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, also known as in Japan, 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. During his time as a student at
Meiji University is a Private university, private research university in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. Originally founded as Meiji Law School () by three lawyers in 1881, it became a university in April 1920. As of May 2023, Meiji has 32,261 undergradu ...
, he became a comedian at the strip theater France-za in Asakusa, Tokyo. In 1973, he formed a comedy duo called Two Beat with Kiyoshi Kaneko, who later became Beat Kiyoshi. Kitano adopted the stage name Beat Takeshi. Riding the wave of the comedy boom, he gained popularity with satirical and sharp-tongued black humor. In the 1980s, he appeared in TV shows such as ''Oretachi Hyōkin-zoku'' which recorded the highest viewership rating of 29.1%, and '' Takeshi's Castle'' which recorded 24.7%, becoming explosively popular on television. He gained recognition as an actor in director
Nagisa Ōshima was a Japanese filmmaker, writer, and left-wing activist who is best known for his fiction films, of which he directed 23 features in a career spanning from 1959 to 1999. He is regarded as one of the greatest Japanese directors of all time, and ...
's film ''
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence , also known as , is a 1983 war film co-written and directed by Nagisa Ōshima, co-written by Paul Mayersberg, and produced by Jeremy Thomas. The film is based on the experiences of Sir Laurens van der Post (portrayed by Tom Conti as Lt. Col. J ...
'' (1983). In 1989, he made his directorial debut with the film ''Violent Cop'' after
Kinji Fukasaku was a Japanese film director and screenwriter. Known for his "broad range and innovative filmmaking", Fukasaku worked in many different genres and styles, but was best known for his gritty Yakuza film, yakuza films, typified by the Battles With ...
stepped down. He won the
Golden Lion The Golden Lion () is the highest prize given to a film at the Venice Film Festival. The prize was introduced in 1949 by the organizing committee and is regarded as one of the film industry's most prestigious and distinguished prizes. In 1970, a ...
at the
Venice Film Festival The Venice Film Festival or Venice International Film Festival (, "International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art of the Venice Biennale") is an annual film festival held in Venice, Italy. It is the world's oldest film festival and one of the ...
for his film '' Hana-bi'' (1997), becoming the third Japanese director to receive this honor after
Akira Kurosawa was a Japanese filmmaker who List of works by Akira Kurosawa, directed 30 feature films in a career spanning six decades. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers in the History of film, history of cinema ...
and Hiroshi Inagaki. 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). He has received critical acclaim for his idiosyncratic cinematic work, winning numerous awards with Japanese film critic Nagaharu Yodogawa having once dubbed him "the true successor" to influential filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. Many of Kitano's films are dramas about ''
yakuza , also known as , are members of transnational organized crime syndicates originating in Japan. The Japanese police and media (by request of the police) call them , while the yakuza call themselves . The English equivalent for the term ''yak ...
'' gangsters or the police. Described by critics as using an acting style that is highly deadpan or a camera style that approaches near-stasis, Kitano often uses long takes during which little appears to be happening, or editing that cuts immediately to the aftermath of an event. Many of his films express a bleak worldview, but are also filled with humor and affection for their characters.


Life and career


Early life

Takeshi Kitano was born in
Adachi, Tokyo is a special ward in the Tokyo Metropolis in Japan. It is located to the north of the heart of Tokyo. The ward consists of two separate areas: a small strip of land between the Sumida River and Arakawa River and a larger area north of th ...
, with two older brothers and an older sister. His father worked as a house painter, with Kitano revealing that he used to live like a
yakuza , also known as , are members of transnational organized crime syndicates originating in Japan. The Japanese police and media (by request of the police) call them , while the yakuza call themselves . The English equivalent for the term ''yak ...
, while his mother was a strict disciplinarian and educator who worked in a factory. In his working-class neighborhood, the children looked up to baseball players and yakuza, with many of his neighbors being the latter. Kitano entered
Meiji University is a Private university, private research university in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. Originally founded as Meiji Law School () by three lawyers in 1881, it became a university in April 1920. As of May 2023, Meiji has 32,261 undergradu ...
and studied engineering, before dropping out at age 19. He went to the
Asakusa is a district in Taitō, Tokyo, Japan. It is known for Sensō-ji, a Buddhist temple dedicated to the bodhisattva Kannon. There are several other temples in Asakusa, as well as various festivals, such as . History The development of Asaku ...
district in 1972 to become a comedian. While working as an elevator operator at the Asakusa France-za strip club, he became an apprentice of its comedian Senzaburo Fukami and eventually the theater's MC.


