Sakaguchi played the character “Doberman” Yamanoi in the live-action adaptations of Ira Ishida’s Ikebukuro West Gate Park novels, and also played protagonist Ryūtarō Asada in the live-action series adaptations of Akira Nagai and Tarō Nogizaka’s Iryū – Team Medical Dragon manga.
The actor has had pain in his right hip since six years ago, and had surgery performed three years ago.
He will end his contract and resign from his agency K Dash at the end of May.
Actor Kenji Sakaguchi revealed on March 31 that he has an incurable disease — idiopathic osteonecrosis of the femoral head — and that he will take an indefinite medical hiatus from the entertainment industry to focus on treatment.