Who's he playing? Nobody really knows. Hell, given the nature of last season's insane-ass cliffhanger, and all the wild and crazy places this show takes you, he really could be anyone. You could tell me he's the magical shape-shifting human form of Vincent the dog, and I'd half believe you. Here's one person's theory:
"My prediction... is that he will play a mystical mystery man who serves as John Locke's Obi-Wan-meets-Mr. Miyagi in the post-Jughead rebooted Lost timeline. Attuned to The Island's magic -- perhaps an embodiment of The Island itself -- Hiroyuki's character will help the amnesiac Locke rediscover his destiny to become The Island knight/protector and guide him back, even as dark forces conspire to stop Locke and the rest of the castaways from going back."That sounds cool to me -- and a good as guess as any. You might recognize Sanada from Hollywood roles in movies like The Last Samurai and Rush Hour 3. I was particularly fond of him as Kaneda in Danny Boyle's sci-fi thriller Sunshine. He's a good actor, and in my book, it's always great to see yet another Asian face on Lost. Season six premieres sometime next year.