Japanese actor Sakaguchi Kentaro surprised everyone on September 6, 2026, when he announced his marriage to a non-celebrity woman through his official paid fan club website. The 35-year-old actor shared the personal news just one day before his upcoming thriller drama ‘kiDnap GAME’, co-starring Korean star Lee Joon Gi, revealed its premiere date and new posters.
The marriage announcement comes about one year after Sakaguchi faced dating controversy. Reports from Japanese weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun claimed he was involved in a relationship with a hair and makeup artist while also seeing actress Mei Nagano. His agency confirmed his relationship with the older woman but did not confirm the two-timing allegations. In his marriage statement, Sakaguchi wrote, “This is a personal matter, but I have married a Japanese woman I had been dating”. He also shared his commitment to continue his acting career, saying, “I will continue to dedicate myself to my career as an actor”. His agency, Tristone Entertainment, confirmed the marriage but did not disclose details about his wife, including her name and age.
‘Kidnap Game’ Brings Together Asian Stars for October Premiere
‘kiDnap GAME’ is a psychological thriller that follows an unprecedented kidnapping case happening at the same time across seven Asian cities: Seoul, Tokyo, Taipei, Singapore, Bangkok, Manila, and Naha. The series is a joint production between South Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong, with production handled by Fuji TV, MakerVille, and Sim Story.
The story begins when seven people receive a chilling message: “How far are you willing to go to save your loved one? Only one can be saved”. Each person is given different missions and forced into a deadly survival game where they must complete their tasks before anyone else to save their loved ones.
Sakaguchi Kentaro plays Niide Toshiro, a Japanese detective who relentlessly pursues the truth behind the case. He is described as a man with a strong sense of justice and calm judgment. His character throws himself into the game to save his beloved wife, played by Sakurai Yuki, but finds his own beliefs shaken along the way.
Lee Joon Gi portrays Han Ki Joo, a genius surgeon forced to make unimaginable choices after his visually impaired daughter is kidnapped. Once a doctor dedicated to saving lives, he faces extreme decisions to protect his family, plunging him into deep anguish.
International Cast and Global Release
The drama features an impressive pan-Asian cast. Alongside Sakaguchi and Lee Joon Gi, the series includes Alice Ko from Taipei, Stanley Yau from Hong Kong, Carrie Wong from Singapore, Joel Torre from Manila, and Play o Narpongkamol Chaiseen from Bangkok. Japanese cast members include Sakurai Yuki, Okazaki Sae, Mishima Masanori, Kasamatsu Sho, Yamazaki Ryutaro, Makita Sports, and Onono Machiko.
The drama has already secured broadcast and streaming deals in 18 countries and regions. In South Korea, it will air on Channel A every Tuesday at 10 p.m. KST starting October 6, 2026. In Japan, it will broadcast on Fuji TV at 9 p.m. every Tuesday, with the first episode extended by 15 minutes. The series is also expected to be available on streaming platforms including Disney+ in some regions.
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World Premiere Event Set for October 2
Before the broadcast premiere, a world premiere event will take place on October 2, 2026. The event will feature Sakaguchi Kentaro, Lee Joon Gi, and other Asian stars from the cast attending together. The production team has also released the main trailer and three types of character posters showing the two lead characters.
The production team shared, “’kiDnap GAME’ is a global psychological thriller that explores human choices and convictions in extreme circumstances”. They added, “The first posters signal the beginning of a massive game and encapsulate the most fundamental intention behind the creation of this series. Built on an original world that connects seven cities across Asia, the overwhelming acting synergy between Sakaguchi Kentaro and Lee Joon Gi promises to deliver an unprecedented level of tension”.
The new posters feature the two lead characters staring in different directions, conveying intense tension as they pursue the truth in their own ways. The tagline, “How far are you willing to go to save your loved one? Only one can be saved,” raises the central question of whether these two men will join forces or turn against each other.
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