Masashi Sada

1.1. Birth and Childhood

Masashi Sada was born on April 10, 1952, in Nagasaki, Japan, as the eldest son of Masato Sada and Kiyoko. His family background is notably diverse; his paternal grandfather, Shigeharu, engaged in espionage activities across Mainland China and Russian Far East before serving as a secretary to the Minister of Commerce and Industry. His paternal grandmother, Emu, was an unconventional Japanese woman for her time, managing a restaurant in Vladivostok, Russia (then part of the Soviet Union). After World War II, his father, Masato (1920-2009), a veteran from Nagasaki, settled in the city and married Kiyoko (1926-2016), his comrade's sister, leading to Masashi's birth.

During Masashi's early childhood, his father operated a lumber business, and the family resided in a spacious mansion with over ten rooms. However, the family faced significant financial hardship when his father's business failed due to the Isahaya Flood in 1957, forcing them to move from their grand home to a small nagaya (row house). This experience later inspired his song "Tentaku" (Moving House), featured on his first solo album, Kikyorai.

1.2. Education and Early Influences

Sada began learning the violin at the age of three. His early talent was evident, as he placed third in the Western Japan (Kyushu region) competition of the Mainichi Student Music Contest in 1963, and second in the same competition the following year while in elementary school. Recognized by the renowned violin instructor Saburo Sumi, Sada moved to Tokyo alone in his first year of junior high school to pursue violin training. He boarded in Katsushika Ward and attended Katsushika Ward Nakagawa Junior High School, where he joined the brass band. For approximately 20 years from his third year of junior high, he resided in Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture.

During his time in Tokyo, despite continued violin lessons, Sada found the path to becoming a classical violinist far more challenging than he or his family had initially imagined. He struggled deeply, ultimately failing the entrance examination for the Tokyo University of the Arts Music High School (he later changed his target school to Tokyo Metropolitan Komaba High School's arts department). Disheartened by not meeting his family's and his own expectations, he enrolled in Kokugakuin High School, subsequently losing his passion for the violin.

During his junior high years, he was influenced by artists such as Yuzo Kayama and Simon & Garfunkel, which led him to start composing songs while playing the guitar. He was too shy to perform in front of train stations, so he would carry his guitar case to the Keisei Main Line overpass or under the Ichikawa Bridge to play. He was also a fan of the NHK serial drama Ohanahan, once being late for school for 38 consecutive days because of it. Despite his struggles with classical music, his innate talent flourished in high school, and he excelled in various fields beyond music, including novel writing, rakugo, and sports.

2.1. Debut with Grape

After graduating from high school, Sada enrolled in the Faculty of Law at Kokugakuin University, but dropped out after only a few months. He worked various part-time jobs, including as a painter, until he contracted hepatitis, prompting his return to Nagasaki. In 1972, his high school friend Masami Yoshida visited Sada in Nagasaki from Tokyo and stayed at his home. Sada initially intended to scold Yoshida for leaving his job without notice and disappearing, but upon seeing him, he instinctively said, "Hey! Glad you came," and couldn't bring himself to scold him.

The two quickly bonded, and on November 3, 1972, they formed the folk duo "Grape" and began their musical activities. Inspired by the success of Takuro Yoshida with hits like "Kekkon Shiyō yo" and "Tabi no Yado," they began composing folk-style songs. Their first concert at the NBC Video Hall in Nagasaki, with a capacity of over 300, only drew about 250 attendees, with Sada's brother, Shigeaki, even pulling passersby in (a method Sada jokingly called the "cabaret style").

Grape was scouted by music producer Akihiro Kawamata and made their national debut on October 25, 1973, with the single "Yuki no Asa" under Warner-Pioneer (now Warner Music Japan). Their debut song sold only 8,000 copies, with friends even buying records to force acquaintances to purchase them. Their second single, "Shourou Nagashi" (精霊流し^Japanese, Spirit Flowing), released on April 25, 1974, initially sold poorly due to their obscurity. However, Tokai Radio announcer Atsuko Kanie repeatedly played the song on her late-night program Midnight Tokai. This support helped the song become a nationwide hit, not just in the Nagoya area, peaking at number two on the Oricon Singles Chart in Japan and earning the Japan Record Award for Best Lyrics in 1974.

