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Sakichi Sato

Sakichi Sato

Actor and writer · Born May 13, 1964 (62) · Osaka, Japan

Sakichi Sato (佐藤 佐吉, Satō Sakichi, born May 13, 1964) is a Japanese actor, director, and screenwriter. He has written several screenplay adaptations of manga series including Tokyo Zombie, Ichi The Killer, and Gozu. He also directed Miss Boys about cross-dressing schoolboys. In the West, he played Charlie Brown in Quentin Tarantino's 2003 film Kill Bill: Volume 1.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 13, 1964 (62)
From
Osaka, Japan
Works as
Actor and writer
Titles
17 on MovieCove · 52 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 10% in 30 days

What are Sakichi Sato's films like?

Across their 7 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Survival.

Genres

Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 78th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
35%
Survival
29%
Bonds
18%
Morality
13%
Society
5%
Identity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 7 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Wry: How sincerely it treats its story and characters, from ironic to earnest. Browse their wry movies.
Tone · Sincerity
ironicearnest

A split, not a type: Ironic 3 · Wry 0 · Earnest 3

Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 1 · Serious 3 · Dark 3

Heightened: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their heightened movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 1 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 5

Intense: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their intense movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 0 · Charged 3 · Intense 4

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 2 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 3

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 2 · Relentless 3

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 2 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 1

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 2 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
4
Dread
3
Absurd
3
Melancholic
2
Contemplative
2
Other
4

How their films linger

Unsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Bittersweet1
  • Ambiguous6

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Sakichi Sato's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 11 of their 17 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Sakichi Sato's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

52 credits, 17 with a MovieCove page.

  • The Chain of Roses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Director · Original Story

  • Lost Man Found(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • The Great Yokai War: Guardians(2021)

    as Tofukozo

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Wife of a Spy(2020)

    as Street vendor

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Black Maiden: Chapter A (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Director · Screenplay · Actor

  • Black Maiden: Chapter Q (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Director · Screenplay · Actor

  • Meatball Machine Kodoku(2017)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Hamon: Yakuza Boogie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Makiuchi

  • Satsujinki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Director · Actor

  • シリーズ・横溝正史短編集 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 5 episodes · Director · as Inspector

  • Nirvana Island: The Last 47 Days(2016)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Edogawa Ranpo Short Stories (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show Creator

  • Solitary Gourmet New Year's Special ~Midwinter Hokkaido Asahikawa Business Trip Edition~ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Actor

  • Smoke and Mist: Gold Rush (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 4 episodes · as Izawa

  • 東京闇虫パンドラ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Director · Screenplay

  • As the Gods Will(2014)

    as Tadakatsu Okudaira (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Tokyo Slaves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Director · Screenplay

  • 東京闇虫 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director · Screenplay

  • 東京闇虫 第二章 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director

  • Miss Boys! Yûjô no yukue-hen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director

  • Miss Boys! Kessen wa Kôshien!?-hen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director

  • Karate-Robo Zaborgar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Elecian Andes

  • Tokyo Playboy Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Matsunosuke

  • Zero Man vs. The Half-Virgin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair(2004)

    as Charlie Brown

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Nihon no Uta Film (Red Disc) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Director

  • A Yakuza's Daughter Never Cries (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Actor

  • The Seaside Motel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as (uncredited)

  • The Bugs Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Yakuza-Busting Girls: Duel in Hell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Actor

  • Heibon Ponch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Director · Screenplay · Actor

  • Rainbow Song(2006)

    as (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Memories of Matsuko(2006)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • A Cheerful Gang Turns the Earth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • Tokyo Zombie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Fateful (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Screenplay

  • Lizard Baby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Actor

  • Black Kiss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Actor

  • Tori (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Screenplay

  • Kill Bill: Vol. 2(2004)

    as Charlie Brown

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Yakuza Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Director · Writer

  • Josee, the Tiger and the Fish(2003)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Kill Bill: Vol. 1(2003)

    as Charlie Brown

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Last Life in the Universe(2003)

    as Yakuza

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Gozu(2003)

    Screenplay · as Coffee Shop Manager

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Revolver — Blue Spring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Screenplay

  • Most Dangerous Deka Matsuri (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Director

  • 1-Ichi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Writer

  • Bright Future(2002)

    as Manager of Recycle Shop

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Ichi the Killer: Episode 0(2002)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Igyō no koi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Actor

  • Ichi the Killer(2001)

    Screenplay · as Man Kicking Ichi

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 93rd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 52 titles, 51 of them dated from 2001 to 2022; peak year 2003.

Biggest box office

Wife of a Spy (2020)

$2.3M worldwide

Highest rated

Last Life in the Universe (2003)

Midcredits 93rd

Most popular right now

Ichi the Killer (2001)

Film career

20012022

Peak 2003 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting31 of 52: 24 only acting, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score81stDirecting18 of 52: 5 only directing, 13 with another roleWriting20 of 52: 7 only writing, 13 with another role · typical Midcredits score42ndOther crew1 of 52: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

52 titles, 15 with more than one role — acting and writing overlap on 5 of them.

By decade

2000s22 · 14 acting · 11 crew2010s26 · 14 acting · 16 crew2020s3 · acting

Billing

usually 16th · top billed in 0% of 12 roles
0106

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Sakichi Sato's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 78th percentile, the median of all 16; across their 7 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 75th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

75thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Approval · how many liked their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Reach · how many have seen their films

80thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Midcredits score across 17 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th3
  • 25th to 49th4

Shape of the crowd

8 of their 17 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Crowd Pleaser8
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · writer

Nirvana Island: The Last 47 Days (2016)

76th percentile spread · 37% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair (2004)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 77/100 in their films, across 5 reviewed titles; fans 85, detractors 46. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Sakichi Sato work with?

People who share at least 2 of Sakichi Sato's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Takashi Miike shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Editors