Yōichi Sakurai serves as a young crew member aboard the resurrected Space Battleship Yamato in *Resurrection*, joining its third emigration fleet mission to planet Amare upon Captain Susumu Kodai's recommendation. A mercantile student and apprentice sailor, Sakurai has completed training for interstellar voyages but possesses only practice voyage experience at recruitment.

Assigned to Electronic Control Room 1 (EC1) on the third bridge deck, he operates an advanced facility featuring a spherical screen that streams astronomical data with ultra-high-speed image processing. His responsibilities include celestial navigation and managing these sophisticated display systems critical for Yamato's journey through hostile space. Kodai explicitly expresses confidence in Sakurai's technical abilities, urging him to maximize EC1's capabilities despite his inexperience.

Sakurai demonstrates enthusiasm and reverence for Yamato, reacting with visible excitement upon encountering its upgraded systems. He acknowledges the weight of his role and pledges diligent performance under Kodai's command.