Masatoshi Sakai

Masatoshi Sakai (Japanese: 酒井政利; 1935 –2021) was a Japanese record producer who produced a large number of hit songs. He received the Person of Cultural Merit in November 2020. He achieved sales of records to the value of more than ¥870 billion. He produced songs such as Ihojin by Saki Kubota, and and Playback Part 2 by Momoe Yamaguchi.

He produced the song (Japanese: 愛と死をみつめて) by , which won the Japan Record Award at the 6th Japan Record Awards in 1964. He produced the song by Judy Ongg, which won the Japan Record Award at the 21st Japan Record Awards in 1979. He won a special achievement award at the 63rd Japan Record Awards in 2021.

Sakai received the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Award from the Agency for Cultural Affairs in 2005.

He worked for Nippon Columbia from 1961, and for CBS/Sony from 1968.

Sakai produced songs for the Candies, including Hohoemi Gaeshi. and the album Pacific (1978). He produced songs for Hiromi Go, including Otokonoko Onnanoko (English title: "Hey Go, Go"). He produced the song by Sumiko Sakamoto. Seiko Matsuda and Rie Miyazawa. Masatoshi Sakai is a character in the NHK television drama Aidoru tanjō kagayake Shōwa kayō (Japanese: アイドル誕生 輝け昭和歌謡) (2023), played by the actor Masaki Miura.

Life Masatoshi Sakai was born on 17 November 1935 on 16 July 2021.