Jiro Sato (actor)

After graduating from university, Sato joined Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd. However, feeling that he did not fit in with the company's culture during the company's induction ceremony, he left after just one day. He then pursued a career in acting and joined several theater companies, but his time with each was short-lived. Concluding that he was not suited for acting, he took a job at a small advertising agency. Assigned to the sales department, he quickly became the company's top salesperson.^[3]

Unable to give up his dream of acting, Sato co-founded the theater unit Chikarawaza in 1996. He later caught the attention of director Yuichi Fukuda and became a regular cast member in Fukuda's productions.^[4]

In 2024, Sato revealed that he had been living with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) for many years.^[5]

In 2026, his performance in Suzuki=Bakudan earned him the Best Supporting Actor award at the 49th Japan Academy Film Prize.^[6]

On July 1, 2026, Shūkan Bunshun reported that Sato had been accused of workplace harassment by actress Ai Hashimoto, with whom he had appeared in the Fuji Television drama Surname Confidential [ja]. According to the report, Hashimoto had requested restrictions on physical contact before filming because she had experienced harassment during a previous production. The producer conveyed the request to Sato's manager, but the manager did not relay it to Sato, and the producer accepted that the information had not been passed on. During a scene filmed on March 22nd, Sato touched Hashimoto's chin while giving acting instructions. The following day, the producer informed Sato directly of Hashimoto's request that physical contact be limited to her shoulders and arms unless prior consent had been obtained. According to Sato's agency, he complied with the restrictions thereafter.^[7]

In an interview with Shūkan Shinchō, Sato stated that he had not been informed of Hashimoto's request until after the on-set incident because his manager had not relayed the producer's message. He said that he then requested a meeting in Hashimoto's dressing room without a prior appointment and explained that, because they were portraying a married couple, he could not guarantee that there would be no physical contact during filming. According to Sato, he was later summoned by the chief producer to a meeting attended by Hashimoto and the president of her agency, where both sides agreed that physical contact would generally be limited to her shoulders and arms, while contact with other areas would require prior consent. Sato further stated that, after the first episode aired, he revisited Hashimoto's dressing room to praise her performance and told her that, if she intended to impose physical-contact restrictions while portraying a married couple, she should not continue working as an actor.He stopped greeting her.According to the report, a lawyer retained by Fuji Television instructed Sato not to enter Hashimoto's dressing room, to communicate important matters through his manager, to avoid physical contact except where required for filming and with prior consent, and that he should limit future interactions with her.^[8]

Fuji TV's investigation report stated that, following the second dressing-room visit, Hashimoto became unable to participate in promotional activities because of her deteriorating condition. The report also stated that Hashimoto expressed concern that "the male actor might disclose information relating to this matter." Sato stated in his Shukan Shincho interview that he had discussed the dispute with a fellow actor who was his friend and later told Hashimoto that the actor agreed with his view of the situation.^[9]

On July 7, he announced on X that he was severing ties with Fuji TV, and requested that his starring scenes be cut from the upcoming film Bayside Shakedown: N.E.W [ja], scheduled to be released in September.^[10]