In November 1975, their song "Muen Zaka" (無縁坂^Japanese, Unconnected Slope) also became a hit. However, Sada again suffered from hepatitis and requested a year-long hiatus from his producer, but was denied for fear of being forgotten by the audience. The unexpected success of "En-kiri Dera" (縁切寺^Japanese, Temple of Severed Ties), an album track, combined with the poor performance of "Asagao" (朝顔^Japanese, Morning Glory), released to "change the atmosphere," led to the perception that "Grape's music is dark." This mismatch between their desired musical direction and public reception led to the group's disbandment in the spring of 1976. At their farewell concert, Sada famously quipped that after "Shourou Nagashi," "Muen Zaka," and "En-kiri Dera," the only place left was the grave.

2.2. Solo Career

After Grape's dissolution in 1976, Sada briefly left the music industry. While recovering from his illness, he considered other employment but found no success. In November of the same year, he launched his solo career with the song "Senkou Hanabi" (線香花火^Japanese, Sparkler). He departed from his former agency, The Bird Corporation, and established his own production company, Sada Kikaku.

In 1977, his single "Amayadori" (雨やどり^Japanese, Shelter from the rain), a comical song about falling in love and marrying after taking shelter from the rain, became a massive hit, reaching number one on the Oricon Singles Chart. This marked his first chart-topping single, surpassing "Shourou Nagashi"'s peak at number two. "Amayadori" was so successful that various alternate versions were later created, including "Mō Hitotsu no Amayadori" and a self-deprecating collaboration with Shinji Tanimura called "Ame Subaru." Following this, songs he provided to other artists, such as "Cosmos" (秋桜^Japanese) for Momoe Yamaguchi, and his own "Kakashi" (案山子^Japanese, Scarecrow), also became hits.

In October 1978, Sada established his personal record label, Free Flight, and released his first single under the label, "Ten made Todoke" (天までとどけ^Japanese, Reach for the Heavens), in January 1979. "Kanpaku Sengen" (関白宣言^Japanese, Declaration of the Chief Advisor to the Emperor), released in July of the same year, became a monumental hit, selling over 1.5 million copies. He continued to release numerous successful songs, including "Oyaji no Ichiban Nagai Hi" (親父の一番長い日^Japanese, Father's Longest Day), "Doukeshi no Sonnet" (道化師のソネット^Japanese, Clown's Sonnet), "Bōnin no Uta" (防人の詩^Japanese, Border Guard's Song), and "Ekisha" (驛舎^Japanese, Station Building).

In 1980, Sada starred in the film Tobe Icarus no Tsubasa (翔べイカロスの翼^Japanese, Fly, Icarus' Wings) as a young clown in a circus, also composing its theme song, "Doukeshi no Sonnet." He then conceived, directed, and starred in the documentary film Chang Jiang (長江^Japanese, Yangtze River), about the great river in China, which was released in November 1981 with "Seisei Ruten" as its theme song. Although the film was a hit, screening in 120 cinemas, Sada's lack of knowledge about film financing led him to personally bear the production costs. Combined with extended shooting periods due to various obstacles in China, the production budget swelled beyond expectations, resulting in a debt of approximately 2.80 B JPY (which he later stated amounted to 3.50 B JPY including interest). This debt was even referenced in the lyrics of his 31st single, "Tateguya Kato no Ketsushin ~ Ware ga Jii ni Natta Koro."

The period following the film's financial setback, coupled with a shift in public sentiment towards a more "dry and cool" aesthetic in the 1980s, and criticisms labeling songs like "Kanpaku Sengen" and "Bōnin no Uta" as "right-wing," marked a challenging time for Sada. Despite these difficulties, he continued his career. In 1981, he composed the music for the Fuji Television drama Kita no Kuni Kara (北の国から^Japanese, From the North Country); its theme song, "Kita no Kuni Kara ~ Haruka naru Daichi yori ~" (北の国から~遥かなる大地より~^Japanese, From the North Country ~ From the Distant Land ~), became widely famous despite having no lyrics.

Sada achieved his 1,000th solo concert at the Tokyo Koseinenkin Kaikan in 1985. He also released "Ren'ai Shokogun" (恋愛症候群^Japanese, Love Syndrome), a song about romance based on blood types. He is A-type, his father and daughter are AB-type, his mother and brother are B-type, his wife is O-type, and his son is A-type.

