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).
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (41)
AUM: The Cult at the End of the World
as Self (archive footage)
2025
Broken Rage
as Nezumi
2024
Kubi
as Hashiba Hideyoshi
2023
Analog
Novel (Writing)
2023
Asakusa Kid
Novel (Writing)
2021
Citizen Kitano
as Self
2020
Why Are We Creative?
as Self
2018
Plankton Salesmen
as Self (archive footage)
2017
Outrage Coda
as Otomo
2017
Ghost in the Shell: Hard-Wired Humanity - Making Ghost in the Shell
as self
2017
Prison Break
as Urata
2017
Ghost in the Shell
as Aramaki
2017
Doctor X: Gekai Daimon Michiko Special
2016
While the Women Are Sleeping
as Sahara
2016
A Living Promise
as Detective Koichiro Iwase
2016
Aka Medaka
as Tatekawa Danshi
2015
Mozu The Movie
as Daruma
2015
Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen
as Detective Murakami
2015
Morning
2014
The 8th Floor
as Self
2014
In Between Mountains and Oceans
as Himself
2014
Seicho Matsumoto's Black Gospel
as Rokuro Fujisawa
2014
Kids Return: The Reunion
Original Story (Writing)
2013
Miwa: A Japanese Icon
as Himself
2013
Trespassing Bergman
as Self
2013
Beyond Outrage
as Otomo
2012
Dearest
as Teruo Sugino
2012
A Special Day
as Self
2012
Kikoku
as Private First Class Oomiya
2010
Outrage
as Otomo
2010
Takeshi's Castle Vol. 1
2009
What the War Meant
as Hideki Tojo
2008
The Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit
as Take-Majin (voice)
2008
Achilles and the Tortoise
as Machisu
2008
Yayoi Kusama: I Love Me
2008
To Each His Own Cinema
as The projectionist (segment "Rencontre unique")
2007
Glory to the Filmmaker!
as Takeshi / Yakuza / Father / Ninja / Detective / Astronomer
2007
Takeshis'
as Beat Takeshi / Mr. Kitano
2005
The Golden Cups: One More Time
as Himself
2004
Blood and Bones
as Joon-pyong Kim
2004
Izo
as Chancellor
2004
TV Shows (9)
Takeshi's Castle Japan
2023
たけしのその時カメラは回っていた
2020
Idaten: Tokyo Olympics Story
as 古今亭志生
2019
Kiseki taiken! Unbelievable
as Storyteller
2018
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
Nagi-Asu: A Lull in the Sea
Assistant Editor (Editing)
2013
日曜ゴールデンで何やってんだテレビ
2012
Dots and Lines
as Jutaro Torikai
2007