Takeshi Kitano

ActorDirectorEditorWriterProducer Jan 18 (age 79) Tokyo, Japan 1962–2025 (63 year career)

6.8 avg rating

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 sever…

Known For

Film

Battle Royale

Kitano

Film

Ghost in the Shell

Aramaki

Film

Fireworks

Yoshitaka Nishi

Film

Zatoichi

Zatoichi / Ichi

Film

Sonatine

Aniki Murakawa

Film

Kikujiro

Film

Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence

Hara

Film

Dolls

Director

Filmography

Acting (116)

Movies (95)

AUM: The Cult at the End of the World

2025

as Self (archive footage)

Broken Rage

as Nezumi

Kubi

as Hashiba Hideyoshi

Citizen Kitano

as Self

Why Are We Creative?

as Self

Ghost in the Shell

as Aramaki

Prison Break

as Urata

Outrage Coda

as Otomo

Plankton Salesmen

as Self (archive footage)

Ghost in the Shell: Hard-Wired Humanity - Making Ghost in the Shell

2017

as self

A Living Promise

2016

as Detective Koichiro Iwase

Doctor X: Gekai Daimon Michiko Special

2016

6.0

While the Women Are Sleeping

2016

as Sahara

5.4

Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen

2015

as Detective Murakami

Aka Medaka

as Tatekawa Danshi

Mozu The Movie

as Daruma

Seicho Matsumoto's Black Gospel

2014

as Rokuro Fujisawa

5.0

In Between Mountains and Oceans

2014

as Himself

Morning

2014

8.0

The 8th Floor

2014

as Self

Trespassing Bergman

2013

as Self

6.6

Miwa: A Japanese Icon

as Himself

A Special Day

as Self

Beyond Outrage

as Otomo

Dearest

as Teruo Sugino

Outrage

as Otomo

Kikoku

as Private First Class Oomiya

3.5

Takeshi's Castle Vol. 1

2009

What the War Meant

2008

as Hideki Tojo

Achilles and the Tortoise

2008

as Machisu

7.0

The Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit

2008

as Take-Majin (voice)

4.9

Yayoi Kusama: I Love Me

2008

10.0

To Each His Own Cinema

2007

as The projectionist (segment "Rencontre unique")

6.5

Glory to the Filmmaker!

2007

as Takeshi / Yakuza / Father / Ninja / Detective / Astronomer

6.3

Takeshis'

2005

as Beat Takeshi / Mr. Kitano

6.1

Electric Yakuza, Go to Hell!

as Self

Izo

as Chancellor

Blood and Bones

as Joon-pyong Kim

Arakimentari

as Self

The Golden Cups: One More Time

2004

as Himself

Zatoichi

2003

as Zatoichi / Ichi

7.2

Battle Royale II: Requiem

2003

as Kitano

5.0

The Final Battleground — Making of Battle Royale II

2003

as Self

Kichiku

2002

Kogoro Akechi vs Kaijin Nijyuu Menso

2002

as Niju Menso

5.0

Shooting Film is Battleground: Making of BATTLE ROYALE

2001

as Self

Battle Royale

as Kitano

Brother

as Aniki Yamamoto

Making of 'Battle Royale'

2000

as Self

The 300 million yen robbery

2000

Scenes by the Sea: Takeshi Kitano

2000

Kikujiro

1999

as Kikujiro

7.5

Jam Session (The Official Bootleg of Kikujiro)

Taboo

as Toshizo Hijikata

Zankyo

The Unpredictable Takeshi Kitano

1999

as Self

7.0

Kiseki Taiken! Anbiribabō: 1999 Nostradamus Senritsu no Daiyogen Mysterious Unbelievable

1999

Kiseki Taiken! Anbiribabō: Kyōfu Eizō Kaiki Shashin Korekushon

Tokyo Eyes

as Yakusa

Fireworks

as Yoshitaka Nishi

Hana-bi (1997) – Behind-the-scenes Footage

1997

as Self - Himself

Making-of Kids Return

as Himself

Johnny Mnemonic

as Takahashi

Getting Any?

as Scientist

Gonin

as Ichiro Kyoya

Sonatine

as Aniki Murakawa

Many Happy Returns

as Daisuke Shiba

Dioxin from Fish!

as Azuma

Erotic Liaisons

as Okuyama

A Legend of Turmoil

as Kiichirou Yashiro

Kim's War

as Kim Hyi-ro

Shoko Asahara with Takeshi

1991

as Self

Boiling Point

as Uehara

KILL THEM ALL

Hoshi wo tsugu mono

as Yama no hito

The Yagyu Code: Secret Scrolls

Violent Cop

as Azuma Ryosuke

The Boss' Wife

as Shoji Sugimoto, Hitman

5.0

雨の降る駅

1986

as 演员

No More Comics!