Comedy career and success

In the 1970s, he formed a comedy duo with his friend Nirō Kaneko (also called Kiyoshi Kaneko). They took on the stage names ''Beat Takeshi'' and ''Beat Kiyoshi''; together referring to themselves as . This sort of duo comedy, known as ''
manzai is a traditional style of comedy in Japanese culture comparable to double act comedy. usually involves two performers ()—a straight man () and a double act, funny man ()—trading jokes at great speed. Most of the jokes revolve around mut ...
'' in Japan, usually features a great deal of high-speed back-and-forth banter between the two performers. Kiyoshi played the
straight man The straight man (or straight woman in the case of female characters), also known as a "comedic foil", is a stock character in a comedy performance, especially a double act, sketch comedy, or farce. When a comedy partner behaves eccentrically ...
(''
tsukkomi The following glossary of words and terms (generally of Japanese language, Japanese origin) are related to ''owarai'' (Japanese comedy). Many of these terms may be used in areas of Japanese culture beyond comedy, including television and radio, ...
'') against Takeshi's funny man ('' boke''). In 1976, they performed on television for the first time and became a success, propelling their act onto the national stage. The reason for their popularity had much to do with Kitano's material, which was much more risqué than traditional ''manzai''. The targets of his jokes were often the socially vulnerable, including the elderly, the handicapped, the poor, children, women, the ugly and the stupid. Complaints to the broadcaster led to censorship of some of Kitano's jokes and the editing of offensive dialogue. Kitano confirmed in a video interview that he was forbidden to access the
NHK , also known by its Romanization of Japanese, romanized initialism NHK, is a Japanese public broadcasting, public broadcaster. It is a statutory corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television licence, television license fee. NHK ope ...
studios for five years for having exposed his body during a show when it was totally forbidden. Although Two Beat was one of the most successful acts of its kind during the late 1970s and early 1980s, Kitano decided to go solo and the duo was dissolved. Together with
Sanma Akashiya is a Japanese comedian, TV presenter, radio personality and actor most commonly known as Sanma-san. His real name is . His talent agency is Yoshimoto Kogyo and his shishô (master) back when he studied '' rakugo'' is Shōfukutei Matsunosuke. T ...
and
Tamori , known by his stage name (an anagram of his surname), is a Japanese television celebrity. Known for his trademark dark sunglasses, Tamori is one of the "big three" television comedians in Japan along with Takeshi Kitano (a.k.a. Beat Takesh ...
, Kitano is said to be one of the " Big Three" television comedians (''
owarai is a broad word used to describe Japanese comedy as seen on television. The word ''owarai'' is the Honorific speech in Japanese#Honorific prefixes, honorific form of the word ''warai'' (by adding o- prefix), meaning "a laugh" or "a smile". '' ...
'' ''
tarento Television personalities in Japan, known as in Japanese, are celebrities who regularly appear in mass media in Japan, especially as panelists on variety shows. During the Golden Age of Hollywood, bankable stars in the United States were descri ...
'') of Japan. Some autobiographical elements relating to his ''manzai'' career can be found in his 1996 film '' Kids Return''. Beat Kiyoshi has a bit part in Kitano's 1999 film '' Kikujiro'', as "Man at the Bus Stop". Kitano had also become a popular television host. '' Takeshi's Castle'' was a game show hosted by Kitano in the 1980s, featuring slapstick-style physical contests. It was broadcast years later in the United States under the title '' Most Extreme Elimination Challenge'', with Takeshi renamed "Vic Romano". Many of Kitano's routines involved him portraying a gangster or other harsh characters. Kitano said that after playing comedy clubs he would be invited to drink with yakuza, who would tell him stories about the big crime bosses. His first major film role was in
