Early life
Sakurai is the eldest of three siblings born to a family that owned a rice shop. When he was a child, he became interested in voice acting after watching a television interview with a voice actor. He graduated from Okazaki Johsei High School. After graduating from Yoyogi Animation Academy in Nagoya and 81 Acting Institute, he made his official anime debut in 1996 with the TV animation series '' Bakusō Kyōdai Let's & Go!!''. Sakurai stated that he would have taken over his family's rice shop if he did not pursue voice acting.Career
After moving on from the training school, he became a member of 81 Produce under the influence of his admiration for Toshihiko Seki. Even before his official debut, he had already received work in radio dramas and other projects during his time at the training school, but for a while after his debut, there was a period of time when he was unable to find work even after auditioning. In 1999, when he was 25 years old and wondering if he should quit voice acting, he got regular roles in two TV anime in a row, '' Digimon Adventure'' and '' Sensual Phrase'', and in the same year, he sang his first character song in his first starring movie, '' Gate Keepers''. From August 31 to September 3, 2006, Sakurai appeared in ''Eternity'', a stage play produced by the theater troupe Joy. Sakurai and Joy were accused of copyright infringement, as ''Eternity'' was based on Kōki Mitani's stage play ''Tokyo Sunshine Boys' Trap''. Sakurai, as well as his agency, 81 Produce, issued apologies. On April 22, 2011, Sakurai won the "Male Character Voice Award" at Famitsu Awards 2010. In 2012, he won the "Overseas Fan's Award" at the 6th Seiyu Awards. In 2013, after a year of discussions with the record company, Sakurai announced on his radio show that he would be singing the character song for '' Shirokuma Cafe''. In April, he announced on the radio show "Cherry Bell Co., Ltd" that he would be leaving 81 Produce, where he had worked since his debut, and going freelance. On July 20, 2014, it was announced on the official website that he became a member of INTENTION, founded by his friend Kenichi Suzumura. On October 25, 2016, Sakurai stepped on the red carpet at the 27thPersonal life
Sakurai has been married to a former voice actress for nearly 20 years, which was not disclosed to the public until September 2022 after he acknowledged a report published by '' Shukan Bunshun''. On October 26, 2022, ''Shukan Bunshun'' reported that Sakurai had been having an extramarital affair with a writer from his radio show, ''P.S. Genki Desu: Takahiro,'' which began in October 2013 and had been terminated suddenly on October 24, 2022, without any explanation of reasons given. The two had been in a relationship for 10 years, with them intending to marry; however, the writer had allegedly not been aware of Sakurai's marital status until September 2022. On November 3, 2022, the chief of Second Shot, the company behind Sakurai's radio show, apologized to the listeners, who were upset from Sakurai and the writer dating and having to listen to them on the radio show. In the same announcement, they cancelled preorders for a product originally set to be released in November 2022.Filmography
Television animation
OVA/ONA/Films
Unknown date *'' .hack//G.U. Trilogy'' as Haseo *''Divine Love'' as Hyde *''Vie Durant'' as DiDrama CDs
