically a ‘Morning Musuko’ (a pun meaning the opposite of Musume).’ When I looked in the mirror, the person staring back at me was the complete opposite of the beautiful people I saw on TV. I was really shocked by that (laughs).

Still, while playing Hyoro-kun, I realized that things I felt insecure about could actually stand out as something special to others. If it weren’t for this look, I wouldn’t be where I am today. From that point on, what I once disliked about myself became my greatest treasure.

Most of my roles are supporting ones, but even as a supporting character, I always act like I’m the lead. After all, everyone living is the protagonist of their own story. Everyone has their own life and way of living, and I think that applies to characters in movies and dramas too.”

From the start of the interview, Sakaguchi spoke in high spirits, sprinkling humor and self-deprecation throughout. When asked about his future goals, he shared a uniquely personal dream:

“I want to create a community, like a ‘Chabudai Dance Floor’ inspired by my roots on the chabudai stage, where I can share fun and interesting things with people around the world, including the staff and friends I’ve met and those I’ll meet in the future. I just need to keep being an interesting person myself.”

Recently, his distinctive fashion and makeup have also drawn attention, and his cheerful, positive personality has become a hit on variety shows. By confronting and embracing his complexes, Ryotaro Sakaguchi seems unstoppable. His first essay book, Kyo mo, Chabudai no Ue de Odoru, contains many more stories that couldn’t fit into this interview.

You can purchase Ryotaro Sakaguchi’s first essay book Kyo mo, Chabudai no Ue de Odoru here!