Kentaro Sakaguchi bonds closely with Pinoy fans in Manila fanmeet; vows Manila comeback

May 21, 2025 , 04:40 PM

By Lace Anne Ebuna, Aceelaine Duron

(May 21, 2025) – Japanese star Kentaro Sakaguchi filled the SM Skydome with joy and kilig as he thrilled Filipino fans with a surprise entrance and warm, personal interactions during the Manila leg of his Asia tour fan Meeting held on May 17.

“This is my first time holding an Asia fan meeting so I’m really nervous. I was so excited to meet all my Filipino fans. This is my third time in the Philippines. I also went here last year and filmed one of my dramas in Manila,” the actor shared.

SakaKen fans, some holding handmade banners with messages like “We are always here to support you,” gave the actor a warm welcome.

Sakaguchi also promised that he would return to Manila: “I’m really grateful for the opportunity to look you guys in the eyes and talk to you. So I promise I will come again.”

He last visited the Philippines in December 2023 for the Asia Artist Awards held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan. Prior to that, he had been in the country to film scenes for the drama “Soshite Ikiru.”

Sakaguchi first debuted as a fashion model before transitioning to acting, eventually becoming one of Japan’s most beloved stars. His works have also received love from international fans.

The 33-year-old actor is known for his versatile acting and characters he has portrayed in movies and dramas such as “The Last 10 Years,” “Beyond Goodbye,” “Signal,” and “The 100th Love with You.”

In 2024, he made his Korean drama debut in “What Comes After Love,” portraying Jungo Aoki alongside Korean actress Lee Se-young.

At the start of the show, Kentaro delighted fans with a magic trick he had prepared, followed by a segment where he shared some photos he had taken on his way to Manila, along with the stories behind them.

The Japanese actor also enthusiastically fulfilled fans’ requests by joining the “Gwenchana Deng Deng Deng” dance trend, earning loud cheers from the audience.

Aside from being a talented actor, Sakaguchi is also known for his drawing skills — a talent he showcased during the “Speed Drawing Game” segment, where he quickly sketched objects while fans tried to guess what they were.

Fans were then taken on a trip down memory lane during the “Playback Kentaro” segment, where scenes from his past dramas were shown, and he recited some of his most iconic lines.

This was followed by the segment called “Kentaro’s Counseling Room,” where the Japanese actor read and answered some questions from fans. During the segment, while answering one of the questions, he shared that his MBTI type is ENFP. He added that many people assume he’s an introvert, but he’s actually an extrovert.

“I think a lot of people assume that I’m an introvert. But I’m really an extrovert, guys. My personality is bright, I’m loud, and I love doing fun things. So yeah, I’m an ENFP,” he shared.

He also shared that he would take his fans to Hokkaido if they visit Japan.

“In Hokkaido it is really cold and the snow is always falling so when I walk in that scenery of the snow I think this is just like Japan’s winter,” he said.

And if given the chance to go back to Manila, Sakaguchi shared that he would like to watch the sunset.

“They said that the sunset in Manila is the third most famous in the world. So, I really want to see that scenery.”

Toward the end of the show, he thanked the fans for their warm welcome and the opportunity to meet them through a fan meeting.

“When I’m doing acting there’s really not much time for me to meet my fans and there really no chance for me to see you guys eye to eye so I really had so much fun. Thank you guys, everyone,” Sakaguchi said.

“You guys are really, really nice. This was a very warm fan meeting, and I was able to enjoy every moment of it.”

Before the show ended, Sakaguchi came down from the stage once again, greeting and thanking the fans up close.

Kentaro’s fan meeting in Manila was presented by Wish Us Luck Productions, Ovation Productions, Tristone Entertainment, and Mahocast.

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