Nagisa Oshima is a Japanese name, Japanese given name used by either sex and is occasionally used as a surname. Written forms Nagisa can be written using different kanji characters and can mean: *渚, "beach, strand" *汀, "water's edge/shore" *凪砂, "lu ...
's ''
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence , also known as , is a 1983 war film co-written and directed by Nagisa Ōshima, co-written by Paul Mayersberg, and produced by Jeremy Thomas. The film is based on the experiences of Sir Laurens van der Post (portrayed by Tom Conti as Lt. Col. J ...
'' (cast as a tough
POW camp A prisoner-of-war camp (often abbreviated as POW camp) is a site for the containment of enemy fighters captured as prisoners of war by a belligerent power in time of war. There are significant differences among POW camps, internment camps, an ...
sergeant during
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
opposite
Tom Conti Tommaso Antonio Conti (born 22 November 1941) is a Scottish actor. Conti has received numerous accolades including a Tony Award and a Laurence Olivier Award as well as nominations for an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award and two Golden Globe Awards ...
,
Ryuichi Sakamoto was a Music of Japan, Japanese musician, composer, keyboardist, record producer, singer and actor. He pursued a diverse range of styles as a solo artist and as a member of the Synthesizer, synth-based band Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO). With his ...
and
David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer, songwriter and actor. Regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Bowie was acclaimed by critics and musicians, pa ...
). Kitano said that he was happy with his performance and snuck into a showing of the film to see how the audience would accept him as a serious actor instead of a comedian. He was devastated when the audience burst into laughter upon his appearing on screen, but vowed to stick to serious and dark characters in film. In 1986, Kitano worked on the
Family Computer The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is an 8-bit home video game console developed and marketed by Nintendo. It was first released in Japan on 15 July 1983 as the and was later released as the redesigned NES in several test markets in the U ...
video game '' Takeshi no Chōsenjō'' (translated as ''Takeshi's Challenge''), as a consultant and partial designer. He was the first Japanese celebrity to actively contribute to the development of a video game and starred in several commercials promoting its release. Due to the title's difficulty and confusing gameplay mechanics, it was placed first in Famitsu magazine's ''
kusoge In Japanese video gaming, a , , is an unenjoyable or poorly made video game. Though the label is usually applied disparagingly, there is a subculture of celebrating kusoge. Etymology The term ''kusogē'' is a portmanteau of and . Though it ...
'' (shit game) ranking, and is often referred to as one of the worst video games of all time. ''Takeshi no Chōsenjō'' and its development was later the subject of the first episode of '' GameCenter CX'', a gaming variety show hosted by Osaka comedian Shinya Arino. In 1988, he published a memoir, '' Asakusa Kid''. He has also published a number of novels and other books which have been translated into French. He co-founded the Agency Office Kitano with Masayuki Mori. After several other acting roles, mostly comedic, in 1989 he was cast as the lead in '' Violent Cop''. When director
Kinji Fukasaku was a Japanese film director and screenwriter. Known for his "broad range and innovative filmmaking", Fukasaku worked in many different genres and styles, but was best known for his gritty Yakuza film, yakuza films, typified by the Battles With ...
stepped down over scheduling conflicts with Kitano, due to Kitano's TV commitments, the distributor suggested the comedian direct it at his own pace. He also rewrote the script heavily, and this marked the beginning of Kitano's career as a filmmaker.