In 1986, Sada participated in the first "Hiroshima Peace Concert," organized by Kosetsu Minami in Hiroshima. When he lamented to friends why a similar event wasn't held in Nagasaki, he was challenged to organize it himself. Feeling the time was right, he approached Takeo Nishioka, a House of Representatives member from Nagasaki, proposing a concert on August 9, the anniversary of the Nagasaki atomic bombing. Nishioka advised against it, stating the date would be too chaotic with political gatherings. Instead, Sada decided to hold the concert on August 6, the anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing, with the theme of "singing for peace from Nagasaki towards Hiroshima." From 1987 to 2006, he annually held the free peace concert "Natsu Nagasaki Kara Sada Masashi" (夏・長崎から さだまさし^Japanese, Summer from Nagasaki, Masashi Sada) in his hometown of Nagasaki, attracting fans from across the country and becoming a major summer event.

He reached his 2,000th solo concert in 1993 at the Osaka Festival Hall. In 1995, he initiated the "Nagasaki Peace Sphere Kai no Hi Undo" (Shell Fire Movement) to create a peace museum in Nagasaki, which led to the opening of the Nagasaki Peace Museum in April 2003. In 1996, he received the Nagasaki Prefecture Citizen's Honor Award. On April 1, 2000, he sang the national anthem "Kimigayo" at the opening game for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. He also became the first Japanese male singer to hold a concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

In September 2001, he published the novel Shourou Nagashi, which became a bestseller and was later adapted into a NHK television drama (scripted by Shinichi Ichikawa) and a film directed by Mitsutoshi Tanaka. He also released an album, Shōsetsu "Shōrō Nagashi" no Sekai, featuring music selected to accompany the novel. His children's book Obaachan no Onigiri (おばあちゃんのおにぎり^Japanese, Grandma's Onigiri) was published in 2001, earning him the Hiroshuke Douwa Prize in 2002.

On March 21, 2002, he achieved the unprecedented feat of his 3,000th solo concert at the Tokyo International Forum. From September to December, he held his 30th-anniversary concert tour, "MOON-BOW at THE 30th," in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka, each featuring an eight-night program that followed his career chronologically with daily changing setlists and band formations. In December, he released the short story collection Kaika (解夏^Japanese).

In 2004, his novel Kaika was adapted into the Fuji Television Monday 9 p.m. drama Aishi Kimi e (愛し君へ^Japanese, To My Beloved You), with Yuji Sakamoto as scriptwriter. A film adaptation, directed by Kazuhiro Isomura, was also released the same year. In December 2004, he published his full-length novel Bizan (眉山^Japanese, Eyebrow Mountain).

On August 17, 2005, he sang "Kimigayo" at the FIFA World Cup qualifier match between the Japanese and Iranian football teams. On September 6 and 7, he held his "3,333rd Solo Concert Commemoration" at the Nippon Budokan for two days. On September 7, his 32nd original album, Tokoshie (とこしへ^Japanese, Forever), was released. In October, he designed the packaging for Sapporo Beer's "Fuyu Monogatari" (Winter Story) for the first time.

On January 1, 2006, the live broadcast special Shinshun Ikinari Namahōsō!! "Toshi no Hajime wa Sada Masashi" (新春いきなり生放送!!「年の初めはさだまさし」^Japanese, New Year's Sudden Live Broadcast!! "New Year Begins with Sada Masashi") aired on NHK General TV, hosted by Sada. Subsequent installments continued to be produced, broadcasting approximately once a month as of 2020. In April 2006, he released the single "Ganbaranba" (Nagasaki dialect version). On August 6, 2006, he held the final "2006 Natsu Nagasaki Kara Sada Masashi Final" concert, announcing that the following year he would hold a concert on August 9 in Hiroshima, "singing from Hiroshima towards Nagasaki." For his "Natsu Nagasaki Kara" activities, he received a Special Award at the 48th Japan Record Awards.

On August 9, 2007, he held "2007 Natsu Hiroshima Kara Sada Masashi" (2007 夏 広島から さだまさし^Japanese, Summer from Hiroshima, Masashi Sada) at the Hiroshima Municipal Stadium (first generation), becoming only the second artist to perform there. In autumn 2008, his album Jōkei Kokoro o Tsugu (情継 こころをつぐ^Japanese, Inheriting Feelings), covering songs by Hibari Misora, reached the top 10. Despite being dropped from the NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen that year, Toshi no Hajime wa Sada Masashi continued. On December 31, 2009, he held his first New Year's Eve countdown concert in 21 years at the Ryogoku Kokugikan, followed immediately by a live broadcast of Toshi no Hajime wa Sada Masashi from the venue.

