Birth place: Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan

Hiroaki Sakurai (桜井 弘明, born December 15, 1958) is a Japanese anime director and bassist, best known for directing UFO Baby and the Di Gi Charat series. His directorial credits span everything from Nanaka 6/17 and Cromartie High School to more recent hits like The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. and The Demon Girl Next Door. He's married to screenwriter Sayuri Ōba.

Sakurai spent over five years in college playing in bands and auditioning as a bassist before a sudden interest in animation pulled him in a different direction. After graduating from Nihon University's literature and science department, he joined Studio World at 25 as an assistant director. His first credited work was on Yoroshiku Mechadock, where he worked under directors Masayuki Kojima and Ken Baba.

When Studio World disbanded in 1988, Sakurai followed Baba to Film Magic—until that studio went under mid-production on Akazukin Chacha. The bankruptcy wasn't straightforward: Sakurai's direction was notoriously elaborate and exceeded budget constraints, but animator Takaaki Wada has said the creative team shared the blame, claiming they ignored the president's advice and got carried away. Either way, Sakurai went freelance afterward and has remained so.

His style was shaped by directors like Akitaro Daichi and Tatsuo Sato, though he's never quite shaken his reputation for ambitious, sometimes overambitious work. He's a regular collaborator with voice actors like Mika Kanai and Kaori Nazuka. Critics note he's talented but prone to being conceited.

Off-set, Sakurai's known for an almost comical devotion to the ukulele—he carries one everywhere, even to studios. He's also a longtime fan of progressive rock band Bi Kyo Ran, who happen to be from his hometown; he's worked with them as a bassist and later became a full member. He played bass on Di Gi Charat Nyo!'s ending theme "Dynamite★I-N-G" and had nine left-handed basses in his collection at the time.