Yakkun Sakurazuka
桜塚 やっくん
Yakkun Sakurazuka as "Sukeban Kyoko" in April 2007
Born	Saitō Yasuo (1976-09-24)September 24, 1976 Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Japan
Died	October 5, 2013(2013-10-05) (aged 37) Mine, Yamaguchi, Japan
Occupations	Comedian singer voice actor
Years active	1999–2013
Known for	Sukeban Kyoko

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]

Early life

Saitō was born in Kanagawa Prefecture to Mitsuru and Misao Saitō on 24 September 1976.^[2][3] He had a younger brother named Masashi^[4][5] and graduated from Nihon University's College of Art.^[3] As a teenager, he was an active Johnny's member.^[6]

Career

In 1999, Saitō formed a comedy duo called Abare Nunchaku with fellow up-and-coming comedian Kosuke Takeuchi.^[7] The team broke up in 2005, but they reunited in 2006 on the show Enta no kami-sama, where Saitō appeared for the first time as Sukeban Kyoko, a delinquent schoolgirl always seen carrying shinai bamboo sword.^[8][9][7][1] He appeared as Sukeban on Quiz $ Millionaire in 2007,^[10] where he answered incorrectly in the final round, decreasing his earnings from ¥10,000,000 to ¥1,000,000.^{[citation needed]}

He made his musical debut in 2006 with the release of the single Geki Maji Mukatsuku.^[7] By the time of his death, he had released seven albums: Gekimajimukatsuku, 1000% SO Zakune?, Christmaster, Doonacchattendayo, Kaisou Rasputin, Sakura Revolution, and Aserunda Joshi Ha Itsumo Medatanai K.^[11] He also sang with the band Bijomen Z, a musical group where all its members dressed as women.^[8][7]

As a voice actor, Saitō starred in shows such as Detective Conan and Inazuma Eleven,^[7] sometimes using the stage name Hiromi Ueda.^{[citation needed]} He published his first book, 桜塚やっくんの都市伝説工場 (Cleavage or, literally, Urban Legend Factory), in 2008.^[12]

Controversy

In 2011, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department contacted Saitō regarding the alleged rape of a drunk college student in 2010.^[13] He denied the accusations.^[14] It was later reported that a settlement had been reached between Saitō and the woman.^[15]

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 colliding with the median.^[8][7]

Discography

Filmography

Dubbing

• The Cabin in the Woods (Marty Mikalski (Fran Kranz))^[17]