On July 16, 2010, he held the Masashi Sada 3776th Concert at Lake Yamanaka, Mount Fuji. On June 10, 2012, he performed for free at a "Great East Japan Earthquake Reconstruction Prayer" event at Pacifico Yokohama, organized by Honmon Butsuryu-shu temples. In 2012, he embarked on his 40th-anniversary tour "Sada Matsuri," starting in June at Nagasaki Brick Hall and running until January 2013. The tour featured a two-night format: "Eve Festival ~Shaberu DAY~" (Talk Day) on the first night, focusing on talk with only about nine songs, and "After-party ~Utau DAY~" (Sing Day) on the second night, focusing on singing with minimal talk. On July 17, 2013, he achieved his 4,000th solo concert at the Nippon Budokan, setting a new Japanese record for a professional singer.

In August 2015, the "Kaze ni Tatsu Lion Fund" (風に立つライオン基金^Japanese, Lion Standing in the Wind Fund) was established, and in July 2017, it was recognized as a public interest incorporated foundation. In 2017, he launched a promotion campaign themed "Sada Masashi = Kawaii," opening an official Instagram account and releasing a "PPAP ~Japanese Version~" video on YouTube. In 2018, for his 45th anniversary, he moved to JVC Kenwood Victor Entertainment (now Victor Entertainment). On May 27, he sang the national anthem "Kimigayo" at the 85th Japanese Derby. By the end of 2023, his solo concert count had exceeded 4,600.

2.3. Musical Style and Songwriting

Sada Masashi's musical style is deeply rooted in Western popular music and classical music techniques. Having started playing the violin at age three, aspiring to be like Jascha Heifetz, his familiarity with the melodic instrument significantly influenced his musicality. He often plays the violin during his concerts, and his compositions sometimes feature classical citations.

His songwriting process primarily follows a "song-first" (曲先^Japanese, kyokusen) approach, where he composes the melody before writing the lyrics. He notes that deadlines are a strong motivator for his lyric writing, stating, "Deadlines are a wonderful weapon that strips away my pretensions. If I don't write today, it's over. If I'm told to write, I write." He is also known for his improvisational songwriting skills, often recounting how he composed the theme song for Kita no Kuni Kara in just one hour with So Kuramoto. In a segment on Nippon Television's Arashi ni Shiyagare, he composed a melody for lyrics written by the group Arashi in just 15 minutes, creating the song "NIF ~ NIKU in Fire."

Sada's musical awakening was significantly influenced by Simon & Garfunkel and Yuzo Kayama. He began playing guitar in junior high after hearing Simon & Garfunkel, captivated by the instrument's ability to lead the overall sound, a stark contrast to the single-melody violin. He was deeply affected when Paul Simon reportedly said in the late 1970s, "It's just music, I can quit anytime," and even traveled to New York City to question Simon about his true intentions. Simon's philosophical reply was, "You can't quit, but you can. Music is always progressing towards the past." Sada was also profoundly impacted by Kayama's "Kimi to Itsumademo," immediately borrowing a friend's guitar to compose his first song using the same chord progression. He also admired the ballad-style numbers of Bread (David Gates). While many Japanese singer-songwriters of his generation were influenced by The Beatles or Bob Dylan, Sada's primary influences set him apart. He also cites Hachidai Nakamura and Rokusuke Ei as major influences.

Many of Sada's songs, such as "Tobi-ume," "Mahoroba," and "Shunie," incorporate religious motifs and themes from Japanese classical literature and folklore. This has led to him performing numerous concerts at temples and shrines, including Dazaifu Tenman-gū, Tōdai-ji, Yakushi-ji, and Heian Jingū. He also has close ties with chief priests and abbots of these religious sites.

Sada has often faced criticism for his songs, a topic he addressed in a 2020 Yomiuri Shimbun interview. He noted that his music was frequently labeled. For example, "Shourou Nagashi" was called "dark," fitting into the "Yojōhan Folk" (Four-and-a-half-mat Folk) image of folk music at the time. While he understood this for a song about death, he felt the label "Grape = dark" was unfair and contributed to the duo's limitations. "Muen Zaka" was criticized as "mother complex," a label he found overly simplistic for a song about a son's empathy for his mother's struggles, especially compared to similar songs like Kaien-tai's "Haha ni Sasageru Ballad," which faced no such criticism. He attributed some of this to his slender, long-haired, and seemingly timid appearance. His first solo hit, "Amayadori," was called "weak," and "Kanpaku Sengen" was deemed "misogynistic" or "male chauvinist." He also faced accusations of "calculating songwriting" and "commercialism."

