Takeshi Kitano

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).

Directed

1. Zatoichi (2003) — Director
2. Fireworks (1997) — Director
3. Sonatine (1993) — Director
4. Kikujiro (1999) — Director
5. Brother (2000) — Director
6. Outrage (2010) — Director
7. Violent Cop (1989) — Director
8. Dolls (2002) — Director
9. Kids Return (1996) — Director
10. Beyond Outrage (2012) — Director
11. A Scene at the Sea (1991) — Director
12. Boiling Point (1990) — Director
13. Outrage Coda (2017) — Director
14. To Each His Own Cinema (2007) — Director
15. Achilles and the Tortoise (2008) — Director
16. Broken Rage (2024) — Director
17. Takeshis' (2005) — Director
18. Getting Any? (1995) — Director
19. Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen (2015) — Director
20. Glory to the Filmmaker! (2007) — Director
21. Kubi (2023) — Director
22. Morning (2014) — Director
23. Takeshi's Castle Vol. 1 (2009) — Director
24. One Fine Day — Director
25. Hana-bi (1997) – Behind-the-scenes Footage (1997) — Director

Also appeared in

1. Ghost in the Shell (2017) — Aramaki
2. Battle Royale (2000) — Kitano
3. Johnny Mnemonic (1995) — Takahashi
4. Zatoichi (2003) — Zatoichi / Ichi
5. Fireworks (1997) — Yoshitaka Nishi
6. Sonatine (1993) — Aniki Murakawa
7. Kikujiro (1999) — Kikujiro
8. Battle Royale II: Requiem (2003) — Kitano
9. Brother (2000) — Aniki Yamamoto
10. Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983) — Hara
11. Outrage (2010) — Otomo
12. Violent Cop (1989) — Azuma Ryosuke
13. Beyond Outrage (2012) — Otomo
14. Boiling Point (1990) — Uehara
15. Outrage Coda (2017) — Otomo
16. To Each His Own Cinema (2007) — The projectionist (segment "Rencontre unique")
17. Taboo (1999) — Toshizo Hijikata
18. Achilles and the Tortoise (2008) — Machisu
19. Izo (2004) — Chancellor
20. Broken Rage (2024) — Nezumi
21. Takeshis' (2005) — Beat Takeshi / Mr. Kitano
22. Getting Any? (1995) — Scientist
23. Go, Go Second Time Virgin (1969) — Gang Member
24. Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen (2015) — Detective Murakami
25. Gonin (1995) — Ichiro Kyoya
26. Glory to the Filmmaker! (2007) — Takeshi / Yakuza / Father / Ninja / Detective / Astronomer
27. Blood and Bones (2004) — Joon-pyong Kim
28. Takeshi's Castle (2002)
29. Kubi (2023) — Hashiba Hideyoshi
30. MXC (2003)
31. Trespassing Bergman (2013) — Self
32. Tokyo Eyes (1998) — Yakusa
33. Takeshi's Castle Japan (2023)
34. Why Are We Creative? (2018) — Self
35. Arakimentari (2004) — Self
36. Morning (2014)
37. While the Women Are Sleeping (2016) — Sahara
38. The Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit (2008) — Take-Majin (voice)
39. Dearest (2012) — Teruo Sugino
40. Mozu The Movie (2015) — Daruma