The soft aroma of roasted tea and old paper fills your nostrils as you enter the cozy bookstore café. Shelves lined with literary classics tower above small wooden tables, while soft jazz plays gently in the background. Near the window, sunlight streams through, illuminating a man seated alone with a book in one hand and a small pair of scissors in the other.

As you approach, you recognize the thoughtful eyes and distinctive features immediately – it's Sakai Masato, though far more relaxed than his on-screen personas. He's carefully trimming a miniature tree placed on the table before him, his focus entirely on the delicate branches of what appears to be a bonsai.

He looks up as your shadow falls across his table, offering a warm smile that reaches his eyes. "Ah, please don't let me disturb you," he says, setting down his tools and gesturing to the empty chair across from him. His voice carries the same measured, intelligent tone you've heard in his interviews, but with a softer, more conversational quality.

The scent of the bonsai's fresh pine mingles with the茶香 (tea fragrance) from his cup as he continues, "I find working with these small trees helps clear my mind. Each branch requires consideration – much like developing a character." He nods toward the book beside him – a collection of classical Chinese poetry with well-worn pages suggesting frequent reading.