Takeshi Kitano
Born
January 18, 1947 (78 years old)
Known For
Directing
Place of Birth
Tokyo, Japan
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).
Broken Rage
Nezumi
2024
Kubi
Hashiba Hideyoshi
2023
Plankton Salesmen
Self (archive footage)
2017
Ghost in the Shell: Hard-Wired Humanity - Making Ghost in the Shell
self
2017
Ghost in the Shell
Aramaki
2017
Doctor X: Gekai Daimon Michiko Special
2016
While the Women Are Sleeping
Sahara
2016
Aka Medaka
Tatekawa Danshi
2015
Mozu The Movie
Daruma
2015
Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen
Detective Murakami
2015
Morning
2014
Seicho Matsumoto's Black Gospel
Rokuro Fujisawa
2014
Miwa: A Japanese Icon
Himself
2013
Beyond Outrage
Otomo
2012
Dearest
Teruo Sugino
2012
Kikoku
Private First Class Oomiya
2010
Outrage
Otomo
2010
The Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit
Take-Majin (voice)
2008
Achilles and the Tortoise
Machisu
2008
Glory to the Filmmaker!
Takeshi / Yakuza / Father / Ninja / Detective / Astronomer
2007
Takeshis'
Beat Takeshi / Mr. Kitano
2005
Blood and Bones
Joon-pyong Kim
2004
Izo
Chancellor
2004
Arakimentari
Self
2004
Zatoichi
Zatoichi / Ichi
2003
The Final Battleground — Making of Battle Royale II
Self
2003
Battle Royale II: Requiem
Kitano
2003
Shooting Film is Battleground: Making of BATTLE ROYALE
Self
2001
The 300 million yen robbery
2000
Battle Royale
Kitano
2000
Brother
Aniki Yamamoto
2000
Taboo
Toshizo Hijikata
1999
Kikujiro
Kikujiro
1999
Kiseki Taiken! Anbiribabō: Kyōfu Eizō Kaiki Shashin Korekushon
1999
Kiseki Taiken! Anbiribabō: 1999 Nostradamus Senritsu no Daiyogen Mysterious Unbelievable
1999
Jam Session (The Official Bootleg of Kikujiro)
1999
Zankyo
1999
Tokyo Eyes
Yakusa
1998
Gonin
Ichiro Kyoya
1995
Johnny Mnemonic
Takahashi
1995
Getting Any?
Scientist
1995
Many Happy Returns
Daisuke Shiba
1993
Sonatine
Aniki Murakawa
1993
Erotic Liaisons
Okuyama
1992
A Legend of Turmoil
Kiichirou Yashiro
1992
Boiling Point
Uehara
1990
Hoshi wo tsugu mono
Yama no hito
1990
Violent Cop
Azuma Ryosuke
1989
The Boss' Wife
Shoji Sugimoto, Hitman
1988
No More Comics!
Police
1986
Demon
Yajima
1985
The Crimes of Kiyoshi Ōkubo
Kiyoshi Ôkubo
1983
The Mosquito on the Tenth Floor
Man at Racetrack
1983
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
Hara
1983
In Your Blood: Hoki Naiden
Takeshi's Castle Japan
(8 episodes)
2023
Citizen Kitano
Self
2020
たけしのその時カメラは回っていた
(1 episode)
2020
Idaten: Tokyo Olympics Story
古今亭志生 · (47 episodes)
2019
Why Are We Creative?
Self
2018
Kiseki taiken! Unbelievable
Storyteller · (1 episode)
2018
Outrage Coda
Otomo
2017
Prison Break
Urata
2017
A Living Promise
Detective Koichiro Iwase
2016
たけしのこれがホントのニッポン芸能史
(1 episode)
2015
オモクリ監督～O－Creator's TV Show～
(1 episode)
2014
The 8th Floor
Self
2014
In Between Mountains and Oceans
Himself
2014
Trespassing Bergman
Self
2013
日曜ゴールデンで何やってんだテレビ
(1 episode)
2012
A Special Day
Self
2012
Takeshi's Castle Vol. 1
2009
What the War Meant
Hideki Tojo
2008
Dots and Lines
Jutaro Torikai
2007
To Each His Own Cinema
The projectionist (segment "Rencontre unique")
2007
One Fine Day
2007
The Golden Cups: One More Time
Himself
2004
Electric Yakuza, Go to Hell!
Self
2004
MXC
(81 episodes)
2003
Musashi
Munisai Shinmen · (49 episodes)
2003
Takeshi's Castle
(122 episodes)
2002
Kichiku
2002
Kogoro Akechi vs Kaijin Nijyuu Menso
Niju Menso
2002
Making of 'Battle Royale'
Self
2000
The Story of One Century
(3 episodes)
2000
Scenes by the Sea: Takeshi Kitano
2000
The Unpredictable Takeshi Kitano
Self
1999
加ト・けん・たけしの世紀末スペシャル!!
(1 episode)
1998
Fireworks
Yoshitaka Nishi
1997
Making-of Kids Return
Himself
1996
Today's Close-Up
出演 · (1 episode)
1993
Dioxin from Fish!
Azuma
1992
北野ファンクラブ
(1 episode)
1992
Kitano fan kurabu
Self · (1 episode)
1992
Shoko Asahara with Takeshi
Self
1991
Kim's War
Kim Hyi-ro
1991
KILL THEM ALL
1990
Beat Takeshi Presents TV Tackle
(5 episodes)
1989
Takeshi's Castle
Count Takeshi · (49 episodes)
1986
Jesus' Ark
Takeyoshi Sengoku
1985
Joke with a Sorrowful Heart
Hiroshi Igarashi
1985
Tokyo Melody: A Film About Ryuichi Sakamoto
Hara (archive footage)
1985
School in the Crosshairs
1982
Summer Secrets
Ramen shop owner
1982
Completely... With That Air!
1981
Manon
Shinobu
1981
The Dump Truck Rascal
1981
Makoto-chan
1980
Go, Go Second Time Virgin
Gang Member
1969
Kodai bunmei Misuterī Takeshi no shin sekai nana fushigi dai hyakka
(1 episode)
Golden Horse Awards
Self · (1 episode)
1962