2.4. Concert Activities

Masashi Sada is renowned for his exceptionally active concert schedule, having performed over 4,600 solo concerts by the end of 2023, a Japanese record for a professional singer. A significant motivation for this extensive touring was the substantial debt he incurred from his 1981 film Chang Jiang. To repay the estimated 2.80 B JPY (or 3.50 B JPY with interest) debt, he performed over 100 concerts annually, reaching a peak of 162 performances in 1982. He successfully repaid the debt after more than 30 years, yet he continues to tour vigorously.

Sada's concerts are characterized by his unique "talk" or "hanashi" (噺^Japanese, storytelling) segments, which often last longer than the musical performances, sometimes occupying an hour of a three-hour show. These segments are akin to rakugo or manzai (Japanese stand-up comedy), and he has joked that a rakugo master once told his disciples to study Sada's concerts. Many of his talk segments have become classic routines, so much so that during an all-request concert for his fan club in 1994, audiences could request not only songs but also specific talk topics. Most of his live albums include these talk segments unedited, and he has even released albums composed solely of his talk, such as Sada Masashi Talk Best in 2006, which he claims sometimes outsells his music CDs. He began incorporating extensive talk after noticing a seemingly hostile audience member in the front row laughed during his conversation, reassuring him that he wasn't disliked. He likens his talk segments to "wafers for ice cream," essential for enjoying the "ice cream" (songs).

In the early 1980s, when performing in China, Sada chartered a Douglas DC-8 cargo plane from Japan Airlines to transport his musical equipment, a practice now common for major international artists visiting Japan but one he pioneered among Japanese artists. He is also known for surprising local audiences; for example, if a local high school baseball team won a prefectural tournament and qualified for Koshien Stadium on the day of his concert, he would wear the team's cap and sing their school anthem.

3.1. Grape Albums

• Wasuremono (わすれもの^Japanese) - Lost Property (August 25, 1974)
• Seseragi (せせらぎ^Japanese) - Babble (May 25, 1975)
• Communication (コミュニケーション^Japanese) (November 25, 1975)
• Ano Koro ni Tsuite -Season of Raisin- (あの頃について -シーズン・オブ・レーズン-^Japanese) - About That Time -Season of Raisin- (November 10, 1991) (released under the name 'Raisin')