as Police

Demon

as Yajima

Joke with a Sorrowful Heart

1985

as Hiroshi Igarashi

Jesus' Ark

1985

as Takeyoshi Sengoku

Tokyo Melody: A Film About Ryuichi Sakamoto

1985

as Hara (archive footage)

7.2

Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence

1983

as Hara

7.3

The Mosquito on the Tenth Floor

1983

as Man at Racetrack

6.3

The Crimes of Kiyoshi Ōkubo

1983

as Kiyoshi Ôkubo

Summer Secrets

1982

as Ramen shop owner

5.3

School in the Crosshairs

1982

Manon

1981

as Shinobu

Completely... With That Air!

1981

The Dump Truck Rascal

Makoto-chan

Go, Go Second Time Virgin

1969

as Gang Member

6.7

In Your Blood: Hoki Naiden

Television (21)

Takeshi's Castle Japan

2023

6.1

たけしのその時カメラは回っていた

2020

Idaten: Tokyo Olympics Story

2019

as 古今亭志生

7.8

Kiseki taiken! Unbelievable

2018

as Storyteller

たけしのこれがホントのニッポン芸能史

2015

オモクリ監督～O－Creator's TV Show～

2014

Doctor-X: Surgeon Michiko Daimon

as 黑须贯太郎

日曜ゴールデンで何やってんだテレビ

Dots and Lines

as Jutaro Torikai

Musashi

as Munisai Shinmen

MXC

Takeshi's Castle

The Story of One Century

2000

加ト・けん・たけしの世紀末スペシャル!!

1998

Today's Close-Up

1993

as 出演

北野ファンクラブ

1992

Kitano fan kurabu

1992

as Self

Beat Takeshi Presents TV Tackle

Takeshi's Castle

as Count Takeshi

Golden Horse Awards

as Self

Kodai bunmei Misuterī Takeshi no shin sekai nana fushigi dai hyakka

Crew (74)

Movies (73)

Broken Rage

Director

Broken Rage

Editor

Broken Rage

Writer

Analog

Novel

Kubi

Director

Kubi

Editor

Kubi

Novel

Kubi

Screenplay

Asakusa Kid

Novel

Outrage Coda

Director

Outrage Coda

Editor

Outrage Coda

Screenplay

Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen

2015

Director

6.2

Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen

2015

Editor

6.2

Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen

Writer

Morning

Director

Morning

Screenplay

Kids Return: The Reunion

Original Story

Beyond Outrage

Director

Beyond Outrage

Editor

Beyond Outrage

Writer

Outrage

Director

Outrage

Editor

Outrage

Screenplay

Takeshi's Castle Vol. 1

2009

Director

Achilles and the Tortoise

2008

Director

7.0

Achilles and the Tortoise

2008

Editor

7.0

Achilles and the Tortoise

2008

Screenplay

7.0

To Each His Own Cinema

2007

Director

6.5

To Each His Own Cinema

2007

Editor

6.5

To Each His Own Cinema

2007

Producer

6.5

To Each His Own Cinema

2007

Screenplay

6.5

Glory to the Filmmaker!

2007

Director

6.3

Glory to the Filmmaker!

2007

Editor

6.3

Glory to the Filmmaker!

Writer

Takeshis'

Director

Takeshis'

Editor

Takeshis'

Writer

Zatoichi

Director

Zatoichi

Editor

Zatoichi

Screenplay

Dolls

Director

Dolls

Editor

Dolls

Screenplay

Asakusa Kid

Original Story

Brother

Director

Brother

Editor

Brother

Writer

Kikujiro

Director

Kikujiro

Editor

Kikujiro

Screenplay

Fireworks

Director

Fireworks

Editor

Fireworks

Screenplay

Hana-bi (1997) – Behind-the-scenes Footage

1997

Director

Kids Return

Director

Kids Return

Editor

Kids Return

Writer

Getting Any?

Director

Getting Any?

Editor

Getting Any?

Writer

Sonatine

Director

Sonatine

Editor

Sonatine

Screenplay

Many Happy Returns

Novel

A Scene at the Sea

Director

A Scene at the Sea

Editor

A Scene at the Sea

Screenplay

Boiling Point

Director

Boiling Point

Screenplay

Violent Cop

Director

Violent Cop

Writer

One Fine Day

Director

Television (1)

Nagi-Asu: A Lull in the Sea

2013

Assistant Editor

7.6