Takeshi Kitano
Known for: Directing
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
Film
Ghost in the Shell
Aramaki
2017
Series
Golden Horse Awards
Self
1962
Series
Takeshi's Castle
2002
Series
MXC
2003
Film
Zatoichi
Zatoichi / Ichi
2003
Film
Battle Royale
Kitano
2000
Series
Idaten: Tokyo Olympics Story
古今亭志生
2019
Series
Takeshi's Castle
Count Takeshi
1986
Film
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
Hara
1983
Series
Musashi
Munisai Shinmen
2003
Film
Kikujiro
Kikujiro
1999
Film
Johnny Mnemonic
Takahashi
1995
Film
Brother
Aniki Yamamoto
2000
Film
Taboo
Toshizo Hijikata
1999
Series
Today's Close-Up
出演
1993
Film
Fireworks
Yoshitaka Nishi
1997
Film
Manon
Shinobu
1981
Film
Boiling Point
Uehara
1990
Film
Blood and Bones
Joon-pyong Kim
2004
Film
Outrage
Otomo
2010
Film
Sonatine
Aniki Murakawa
1993
Film
Battle Royale II: Requiem
Kitano
2003
Film
Violent Cop
Azuma Ryosuke
1989
Film
To Each His Own Cinema
The projectionist (segment "Rencontre unique")
2007
Film
Outrage Coda
Otomo
2017
Film
Takeshis'
Beat Takeshi / Mr. Kitano
2005
Film
Beyond Outrage
Otomo
2012
Film
Citizen Kitano
Self
2020
Film
The Boss' Wife
Shoji Sugimoto, Hitman
1988
Film
Plankton Salesmen
Self (archive footage)
2017
Series
Takeshi's Castle Japan
2023
Film
Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen
Detective Murakami
2015
Film
Getting Any?
Scientist
1995
Series
Beat Takeshi Presents TV Tackle
1989
Film
Gonin
Ichiro Kyoya
1995
Film
Izo
Chancellor
2004
Film
Why Are We Creative?
Self
2018
Film
The Mosquito on the Tenth Floor
Man at Racetrack
1983
Film
Go, Go Second Time Virgin
Gang Member
1969
Film
Kubi
Hashiba Hideyoshi
2023
Series
The Story of One Century
2000
Series
Dots and Lines
Jutaro Torikai
2007
Film
Trespassing Bergman
Self
2013
Film
Glory to the Filmmaker!
Takeshi / Yakuza / Father / Ninja / Detective / Astronomer
2007
Film
While the Women Are Sleeping
Sahara
2016
Film
Doctor X: Gekai Daimon Michiko Special
2016
Film
Broken Rage
Nezumi
2024
Film
Tokyo Eyes
Yakusa
1998
Film
Makoto-chan
1980
Film
AUM: The Cult at the End of the World
Self (archive footage)
2025
Film
Erotic Liaisons
Okuyama
1992
Film
Achilles and the Tortoise
Machisu
2008
Film
Arakimentari
Self
2004
Film
Mozu The Movie
Daruma
2015
Film
Kogoro Akechi vs Kaijin Nijyuu Menso
Niju Menso
2002
Film
Prison Break
Urata
2017
Film
Miwa: A Japanese Icon
Self
2013
Film
Dearest
Teruo Sugino
2012
Film
Kikoku
Private First Class Oomiya
2010
Film
Demon
Yajima
1985
Film
A Living Promise
Detective Koichiro Iwase
2016
Series
オモクリ監督～O－Creator's TV Show～
2014
Kodai bunmei Misuterī Takeshi no shin sekai nana fushigi dai hyakka
Film
Scenes by the Sea: Takeshi Kitano
Self
2000
Film
Electric Yakuza, Go to Hell!
Self
2004
Film
Hard-Wired Humanity
Self
Series
Kiseki taiken! Unbelievable
Storyteller
2018
Film
The Unpredictable Takeshi Kitano
Self
1999
Film
Tokyo Melody: A Film About Ryuichi Sakamoto
Hara (archive footage)
1985
Film
Making of 'Battle Royale'
Self
2000
Film
Aka Medaka
Tatekawa Danshi
2015
Series
たけしのその時カメラは回っていた
2020
Film
Seicho Matsumoto's Black Gospel
Rokuro Fujisawa
2014
Film
A Special Day
Self
2012
Kitano fan kurabu
Self
1992
Film
A Legend of Turmoil
Kiichirou Yashiro
1992
Film
In Between Mountains and Oceans
Himself
2014
Film
Making-of Kids Return
Himself
1996
Film
Many Happy Returns
Daisuke Shiba
1993
Film
Kichiku
2002
Film
What the War Meant
Hideki Tojo
2008
Film
The Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit
Take-Majin (voice)
2008
Film
Shooting Film is Battleground: Making of BATTLE ROYALE
Self
2001
Film
The 8th Floor
Self
2014
Film
No More Comics!
Yakuza
1986
加ト・けん・たけしの世紀末スペシャル!!
1998
Film
Completely... With That Air!
1981
Film
The Crimes of Kiyoshi Ōkubo
Kiyoshi Ôkubo
1983
Film
The Dump Truck Rascal
1981
Film
The 300 million yen robbery
2000
Film
The Final Battleground — Making of Battle Royale II
Self
2003
Film
Summer Secrets
Ramen shop owner
1982
Film
Dioxin from Fish!
Azuma
1992
Film
Yayoi Kusama: I Love Me
2008
北野ファンクラブ
1992
Film
The Yagyu Code: Secret Scrolls
1990
Series
日曜ゴールデンで何やってんだテレビ
2012
Series
たけしのこれがホントのニッポン芸能史
2015
Film
Hoshi wo tsugu mono
Yama no hito
1990
Film
Zankyo
1999
Film
Joke with a Sorrowful Heart
Hiroshi Igarashi
1985
Film
雨の降る駅
演员
1986
Film
Shoko Asahara with Takeshi
Self
1991
Film
KILL THEM ALL
1990
Film
Kim's War
Kim Hyi-ro
1991
Jam Session (The Official Bootleg of Kikujiro)
1999
Film
Takeshi's Castle Vol. 1
2009
Film
Morning
2014
Film
One Fine Day
Projectionist
2005
Film
Jesus' Ark
Takeyoshi Sengoku
1985
Film
In Your Blood: Hoki Naiden
Film
The Golden Cups: One More Time
Himself
2004
Film
Hana-bi (1997) – Behind-the-scenes Footage
Self - Himself
1997
Film
Kiseki Taiken! Anbiribabō: Kyōfu Eizō Kaiki Shashin Korekushon
1999
Film
Kiseki Taiken! Anbiribabō: 1999 Nostradamus Senritsu no Daiyogen Mysterious Unbelievable
1999
Film
北野武の世界
Lui-même
1993