3.2. Solo Albums

• Kikyorai (帰去来^Japanese) - I Come Back (November 25, 1976)
• Kazamidori (風見鶏^Japanese) - Weathercock (July 25, 1977)
• Anthology (私花集^Japanese) (March 25, 1978)
• Yume Kuyo (夢供養^Japanese) - Memorials of Dreams (April 10, 1979)
• Inshoha (印象派^Japanese) - Impressionists (October 10, 1980)
• Utsuroi (うつろひ^Japanese) - Transition (June 25, 1981)
• Yume no Wadachi (夢の轍^Japanese) - Rut of Dreams (December 11, 1982)
• Kaze no Omokage (風のおもかげ^Japanese) - Vestiges of Winds (November 30, 1983)
• Glass Age (Glass Age -硝子の世代-^Japanese) (December 12, 1984)
• ADVANTAGE (June 12, 1985)
• Jibun Shokogun (自分症候群^Japanese) - Oneself Syndrome (December 21, 1985)
• Yume Kaikisen (夢回帰線^Japanese) - The Dream Tropic (July 25, 1987)
• Kazemachi Dori no Hitobito (風待通りの人々^Japanese) - People on the Street that is Waiting for Breeze (July 25, 1988)
• Yume no Fuku Koro (夢の吹く頃^Japanese) - Time Blowing Dream (January 25, 1989)
• Yume Bakari Miteita (夢ばかりみていた^Japanese) - I Only Dreamed (February 25, 1990)
• Yume Kaikisen II (夢回帰線II^Japanese) - The Dream Tropic Second (August 25, 1990)
• Kazoku no Shozo (家族の肖像^Japanese) - Portrait of a Family (July 25, 1991)
• Honobono (ほのぼの^Japanese) - Heartwarming (November 10, 1992)
• Aimiteno (逢ひみての^Japanese) - Rendezvous (October 25, 1993)
• Omoide Dorobo (おもいで泥棒^Japanese) - Burglar who Steal Dreams (October 25, 1994)
• Sayonara Nippon (さよならにっぽん^Japanese) - Good-bye Japan (October 25, 1995)
• Furukusai Koi no Uta Bakari (古くさい恋の唄ばかり^Japanese) - Just old-fashioned Love Songs (October 25, 1996)
• Yumeuta (夢唄^Japanese) - Dream Song (November 21, 1997)
• Kokoro no Jidai (心の時代^Japanese) - Period of Heart (September 23, 1998)
• Toki no Sumika (季節の栖^Japanese) - Habitats of Seasons (June 23, 1999)
• Nihon Kaku Setsu (日本架空説^Japanese) - Japan Fancied Theory (September 21, 2000)
• Alstroemeria (夢百合草 (あるすとろめりあ)^Japanese) (February 27, 2002)
• Yume no Tsuzuki (夢のつづき^Japanese) - Continuation of a Dream (September 26, 2002)
• Slow Life Story (すろうらいふすとーりー^Japanese) (October 22, 2003)
• Koibumi (恋文^Japanese) - Love Letter (September 22, 2004)
• Tokoshie (とこしへ^Japanese) - Forever (September 7, 2005)
• Utsukushiki Nihon no Omokage (美しき日本の面影^Japanese) - Beautiful Japanese Vestiges (September 6, 2006)
• Mist (September 12, 2007)
• Utsukushii Asa (美しい朝^Japanese) - Beautiful Morning (June 9, 2009)
• Yokan (予感^Japanese) - Premonition (June 9, 2010)
• Sada City (July 11, 2011)
• Mou Kurukoro... (もう来る頃...^Japanese) - Time It Will Come (June 13, 2012)
• Dai Ni Gakushou (第二楽章^Japanese) - The Second Movement (September 10, 2014)
• Kaze no Kiseki (風の軌跡^Japanese) - Track of Winds (July 8, 2015)
• Reborn ~Umaretate no Sada Masashi~ (Reborn～生まれたてのさだまさし～^Japanese) (July 4, 2018)
• Shin-Jibunfudoki I ~Boukyou~ (新自分風土記I～望郷篇～^Japanese) (May 15, 2019)
• Shin-Jibunfudoki II ~Mahoroba~ (新自分風土記II～まほろば篇～^Japanese) (May 15, 2019)
• 45th Anniversary Concert Tour 2018 Reborn-Masashi Sada (45周年記念コンサートツアー2018 Reborn ～生まれたてのさだまさし～^Japanese) (June 26, 2019)

4.1. Novelist and Author

Sada's debut as a novelist came with "Choujin-tachi no Coffee Break" (超人達のコーヒーブレイク^Japanese) - Supermen's Coffee Break, published in Hon - Hito no En to wa Fushigi na Mono de... (本-人の縁とは不思議なもので...^Japanese) - Books - Human Connections are Mysterious... in March 1976, around the time Grape disbanded. He later serialized stories like "Naita Akaoni" (泣いた赤鬼^Japanese) - The Crying Red Ogre and "Izumoji" (出雲路^Japanese) - Izumo Road in his fan club newsletter, Masashing World, which were later collected in Samazama na Kisetsu ni (さまざまな季節に^Japanese) - In Various Seasons in November 1981.

In 2001, prompted by a program企画 on TV Asahi's Honpara! Sekiguchido Shoten and guided by Gentōsha president Toru Kenjo, Sada published his autobiographical novel Shourou Nagashi (精霊流し^Japanese) - Spirit Flowing, which became a bestseller. This novel was adapted into an NHK television drama, Shourou Nagashi ~Anata o Wasurenai~ (精霊流し~あなたを忘れない~^Japanese) - Spirit Flowing ~I Won't Forget You~ in 2002, and a film directed by Mitsutoshi Tanaka in 2003. In 2002, he released the short story collection Kaika (解夏^Japanese).

His novel Kaika was the basis for the Fuji Television drama Aishi Kimi e (愛し君へ^Japanese) - To My Beloved You in 2004, with Yuji Sakamoto as scriptwriter. A film adaptation, directed by Kazuhiro Isomura, was also released in the same year. In 2004, he published his third novel, Bizan (眉山^Japanese) - Eyebrow Mountain, which was adapted into an NHK-FM radio drama, a comic series in Silky magazine, a Toho-produced film directed by Isshin Inudo in 2007, and a Fuji Television drama in 2008.