* '' The Apothecary Diaries'' (2020) as Jinshi *''1K Apartment no Koi'' *'' 7th Dragon 2020 & 2020-II Drama CD'' as Takehaya *'' Adekan'' as Yoshiwara Anri *''Aka no Shinmon'' as Kei Kazuragawa *'' Akaya Akashiya Ayakashino'' as Akiyoshi Tochika *'' Are you Alice?'' as Alice *'' Ai wo Utau yori Ore ni Oborero! (Blaue Rosen)'' as Rui Kiryuuin *''Baito wa Maid!?'' as Minori Ogata *''Baito wa Maid!? 2 – Shuubun!? Senden!?'' as Minori Ogata *'' BALETT STAR'' as Horinouchi Keisuke *''Be My Princess'' as Glenn J. Cashiragi *'' Buddy Complex'' BC EXTRA STORIES Vol.6 as Bizon Gerafil *'' Code Geass - Lelouch of the Rebellion'' as Suzaku Kururugi *'' Cyborg 009 Drama CD: Love Stories'' as Joe Shimamura *'' Diabolik Lovers'' as Ruki Mukami *'' Dogs: Bullets & Carnage'' as Haine Rammsteiner *'' Dolls'' as Toudou Usaki *''Ecstasy wa Eien ni ~Utsukushiki Rougoku~'' (Takaomi) *'' Executive Boy'' (Hiromi Kuresaka) *'' Fate/Prototype Special Drama CD''(Christmas Murder Case) as Saber/Arthur Pendragon *'' Fate/Prototype: Sougin no Fragments'' as Saber/Arthur Pendragon *'' Fushigi Yugi Genbu Kaiden'' as Rimudo/Uruki (male form) *'' Gaki no Ryoubun'' series 3: ''Saikyou Hiiruzu'' (Chiaki Hidaka) *''Gaki no Ryoubun'' series 5: ''Akuun no Jouken'' (Chiaki Hidaka) *''Gaki no Ryoubun'' series 7: ''Monster Panic'' (Chiaki Hidaka) *''Gouka Kyakusen de Koi wa Hajimaru'' series as Minato Kurahara *'' Gray Zone'' as Yuzuru Kousaka *'' Hatenkō Yūgi'' as Alzeid *'' Hatoful Boyfriend'' as Anghel Higure *''Junjou Boy'' Series 2: ''Junjou Heart Kaihouku'' as Kouji Nakazawa *'' Junjo Romantica'' as Misaki Takahashi *'' Kamui'' as Atsuma Hasumi *''Kairyuu Gakuen Twins'' series 1: ''Scandalous Twins'' (Kazuma Kitashiro) *''Kairyuu Gakuen Twins'' series 2: ''Dangerous Twins'' (Kazuma Kitashiro) *'' Kedamono'' as Rentarou Sakakibara *'' Kirepapa'' as Shunsuke Sakaki *'' Kiss to do-jin! ~Ōjisama wa Karisuma Ōte!?~'' as Tooru Hikawa *'' Kyo Kara Maoh!'' as Yuri Shibuya *'' L DK'' as Kugayama Shuusei *'' Love Mode'' as Rin Takimura *'' Lovely Complex'' as Atsushi Otani *''Mahou Gakuen'' Series 1: ''Binetsu Club'' (Ryuui) *''Mahou Gakuen'' Series 2: ''Himitsu Garden'' (Ryuui) *''Mahou Gakuen'' Series 3: ''Mugen Palace'' (Ryuui) *''Mahou Gakuen'' Series 4: ''Yuuwaku Lesson'' (Ryuui) *''Mahou Gakuen'' Series side story: ''Daiundoukai Zenyasai'' (Ryuui) *''Miscast'' Series Volumes 4 onwards as Andray Hayami *'' Mix★Mix★Chocolate'' as Hara *''Mizuki-sensei Kiki Ippatsu'' as Mizuki Sakanaga *''Munasawagi'' series as Yuuya Yamashino *''Naito wa Oatsuinoga Osuki'' series 1 (Kazuma Kitashiro) *''Naito wa Oatsuinoga Osuki'' series 2: ''Naito wa Hageshiinoga Osuki'' (Kazuma Kitashiro) *''News Center no Koibito'' as Narumi Kobayashi *'' Ookami Shoujo to Kuro Ouji'' as Sata Kyouya *''Ourin Gakuen'' series 3: ''Sekushi Boizu de Sasayaide'' as Daisuke Nogami *'' Rijichou-sama no Okiniiri'' as Ryou Utsunomiya *'' Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts'', Prime Minister Anubis *'' Saint Seiya Ougon 12 Kyu Hen'' as Dragon Shiryu *'' S.L.H Stray Love Hearts!'' as Kitou Ninomiya *'' Shitsuji-sama no Okiniiri'' as Kanzawa Hakuou *''Shounen Yonkei'' *'' Sket Dance'' as Sasuke Tsubaki *''Slavers'' Series as Shuuichi Kurahashi *Sugar Apple Fairytale as Shall Fen Shall *'' Sono Yubi Dake ga Shitteru'' as Yuichi Kazuki *'' Suki na Mono wa Suki Dakara Shouganai'' as Fuuta Kitamura (starting from ''White Flower'') *'' Sukitte Ii Nayo'' as Yamato Kurosawa *''Live-action film
*'' Mr. Osomatsu'' (2022) – Osomatsu (voice)Television drama
*''Koe Koi'' (2016) – Matsubara (voice)Tokusatsu
Video games
