Yakkun Sakurazuka
 | This article needs to be updated. (October 2013) |
Yakkun Sakurazuka | |
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桜塚 やっくん | |
 Yakkun Sakurazuka as "Sukeban Kyoko" in April 2007 | |
| Born | Yasuo Saitō September 24, 1976 Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Japan |
| Died | October 5, 2013 (aged 37) Mine, Yamaguchi, Japan |
| Cause of death | Road accident |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1999–2013 |
| Known for |
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Yasuo Saitō (斎藤 恭央, Saitō Yasuo, September 24, 1976 – October 5, 2013), also known by the stage name Yakkun Sakurazuka (桜塚 やっくん, Sakurazuka Yakkun), was a Japanese comedian, singer, and voice actor.[1]
Biography
Born in Kanagawa Prefecture, Saitō first started in the entertainment business for a few years during his high school years as a member of the Johnny's company, although it reportedly went nowhere, and he departed from the label in order to attend a university. In 1999, at the age of 23, Saitō formed a comedy duo called Abare Nunchaku with fellow up-and-coming comedian Kosuke Takeuchi. This marked his official debut in the Japanese mainstream as Abare Nunchaku had some success until disintegrating in 2005.[citation needed]
Following the disbandment of Abare Nunchaku, Saitō went on to make his singing debut in 2006 on the television show Quiz $ Millionaire. He advanced to the top prize question, but answered wrong, missing out on ¥10,000,000 but still winning ¥1,000,000.[citation needed] He subsequently released six singles, including "Geki Maji Mukatsuku", "1000% So Zakune", and "ChristMaster".[needs update] He later would perform under the aliases of Hiromi Ueda and, most famously, Yakkun Sakurazuka.
Saitō was also known as Sukeban Kyoko—a persona characterized as a delinquent schoolgirl always seen carrying a shinai bamboo sword.[2] He appeared in the TV comedy show Enta no Kami-sama, a comedy show.[1]
In 2010, Saitō launched a band in which the members all cross-dressed.[2]
Death
Saitō was killed in a traffic accident on October 5, 2013, aged 37, on the Chugoku Expressway in Mine, Yamaguchi, while en route to a concert in Kumamoto Prefecture. He was hit by another car and killed when exiting his car after a slight collision.[2]
Notable voice roles
- Full Moon o Sagashite, as Takuto Kira
- Inazuma Eleven, as Raiden Hijikata
- Absolute Boy, as Ryōsuke Sakakura
- Detective Conan, as "Satan" Onizuka
References
- ^ a b 桜塚やっくん個人事務所設立「一念発起」 (in Japanese). Sanspo.com. 18 October 2010. Archived from the original on 21 October 2010. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
- ^ a b c "Comedian Yakkun killed on highway". The Japan Times. Japan: The Japan Times Limited. 7 October 2013. p. 2. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
External links
- Yakkun Sakurazuka at IMDb
- Official blog (in Japanese)
- Agency profile (Archived) (in Japanese)
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