Takeshi Kitano
Born: 1947-01-18 in Tokyo, Japan
Known For: Directing
Biography
Takeshi Kitano (北野 武, Kitano Takeshi, born January 18, 1947), also known in Japan as Beat Takeshi (ビートたけし, Bīto Takeshi), is a Japanese comedian, actor, and filmmaker. While he is known primarily as a comedian and TV host in his native Japan, he is better known abroad for his work as a filmmaker and actor as well as TV host. Kitano rose to prominence in the 1970s as one half of the comedy duo Two Beat, before going solo and becoming one of the three biggest comedians in the country. After several small acting roles, he made his directorial debut with 1989's Violent Cop and garnered international acclaim for Sonatine (1993). He was not widely accepted as an accomplished director in Japan until Hana-bi won the Golden Lion in 1997. In October 2017, Kitano completed his Outrage crime trilogy with the release of Outrage Coda. He is also known internationally for hosting the game show Takeshi's Castle (1986–1990) and starring in the film Battle Royale (2000).
Filmography
2025
- AUM: The Cult at the End of the World as Self (archive footage)
2024
- Broken Rage as Nezumi
2023
- Takeshi's Castle Japan
- Kubi as Hashiba Hideyoshi
- Analog ... (Novel)
2021
- Asakusa Kid ... (Novel)
2020
- Citizen Kitano as Self
- たけしのその時カメラは回っていた
2019
- Idaten: Tokyo Olympics Story as 古今亭志生
2018
- Why Are We Creative? as Self
- Kiseki taiken! Unbelievable as Storyteller
2017
- Ghost in the Shell as Aramaki
- Outrage Coda as Otomo
- Plankton Salesmen as Self (archive footage)
- Prison Break as Urata
2016
- While the Women Are Sleeping as Sahara
- Doctor X: Gekai Daimon Michiko Special
- A Living Promise as Detective Koichiro Iwase
2015
- Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen as Detective Murakami
- Mozu The Movie as Daruma
- Aka Medaka as Tatekawa Danshi
- たけしのこれがホントのニッポン芸能史
2014
- The 8th Floor as Self
- Seicho Matsumoto's Black Gospel as Rokuro Fujisawa
- In Between Mountains and Oceans as Himself
- オモクリ監督～O－Creator's TV Show～
- Morning
2013
- Nagi-Asu: A Lull in the Sea ... (Assistant Editor)
- Trespassing Bergman as Self
- Miwa: A Japanese Icon as Himself
- Kids Return: The Reunion ... (Original Story)
2012
- Beyond Outrage as Otomo
- A Special Day as Self
- Dearest as Teruo Sugino
- 日曜ゴールデンで何やってんだテレビ
2008
- Achilles and the Tortoise as Machisu
- The Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit as Take-Majin (voice)
- What the War Meant as Hideki Tojo
- Yayoi Kusama: I Love Me
2007
- To Each His Own Cinema as The projectionist (segment "Rencontre unique")
- Glory to the Filmmaker! as Takeshi / Yakuza / Father / Ninja / Detective / Astronomer
- Dots and Lines as Jutaro Torikai
2005
- Takeshis' as Beat Takeshi / Mr. Kitano
- One Fine Day as Projectionist
2004
- Blood and Bones as Joon-pyong Kim
- Izo as Chancellor
- Arakimentari as Self
- The Golden Cups: One More Time as Himself
- Electric Yakuza, Go to Hell! as Self
2003
- MXC
- Zatoichi as Zatoichi / Ichi
- Musashi as Munisai Shinmen
- Battle Royale II: Requiem as Kitano
- The Final Battleground — Making of Battle Royale II as Self
2002
- Takeshi's Castle
- Dolls ... (Screenplay)
- Kichiku
- Asakusa Kid ... (Original Story)
- Kogoro Akechi vs Kaijin Nijyuu Menso as Niju Menso
2000
- Battle Royale as Kitano
- Brother as Aniki Yamamoto
- The Story of One Century
- Scenes by the Sea: Takeshi Kitano as Self
- The 300 million yen robbery
- Making of 'Battle Royale' as Self
1999
1998
- Tokyo Eyes as Yakusa
- 加ト・けん・たけしの世紀末スペシャル!!
1997
- Fireworks as Yoshitaka Nishi
- Hana-bi (1997) – Behind-the-scenes Footage as Self - Himself
1996
- Kids Return ... (Director)
- Making-of Kids Return as Himself
1995
- Johnny Mnemonic as Takahashi
- Gonin as Ichiro Kyoya
- Getting Any? as Scientist
1993
- Sonatine as Aniki Murakawa
- Today's Close-Up as 出演
- Many Happy Returns as Daisuke Shiba
1992
- Erotic Liaisons as Okuyama
- A Legend of Turmoil as Kiichirou Yashiro
- Dioxin from Fish! as Azuma
- 北野ファンクラブ
- Kitano fan kurabu as Self
1991
- A Scene at the Sea ... (Director)
- Kim's War as Kim Hyi-ro
- Shoko Asahara with Takeshi as Self
1990
- Boiling Point as Uehara
- The Yagyu Code: Secret Scrolls
- KILL THEM ALL
- Hoshi wo tsugu mono as Yama no hito
1989
- Violent Cop as Azuma Ryosuke
- Beat Takeshi Presents TV Tackle
1988
- The Boss' Wife as Shoji Sugimoto, Hitman
1986
- Takeshi's Castle as Count Takeshi
- No More Comics! as Yakuza
- 雨の降る駅 as 演员
1985
- Demon as Yajima
- Tokyo Melody: A Film About Ryuichi Sakamoto as Hara (archive footage)
- Jesus' Ark as Takeyoshi Sengoku
- Joke with a Sorrowful Heart as Hiroshi Igarashi
1983
- Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence as Hara
- The Crimes of Kiyoshi Ōkubo as Kiyoshi Ôkubo
- The Mosquito on the Tenth Floor as Man at Racetrack
1982
- Summer Secrets as Ramen shop owner
1981
1980
1969
- Go, Go Second Time Virgin as Gang Member
1962
- Golden Horse Awards as Self