Living Alone with ¥70,000 Rent After Two Divorces...Sakamoto Issei Reveals the Truth Behind the 'New Kase Taiju' Scandal and His Current Reality: 'Working Over 10 Part-Time Jobs,' Struggles with Recognition, and the Real Reason He Disappeared from Media Due to Financial Troubles

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The innovative future TV platform 'ABEMA' has started streaming the latest episode of its documentary series 'NO MAKE,' offering an exclusive, in-depth look at the current life of talent Sakamoto Issei.

(Streaming URL: https://abema.tv/video/episode/89-116_s35_p420)

[Video] The Disappearance of the 'New Kase Taiju' — 33 Years After Intense Criticism... A Close-Up on the Transformed Sakamoto Issei

Living Alone with ¥70,000 Rent After Two Divorces... Sakamoto Issei Reveals the 'New Kase Taiju' Scandal and His Current Reality

The program follows Sakamoto living alone in a 30-year-old apartment on the outskirts of Chiba. At his ¥70,000-per-month 2DK apartment, he is shown making large quantities of homemade dumplings and plum wine, revealing a deeply grounded, everyday life. Though he married at 28 and had a child, he divorced in 2009. After remarrying, he faced difficulties and eventually went through a second divorce. Regarding his current life, Sakamoto openly shares, 'I'm not thinking about remarrying. It's easier being alone.' He also reveals reconnecting with his daughter from his first marriage: 'I’ve been able to see my child from my first marriage. When she turned 20, her mother said, “You can meet now.”' He adds with a calm expression, 'I don’t feel lonely.'

'I Never Thought It Would Become Such a Big Deal' — Recalling the 'New Kase Taiju' Scandal: 'I Was Thrown a Full Can of Cola'

In 1993, at age 22, Sakamoto debuted in the entertainment industry. His agency at the time, seeking publicity, gave him the stage name 'New Kase Taiju'—a play on the popular actor Kase Taiju—marking a sensational debut. Reflecting on that time, Sakamoto says, 'I faced backlash, and the stage name controversy even made NHK’s top news. It was the first time I appeared in the news for such an incident,' adding, 'I never thought it would become such a big deal.' Amid intense public criticism, he reveals a shocking behind-the-scenes moment: 'While being interviewed, someone threw a full can of cola at me.' Regarding the scandal that led to his name being changed back to 'Sakamoto Issei' just 20 days after debut, he calmly reflects: 'Looking back, the president at the time was smart. He was thinking, how can we make the name “Sakamoto Issei” popular?' I think it was probably planned that way from the start.'

'Working Over 10 Part-Time Jobs' — The Struggles of Being Recognized While Working, Carrying a ¥20 Million Debt from a Friend’s Loan… The Truth Behind His Media Disappearance Due to Financial Troubles

After the name change, Sakamoto worked as a sports talent, but later disappeared from the media. The reason? Financial troubles from a business venture involving a friend. 'I was deceived. The guarantee section said 20 million yen,' he reveals, confirming he was listed as a guarantor. Burdened with ¥20 million in debt, Sakamoto left his agency to avoid causing trouble for the company. As a freelancer, his work drastically declined. To repay debts and support his family, he says, 'My entertainment income was around ¥50,000 a month. I worked over 10 part-time jobs.' He describes his grueling routine: 'I worked on scaffolding during the day, was a host in Shinjuku twice a week at night, and also worked at a ramen shop.' But being recognized caused its own struggles. At the ramen shop, drunk customers once shouted, 'Aren’t you New Kase Taiju?' He also tried detective work but says, 'There wasn’t much work. People said, “If you were tailing someone, they’d notice you.”' He openly shares these hardships.

After eight years, Sakamoto paid off his debt and now runs a personal gym. The program also captures him passionately training clients as a gym instructor. In the final moments of the documentary, he expresses a positive outlook on his future in entertainment: 'I’ll take any job I can do,' and 'I’m grateful just to be given the chance to appear.' The full, unfiltered truth and raw reality of Sakamoto’s resilient present life can be viewed for free on ABEMA. Don’t miss it.

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Overview of ABEMA’s Documentary Series 'NO MAKE'

'What is the real person like?' 'NO MAKE' closely follows actors, talents, artists, and models, delving into their hidden pasts and the 'present' they now embrace. Watch it, and you’ll surely want to talk about them.

Program URL: https://abema.tv/video/title/89-163

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About 'ABEMA'

'ABEMA' is a video streaming service launched on April 11, 2016, aiming to innovate television with its vision of a 'new future TV.' Since launch, it has offered a registration-free, free-to-use internet TV experience, broadcasting around 25 channels 24/7, including a 24-hour news channel, original dramas and reality shows aiming for 'highest quality or one-of-a-kind,' variety programs, anime, and sports.

In addition to boasting Japan’s largest number of original episodes among domestically developed video services (※), it offers a rich lineup of new movies, popular domestic and international dramas, trending anime, live sports, and online concerts. Available anytime via TV, on-demand, smartphones, PCs, tablets, and TV devices, ABEMA delivers content tailored to diverse lifestyles.

For ¥1,180/month (tax included), 'ABEMA Premium' offers exclusive features and content. For ¥680/month (tax included), 'Ad-Supported ABEMA Premium' allows viewing of Premium-exclusive content with ads.

(※) As of March 2026, based on internal research

For the latest updates, please check official SNS channels.

Experience the new future of TV—free videos and trending content on ABEMA (https://abema.tv/)

To celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2026, ABEMA will broadcast special programs and host the 'ABEMA 10th Anniversary Free Thank-You Festival,' among other year-long campaigns. Stay tuned for ABEMA’s 10th anniversary celebrations.

ABEMA 10th Anniversary Site URL: https://contents-abema.com/10th/