Before Shourou Nagashi, Sada had already included short stories based on song titles in the lyric booklets of his albums ADVANTAGE and Jibun Shokogun, later published as a book titled Jibun Shokogun by Shinchosha. Most of his other original albums also feature his own liner notes for each song, providing insights into their creation, his inspirations, backgrounds, and themes.

Sada has also worked as a children's author, publishing several picture books based on his own experiences. His second children's book, Obaachan no Onigiri (おばあちゃんのおにぎり^Japanese) - Grandma's Onigiri, a story often shared in his concert MCs, earned him the Hiroshuke Douwa Prize, making him the first singer to receive this award.

He is a prolific essayist, with columns in newspapers like Mainichi Shimbun and magazines such as Shinchosha's Tabi and Diamond Inc.'s TV Station. His essay collection Sada no Jisho (さだの辞書^Japanese) - Sada's Dictionary won the Japan Essayist Club Award. His fan club newsletter also features a new short story by Sada in each issue, covering various genres. Sada's deep commitment to poetry is also reflected in his ownership of a small island in Ōmura Bay, Nagasaki Prefecture (formerly Kotokai Town, Nishisonogi District), which he renamed Shijima (詩島^Japanese) - Poem Island on April 1, 1995. On the island, he established "Shijima Tenmangu," a shrine consecrated from Dazaifu Tenman-gū, which is the setting for his song "Tobi-ume."

4.2. Actor and Broadcaster

Sada Masashi has a diverse career as an. In 1980, he starred in the film Tobe Icarus no Tsubasa as a circus clown, also composing the film's music. He later appeared in Yoji Yamada's Gakko III (1998) as a vocational school teacher and in Tsuri Baka Nisshi 16 (2005) as a detective. He provided the Japanese narration for the animated version of Eric Carle's picture book The Very Hungry Caterpillar in 2001. His novels have frequently been adapted into films and television dramas, including Shourou Nagashi (2003 film), Kaika (2004 film), Bizan (2007 film), and Antoki no Inochi (アントキノイノチ^Japanese) - Life's Moment (2011 film). He also had voice roles, such as a passing tofu seller in the anime film Space Brothers#0 (2014). More recently, he appeared in the TV drama Akamedaka (2015) as a sushi restaurant owner, Onihei Hankacho THE FINAL (2016) as a shiratama seller, and played the role of Hiraikawa Ichii in the NHK serial drama Come Come Everybody (2021-2022). He also served as the narrator for Maiagare! (2022-2023) and played a temple priest in Umi ni Nemuru Diamond (2024).

Sada has a long and successful career in radio. He hosted Say! Young (セイ!ヤング^Japanese) on Bunka Hoso during his Grape days and later from 1981 to 1994. Other notable radio programs include Sada Masashi no Zenryoku Tōkyū (さだまさしの全力投球^Japanese) - Sada Masashi's Full Pitch (1979-1980), Sada Masashi no Radio Mappiruma (さだまさしのラジオまっぴるま^Japanese) - Sada Masashi's Radio Midday (1985-1987), and (Yu) Sada Masashi Daisekaisha ((有) さだまさし大世界社^Japanese) - Sada Masashi Great World Company Ltd. (1994-1998). Since October 2022, he has hosted 1-ji no Oni no Mayoi (1時の鬼の魔酔い^Japanese) - The Demon's Bewilderment at 1 O'Clock on Tokai Radio.

On television, Sada is widely known for his long-running live broadcast series Kon'ya mo Nama de Sada Masashi (今夜も生でさだまさし^Japanese) - Sada Masashi Live Tonight Too on NHK General TV, which began with a New Year's special in 2006. The show is famous for its low budget, long talk segments, and few songs, with Sada often engaging in self-deprecating humor and even mentioning rival programs or subtly criticizing NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen. He has also made numerous guest appearances on various TV programs, including Tetsuko's Room on TV Asahi, where he once hosted the show with Tetsuko Kuroyanagi as his guest, a first for the program.

