[1][2] He is famous for playing the role of Ryu on the television jidaigeki Hissatsu series.
Masaki got a role in a buster film Legend of the Eight Samurai as Inuzuka Shino and it became a sensation that lead to Masaki's break out role "Ryu" on a popular Japanese period piece samurai drama series Hissatsu Shigotonin where he played Japanese obi-belt maker who is ex-ninja turned to be an assassin (shigotonin) to kill bad guys.
He became a big star by that role and since then has appeared in numerous period piece drama series.
He often plays a role much younger than his actual age due to youthful appearance.
He is an established musician as well produced sound track for TV shows and music for himself and other singers.