Koichi Sato

Born in 1960 as a son of Rentaro Mikuni, legendary actor in Japan. Sato's debut performance was in 1980's TV drama "Zoku Zoku Jiken", and was awarded Japan Academy Rookie of the Year for his first movie "Seishun no Mon" in 1980.

He consistently played main role and important supporting role in various movies, andf in 1994 won the Japan Academy Best Actor award for "Crest of Betrayal", and Best Supporting Actor award for "When the Last Sword is Drawn" (2003). Other recent movies include "Rasen-Spiral" (98), "White Out" (00), "Samurai Reincarnation" (03, remake version), "Kansen" and "Umineko" (04). His recent TV period drama appearances include "Shinsen-gumi" (2004).

He often teams with Director Junji Sakamoto, including "KT" (2002), the story surrounding the mysterious abduction of former Korean president Kim Dae-jung, and is again working with him in the upcoming political-action spectacle "Aegis" (2005).

Japan Academy Award Best Actor
Won: 2004 ("When the Last Sword is Drawn", supporting actor), 2000 ("White Out", supporting actor), 1994 ("Crest of Betrayal"), 1981 ("Seishun no Mon", rookie of the year)
Nominated: 2007 ("Suite Dreams", supporting Actor)