Sakai is both a Japanese surname and a given name. Notable people with the name include:
Atsushi Sakai (born 1983), Japanese professional wrestlerDaniel Sakai, Oakland SWAT police officer killed in 2009Frankie Sakai (1929–1996), Japanese comedianGotoku Sakai (born 1991), Japanese football (soccer) player currently playing for Hamburger SVHideyuki Sakai (born 1973), professional Go playerHirofumi Sakai (born 1965), Japanese race walkerHiroko Sakai (born 1978), Japanese softball player who won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer OlympicsHiroyuki Sakai (born 1942), Japanese chef, starred in the original Iron ChefSakai Hōitsu (1761–1828), Japanese painter of the Rinpa schoolIzumi Sakai (1967–2007), J-pop singer, song writer, and lead singer of the group ZardKanako Sakai (born 1986), Japanese voice actorKatsuyuki Sakai (born 1988), Japanese rugby union playerKeikō Sakai (born December 25), Japanese voice actor who works at 81 ProduceKenichi Sakai (born 1982), Japanese wrestler known by his ring name Ken45°Kiyoshi Sakai, anime producer and animatorKōji Sakai (1885–1973), general in the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War IIMaki Sakai (born 1970), Japanese actressManabu Sakai (born 1965), Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party and a member of the House of Representatives in the DietMasaaki Sakai (born 1946), Japanese rock musician and television performerSakai Masahisa (died 1570), Japanese samurai of the Sengoku PeriodMiki Sakai (born 1978), Japanese actress and J-pop idol singerMikio Sakai (born 1970), Japanese singer-songwriterNatsumi Sakai (born 2001), Japanese swimmerNick Sakai, a Japanese-American actorNoriko Sakai (born 1971), Japanese J-pop star and actressRichard Sakai (born 1954), Emmy-winning Japanese-American television producerRyūichi Sakai (born 1970), better known as Marc Panther, Japanese rapper, singer, and co-producer, and a member of the J-pop groups globe and 245Saburō Sakai (1916–2000), Japanese fighter ace during World War IISeth Sakai (1932–2007), Japanese-American actor known for various characters he played on Hawaii Five-O and Magnum P.I.Shogo Sakai (born 1960), Japanese video game music composerShogo Sakai (footballer) (born 1988), Japanese football player currently playing for Montedio YamagataStan Sakai (born 1953), Japanese-American comic book creator known for his Usagi Yojimbo seriesSumie Sakai (born 1971), Japanese-American professional wrestlerSakai Tadaaki (1813–1873), Japanese daimyo of the Edo period, and a prominent Tokugawa shogunate of JapanSakai Tadakatsu (1587–1662), Japanese tairō, rōjū, master of Wakasa-Obama Castle, and daimyo of Obama Domain in Wakasa province in the mid-17th century JapanSakai Tadakatsu (Shōnai) (1594–1647), Japanese daimyo of the early Edo period in JapanSakai Tadakiyo (1624–1681), daimyō in Kōzuke Province, and a high-ranking government advisor and official in the Tokugawa shogunate of JapanSakai Tadamochi (1725–1775), Japanese daimyo of the mid-Edo period in JapanSakai Tadatsugu (1527–1596), Japanese military commanders for Tokugawa Ieyasu in the late-Sengoku period, and one of the Four Guardians of the Tokugawa (Tokugawa-Shitennō)Sakai Tadayo (1572–1636), Japanese daimyo of the Sengoku period, and high ranking government advisor holding the title of Rōjū, and later TairōSakai Tadayuki (1770–1828), Japanese daimyo of the mid to late Edo period who ruled the Obama DomainTakashi Sakai (1887–1946), Japanese lieutenant general of the Imperial Japanese Army during World War IITomoyuki Sakai (born 1979), Japanese football (soccer) player who played in the J-League and on the Japan national team in 2000Toshihiko Sakai (1871–1933), Japanese socialist known for cofounding the Common Peoples' Newspaper with Shusui KotokuToshio Sakai (1940–1999), photographer for United Press International who won the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography in 1968Toshio Sakai (Go player) (born 1920), professional Go player in JapanYoshinori Sakai (born 1945), the Olympic flame torchbearer who lit the cauldron at the 1964 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, and gold and silver medalist at the 1966 Asian Games in Bangkok, ThailandYoshio Sakai (born 1910), Japanese field hockey player who competed in the 1932 and 1936 Summer Olympics