Transforming from a novice to one of Asia&rsquo;s most recognisable leading men today, the Japanese actor's journey of growth and self-discovery leaves fans excited for the possibilities ahead.

As an actor, you&rsquo;ve played many roles. Which has left the deepest impression? Every role leaves some sort of mark in my heart. It&rsquo;s hard to single out one true turning point, but there are certain experiences that changed me profoundly. My first stage play, The Seagull, was one. More recently, my very first overseas project as well, though I can&rsquo;t reveal the title yet. Those experiences sharpened my understanding of the kind of performances people truly expect; they were important moments that not only transformed my acting, but also made me reassess myself.

L'OFFICIEL HOMMES SINGAPORE — September 2025

Are there any past projects that stand out in particular? Filming my first Korean drama (What Comes After Love, 2024) left a strong impression. It wasn&rsquo;t just the work itself, but what I learned afterwards: that director Moon Hyun-sung had spoken generously about me to other directors. I was truly grateful and happy when I heard about that. At first, I thought the language barrier would be a problem, but it didn&rsquo;t turn out to be so. We were able to connect because we shared a certain conviction deep down, and that connection led to new opportunities.
If acting is a way of experiencing different lives, what other &ldquo;lives&rdquo; would you like to explore?&nbsp; Early in my career, I acted in many youth romance films, but they&rsquo;ve faded over the years and now I feel I&rsquo;m in a more neutral place. What excites me most is when directors or screenwriters I&rsquo;ve worked with invite me back. Based on their understanding and expectations of me, what kind of roles would they challenge me with? That&rsquo;s the kind of encounter I really look forward to.

Thinking back on all your career firsts, which remains the most unforgettable? My first stage play. Back then, I felt constrained by the &ldquo;good image&rdquo; others had created for me, so I unconsciously sheltered myself. Society often emphasises on not failing, but I always believe failure is necessary for growth. It wasn&rsquo;t until I stood on stage that I realised I could take criticism and use it as motivation.
Being on stage taught me that all my different selves are parts of the whole &ldquo;me&rdquo;. People like to separate between the person you see on the surface and the one you keep hidden, but they&rsquo;re one and the same to me. The stage gave me that revelation.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work? Even on off days, I often find myself reaching for a script. After more than ten years of acting, I finally got my first real long break this year. Honestly, I didn&rsquo;t know how to rest in the beginning; having free time confused me. Then friends introduced me to golf and working out, and I realised rest isn&rsquo;t a bad thing after all. But as I got used to it, I suddenly wondered: &ldquo;How did I use to act before?&rdquo; [Laughs]&nbsp;
I didn&rsquo;t make any big plans or travels during this break. I simply did nothing. I&rsquo;m not the type to plan detailed schedules anyway; I prefer to live more spontaneously, like grabbing a meal with friends on a whim or just going with the flow. I like to take life as it comes.

Have you had the chance to visit Singapore? No I haven&rsquo;t, but I&rsquo;d love to visit if I get the chance. I think of Singapore as a clean, modern city that&rsquo;s somehow close to nature; it feels very orderly overall. I&rsquo;ve only passed through the airport, but I remember the forest-like design of the terminal. I was waiting for a connecting flight and it was raining heavily outside, when suddenly the skies cleared; that was a magical moment that stayed with me.
How do you feel about gaining recognition overseas? At first, I couldn&rsquo;t believe it. I thought it was just because Japanese films were being noticed. But after What Comes After Love, I truly felt what it means to connect with local audiences. If my work reaches Singapore or elsewhere, or if I get the chance to collaborate locally, I&rsquo;d be delighted.

Finally, what are your hopes for the future? I think the word is &ldquo;steady.&rdquo; Being an actor is about moving forward step by step. With streaming platforms, a single project can reach multiple countries instantly. That&rsquo;s amazing, but it also means actors must stay even more focused on the present. Audiences from different cultures will respond differently; I don&rsquo;t expect to be accepted by everyone. But if my work resonates with more people, I&rsquo;m happy.

Photography HIROHISA NAKANO Interview ANGEL FONG and TAKAFUMI KAWASAKI Styling TAKAFUMI KAWASAKI Grooming RUMI HIROSE Production NAOKO OHISA / LE-VENT

Cover Story: The Steady Rise of Kentaro Sakaguchi

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