Sabu (サブ, Sabu, born November 18, 1964) is the pseudonym of Japanese actor and director Hiroyuki Tanaka (田中博行, Tanaka Hiroyuki).
Born in Wakayama Prefecture, Sabu studied at an Osaka fashion school before deciding to go to Tokyo to become a professional musician. It was suggested he try acting and in 1986 he made his film debut in Sorobanzuku. He earned his first starring role in the 1991 World Apartment Horror, a live-action film directed by Katsuhiro Ōtomo of Akira fame. Working from a script he wrote himself, he made his directorial debut with the 1996 Dangan Runner, a film that set his early style of "quirky action-comedies propelled by characters who hurtle headlong though squirming narratives steered more by the forces of incidence and coincidence than the actions of the protagonists themselves." Shin'ichi Tsutsumi played the lead in Sabu's first five films. Blessing Bell, starring Susumu Terajima (who has played minor roles in nearly all of Sabu's films), was a turn away from his kinetic, parodic, and black comedy narratives, and earned the NETPAC Award at the 2003 Berlin Film Festival. Later films featured the J-pop band V6. In 2009, he directed The Crab Cannery Ship, a modern adaptation of a classic of Japanese proletarian literature written by Takiji Kobayashi.
He has continued to work as an actor, such as in Takashi Miike's Ichi the Killer (2001).
His upcoming film Chasuke's Journey has been selected to be screened in the main competition section of the 65th Berlin International Film Festival.
Dangan Runner (1996)Postman Blues (1997)Unlucky Monkey (1998)Monday (2000)Drive (2002)Blessing Bell (2002)A1012K (2003 - short film)Hard Luck Hero (2003)Hold-Up Down (2005)Dead Run (Shisso) (2005)The Crab Cannery Ship (Kanikōsen, 2009)Troubleman (2010) TV SeriesUsagi Drop (2011)Miss ZOMBIE (2013)Chasuke's Journey (2015)Happiness (2016)Mr. Long (2017)Sorobanzuku (1986)World Apartment Horror (1991)Zeiram 2 (1994)800 Two Lap Runners (1994)Dangan Runner (1996)Katte ni Shiyagare!! Gyakuten Keikaku (1996)Ghost Actress (1996)Postman Blues (1997)Ichi the Killer (2001)Josee, the Tiger and the Fish (2003)Director
2021
Kinô yori akaku, ashita yori aoku: Cinema Fighters Project (segment "Blue Bird")
2021
Jam: The Drama (TV Mini Series)
2020
My Blood & Bones in a Flowing Galaxy
2015
Panic In (TV Mini Series)
2015
Chasuke's Journey (as Hiroyuki Tanaka)
2010
Trouble Man (TV Series)
2003
A1012K (Short) (as Hiroyuki Tanaka)
Writer
2021
Jam: The Drama (TV Mini Series)
2020
My Blood & Bones in a Flowing Galaxy (screenplay by)
2016
Hapinesu (screenplay)
2015
Chasuke's Journey (based on the novel by - as Hiroyuki Tanaka) / (screenplay - as Hiroyuki Tanaka)
2013
Miss Zombie (screenplay)
2011
Bunny Drop (screenplay - as Hiroyuki Tanaka)
2010
Trouble Man (TV Series) (written by)
2009
Kanikôsen (screenplay)
2005
Shissô (screenplay - as Hiroyuki Tanaka)
2005
Hôrudo appu daun (screenplay)
2002
Blessing Bell (as Hiroyuki Tanaka)
1997
Posutoman burûsu (screenplay) / (story)
1996
Non-Stop (as Hiroyuki Tanaka)
Actor
2003
Josee, the Tiger and the Fish as
Patron
2001
Ichi the Killer as
Kaneko (as Hiroyuki Tanaka)
1998
Anrakkî monkî as
Bank Robber
1997
Posutoman burûsu as
Kurokawa (as Hiroyuki Tanaka)
1996
Don't Look Up as
Sekikawa
1996
Suit Yourself or Shoot Yourself: The Gamble (TV Movie)
1995
Shinjuku Triad Society
1994
Kiriko II (as Hiroyuki Tanaka)
1994
Raiden (as Hiroyuki Tanaka)
1994
800 Two Lap Runners as
Kyoichi Nakazawa (as Hiroyuki Tanaka)
1993
Sailor Moon (TV Series) as
TV Executive #2
- Ai to seigi yue! Sêrâ senshi futatabi (1993) - TV Executive #2 (voice, as Hiroyuki Tanaka)
1992
Kuma-chan (as Hiroyuki Tanaka)
1992
Ushio & Tora (TV Series) as
Student
- Scorching, Spinning Wheel (1992) - Student (voice)
1991
Wârudo apâtomento horâ as
Ita (as Hiroki Tanaka)
1986
Sorobanzuku as
Sabu (as Hiroki Tanaka)
Self
2011
Eigakan (TV Series) as
Self
- Usagi Drop (2011) - Self (as Hiroyuki Tanaka)
2009
Cinemaholic (TV Series) as
Self
- Sabu (2009) - Self
2009
Genki no gensen (TV Series) as
Self
- Sabu (2009) - Self