*'' .hack//G.U.'' as Haseo *''Akane-sasu Sekai de Kimi to Utau'' as Fujiwara no Teika *'' Another Century's Episode: R'' as Suzaku Kururugi *'' Another Century's Episode Portable'' as Suzaku Kururugi *'' Ape Escape'' series as Ukki Blue *'' Arena of Valor'' as Zanis *'' Bad Apple Wars'' as Aruma *'' Black Wolves Saga: Bloody Nightmare'' as Mejojo von Garibaldi *'' Black Wolves Saga: Last Hope'' as Mejojo von Garibaldi *'' Code Geass: Lost Colors'' as Suzaku Kururugi *'' Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-'', '' Dirge of Cerberus -Final Fantasy VII-'', '' Dissidia: Final Fantasy'' as Cloud Strife *'' Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc'' as Leon Kuwata *'' Diabolik Lovers, More Blood'' as Ruki Mukami *'' Dragalia Lost'' as Orion *'' Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age'' as Jasper *'' Fatal Frame IV: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse'' as You Haibara *''Fate Holy Grail Hot Springs War'' as Saber/Arthur Pendragon 〔Prototype〕 *'' Fate/stay night Réalta Nua: Take Off! Super Dimensional Trouble Hanafuda Epic Battle'' as Saber/Arthur Pendragon *'' Fate/Grand Order'' as Merlin and Arthur Pendragon 〔Prototype〕 *'' Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia'' as Lukas *'' Fire Emblem Heroes'' as Eliwood, Lukas, Julius *'' Final Fantasy Type-0'' as Kurasame Susaya *'' Final Fantasy Type-0 HD'' as Kurasame Susaya *'' Full House Kiss'' as Asaki Hanekura *'' Fushigi Yūgi Genbu Kaiden Gaiden: Kagami no Miko'' as Rimudo/Uruki *'' Galaxy Angel'' as Red-Eye *'' Granblue Fantasy'' as Lucifer, Lucio, Lucilius (GB) / Rushifa (ルシファ) (JP), Shao, Suzaku Kururugi, Black Beast *'' Gran Saga'' as Orta *'' Guilty Crown: Lost Xmas'' as Scrooge *'' Harukanaru Toki no Naka de Maihitoyo (PS2)'' as Oo no Suefumi *'' GioGio's Bizarre Adventure'' as Bruno Bucciarati *'' JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Records'' as Rohan Kishibe *'' Kyo Kara Maoh! Oresama Quest (PC)'' as Yuuri Shibuya *'' Kyo Kara Maoh! Hajimari no Tabi (PS2)'' as Yuuri Shibuya *'' Konjiki no Gash Bell'' series as Kiyomaro Takamine *'' Lost Dimension'' as The End *'' Lovely Complex'' as Otani Atsushi *'' Memories Off 5 The Unfinished Film'' as Yusuke Hina *'' Mermaid Prism'' *'' Mix★Mix★Chocolate'' as Hara *'' Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: Missing Link'' as Vincent Gleissner *'' Nana'' as Ren Honjo *'' Naruto video games'' as Sasori *'' Nioh'' () as Ishida Mitsunari *'' Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors'' as Snake/Light *'' Nise no Chigiri'' as Yamamoto Kansuke *'' Nora to Toki no Kōbō: Kiri no Mori no Majo'' as Kyto Berman *''Onmyōji'' as the Medicine Seller *'' Orange Honey'' as Shinya Shiraishi *'' Phantasy Star Online 2'' as Luther, Saga *'' Pokémon Masters EX'' as Dande (Leon) *'' Princess Maker 4'' as Prince Sharul/Charle *'' Sengoku Basara 4 Sumeragi'' as Sen no Rikyū *'' Shenmue'' as Lan Di "Longsun Zhao" *'' Shenmue II'' as Lan Di "Longsun Zhao" *'' Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2'' as Alcor (Anguished One) *'' Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux'' as Jimenez *'' Shinobi, Koi Utsutsu'' as Kirigakure Kuroudo *'' Skylanders: Giants'' as Fright Rider (Japanese dub) *'' Star Project Online'' as Yano Kazuteru *'' Super Robot Wars GC'' as Gou Ichimonji *'' Super Robot Wars Z2'' as Suzaku Kururu *'' Tagatame no Alchemist (The Alchemist Code)'' as Sol *'' Tales of Legendia'' as Walter Delqes *'' Tales of Graces'' as Asbel Lhant *'' Tales of the Heroes: Twin Brave'' as Asbel Lhant *'' Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 3'' as Asbel Lhant *'' Tengai Makyou III: Namida'' as Namida *'' The Bouncer'' as Sion Barzahd *''Tokyo Babel'' as Adam * Trails of Cold Steel/Sen no Kiseki series as Crow Armbrust *'' Trauma Team'' as CR-S01 *'' Ultraman Fusion Fight!'' as Orb Ring *'' Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception'' as Ougi *'' Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth'' as Ougi *'' Valkyrie of the Battlefield: Gallian Chronicles'' (PS3) as Faldio Landzaat *''Dubbing roles
Live-action
Animation
References
External links
*