 In 2003, in "Zatoichi", he portrayed the child Seitaro who, when older, disguised himself as a geisha (played by Daigoro Tachibana).Though in a different troupe from Tachibana, the two have frequently practiced and performed together.Saotome was also in Kitano's 2005 film, "Takeshis'", in which he was credited as himself, playing a young female impersonator and dancer.