• Ganjitsu TV ~Kotoshi wa Misemasu NHK~ (元日テレビ~今年は見せますNHK~^Japanese) - New Year's Day TV ~NHK Shows This Year~ (2008, NHK General)
• Ganjitsu TV ~Otayori dake ga Tayori desu~ (元日テレビ~お便りだけが頼りです~^Japanese) - New Year's Day TV ~Only Letters Are Our Reliance~ (2008, NHK General) - Co-starred with Taka and Toshi.
• Shōgatsu TV! ~Kore koso Wagamachi Genki Damashī!~ (正月テレビ!~これこそわが町元気魂!~^Japanese) - New Year's TV! ~This is Our Town's Spirit!~ (2008, NHK General)
• Masashi to TakaToshi no Happy Morning Show (まさしとタカトシのハッピー・モーニング・ショー^Japanese) (2008, NHK General)
• Masashi to TakaToshi no Happy New Year Show (まさしとタカトシのハッピー・ニューイヤー・ショー^Japanese) (2008, NHK General)
• JNN Joint Production Fuzoroi no Sakana-tachi (ふぞろいの魚たち^Japanese) - Mismatched Fish (2010, Nagasaki Broadcasting Company) - Narration.
• Fuji Television Drama Specials
  • Oyaji no Ichiban Nagai Hi (親父の一番長い日^Japanese) - Father's Longest Day (2009) - Friendship appearance (Hair salon owner).
  • Furusato ~Musume no Tabidachi~ (故郷 ~娘の旅立ち~^Japanese) - Hometown ~Daughter's Departure~ (2011) - Friendship appearance (Bookstore manager).
• Yume de Aimashō (夢であいましょう^Japanese) - Let's Meet in a Dream (2013, NHK General)
• Kaze ni Tatsu Lion ~Sada Masashi, Takao Osawa Kenya Inochi to Shizen no Tabi~ (風に立つライオン~さだまさし・大沢たかお ケニア・命と自然の旅~^Japanese) - Lion Standing in the Wind ~Masashi Sada, Takao Osawa: Kenya, Journey of Life and Nature~ (2015, NHK BS Premium)
• Chakushin Onrei! Keitai Oogiri 10th Anniversary Special (着信御礼!ケータイ大喜利^Japanese) - Thank You for Calling! Mobile Oogiri (2015, NHK General)
• Dai Kaizo!! Gekiteki Before After Special "Shakkin de Shiouzuke sareta Shima" (大改造!!劇的ビフォーアフター^Japaneseスペシャル『借金で潮漬けされた島』) - Grand Renovation!! Dramatic Before After Special "Island Soaked in Debt" (2017, Asahi Broadcasting Corporation) - Renovated Sada's privately owned Shijima (Poem Island).
• 5-ji ni Muchū! 3,000th Episode Special (5時に夢中!^Japanese) - Obsessed at 5 O'Clock! (2017, Tokyo Metropolitan Television) - Special guest.
• Jinsei Saikō Restaurant (人生最高レストラン^Japanese) - Life's Best Restaurant (2022, TBS) - Guest.

4.3. NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen Appearances

Masashi Sada has made frequent appearances on NHK's annual NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen (Red and White Song Battle), a prestigious New Year's Eve music program. He was first approached to appear in 1977 with "Amayadori" but declined because he would not be allowed to sing the full song. He later debuted in 1979 and has been a recurring artist.

4.4. Commercials

Sada Masashi has appeared in various commercials, often becoming closely associated with the brands.

• Duskin (completed) - He appeared in Duskin commercials for a long period, starring in three-minute comedy-style commercials called "Duskin 100-ban 100-ban Gekijo." He became so identified with the brand that children sometimes called him "Duskin's Uncle."
• Tokiwa Pharmaceutical "Pasvitan D" (1992) - Featured a concert-style version with fans recruited as extras singing "Anata Zanmai," and a backstage dialogue version with his manager, Yasunaga Hirota.
• Nagasaki Tawaramono (2005 - ) - Narration and music ("Kakashi").
• Nishinippon Shimbun (2005 - ) - Music ("Ai").
• SoftBank Mobile (2009) - Sang "Watashi wa Inu ni Naritai ¥490" in the commercial.
• Sapporo Beer "Sapporo Creamy White" (2010 - ) - Music ("Kita no Kuni Kara 2010"). Also narrated a version.
• Nippon Kodo "Seiun Clean, Kokoro no Keitai" (2012) - Sang "Hakushu Uta" to promote a three-line poem contest.
• SKY Perfect JSAT "Sky PerfecTV!" (2018)
• Japanet Takata (2019)
• AC Japan (2019) - Sang the CM song for the "2019 Japan Animal Welfare Society Support Campaign 'Nyanpaku Sengen'."
• Asadaame (2019)
• Meiji Meiji Probio Yogurt R-1 "Taichō Ichiban-chi" series (2020 - ) - Plays a mysterious man, co-starring with Noriko Eguchi, Kazuki Iio, and Kento Hayashi.