1990–2000: Film recognition

Kitano's second film as director and first as screenwriter was ''
Boiling Point The boiling point of a substance is the temperature at which the vapor pressure of a liquid equals the pressure surrounding the liquid and the liquid changes into a vapor. The boiling point of a liquid varies depending upon the surrounding envi ...
'' (''3-4X10 October'') released in 1990. Mark Schilling cited it as the film in which Kitano defined his style with long takes, minimal camera movement, brief dialogue, sly humor, and sudden violence. Kitano's third film, '' A Scene at the Sea'', was released in 1991. It follows a deaf garbage collector who is determined to learn how to surf after discovering a broken surfboard. Kitano's more delicate, romantic side came to the fore here, along with his trademark deadpan approach. The film garnered numerous nominations and awards, including Best Film at the prestigious
Blue Ribbon Awards The are film-specific prizes awarded solely by movie critics and writers in Tokyo, Japan, established in 1950 by , established under the name of the "Association of Tokyo Film Journalists Award", which was formed mainly by film reporters from th ...
. It also started a long-running collaboration with composer Joe Hisaishi, which would last until 2002. Although 1993's '' Sonatine'' did poorly in Japan, it received rave reviews in Europe when it was shown at the
1993 Cannes Film Festival The 46th Cannes Film Festival took place from 13 to 24 May 1993. French filmmaker Louis Malle served as jury president for the main competition. French actress Jeanne Moreau hosted the opening and closing ceremonies. The ''Palme d'Or'' was join ...
. Kitano plays a Tokyo yakuza who is sent by his boss to Okinawa to help end a gang war there. He is tired of gangster life, and when he finds out the whole mission is a ruse, he welcomes what comes with open arms. All four of his films were screened at the 1994
London Film Festival The BFI London Film Festival is an annual film festival held in London, England, in collaboration with the British Film Institute. Founded in 1957, the festival runs for two weeks every October. In 2016, the British Film Institute, BFI estim ...
. In August 1994, Kitano was involved in a motorscooter accident and suffered injuries that caused partial
paralysis Paralysis (: paralyses; also known as plegia) is a loss of Motor skill, motor function in one or more Skeletal muscle, muscles. Paralysis can also be accompanied by a loss of feeling (sensory loss) in the affected area if there is sensory d ...
of the right-side of his face. As reported by Dan Edwards, Kitano later said that the accident was an "unconscious suicide attempt". Kitano made '' Kids Return'' in 1996, soon after his recovery. The 1995 release of '' Getting Any?'' (''Minna Yatteruka!''), which was filmed before the accident, showed Kitano returning to his comedy roots. This ''
Airplane! ''Airplane!'' (alternatively titled ''Flying High!'') is a 1980 American disaster film, disaster comedy film written and directed by Jim Abrahams and brothers David Zucker, David and Jerry Zucker in their List of directorial debuts, directoria ...
''-like assemblage of comedic scenes, all centering loosely around a Walter Mitty-type character trying to have sex in a car, met with little acclaim in Japan. Much of the film satirizes popular Japanese culture, such as ''
Ultraman The , also known as ''Ultraman'', is a Japanese science fiction media franchise owned and produced by Tsuburaya Productions, which began with the television series '' Ultra Q'' in 1966. The franchise has expanded into many television shows, fi ...
'' or ''
Godzilla is a fictional monster, or ''kaiju'', that debuted in the eponymous 1954 film, directed and co-written by Ishirō Honda. The character has since become an international pop culture icon, appearing in various media: 33 Japanese films p ...
'' and even the Zatoichi character that Kitano himself would go on to play eight years later. That year Kitano also appeared in the film adaptation of
William Gibson William Ford Gibson (born March 17, 1948) is an American-Canadian speculative fiction writer and essayist widely credited with pioneering the science fiction subgenre known as cyberpunk. Beginning his writing career in the late 1970s, his ear ...
's 1995 '' Johnny Mnemonic'', credited by the mononym "Takeshi", although his on-screen time was greatly reduced for the American cut of the film. After his motorscooter accident, Kitano took up painting. His paintings have been published in books, featured in gallery exhibitions, and adorn the covers of many of the soundtrack albums for his films. His paintings were featured prominently in his most critically acclaimed film, 1997's '' Hana-bi''. Although for years already Kitano's largest audience had been the foreign arthouse crowd, ''Hana-bi'' cemented his status internationally as one of Japan's foremost modern filmmakers. Although it was not a big success financially, it won the
Golden Lion The Golden Lion () is the highest prize given to a film at the Venice Film Festival. The prize was introduced in 1949 by the organizing committee and is regarded as one of the film industry's most prestigious and distinguished prizes. In 1970, a ...
award at the 1997 Venice Film Festival. Kitano himself said it was not until he won this award that he was accepted as a serious director in Japan; prior his films were looked at as just the hobby of a famous comedian. Among his most significant acting roles were Nagisa Oshima's 1999 film ''
Taboo A taboo is a social group's ban, prohibition or avoidance of something (usually an utterance or behavior) based on the group's sense that it is excessively repulsive, offensive, sacred or allowed only for certain people.''Encyclopædia Britannica ...
'', in which he played Captain
Hijikata Toshizo Hijikata (written: 土方) is a Japanese surname, and may refer to: * Hisaakira Hijikata (1870–1942), Japanese businessman * Kensuke Hijikata (born 1922), Japanese photographer * Rinky Hijikata (born 2001), Australian tennis player * Ryuji Hijika ...
of the Shinsengumi. '' Kikujiro'', released in 1999 and named after his father, was a semi-comedy featuring Kitano as a ne'er-do-well crook who winds up paired up with a young boy looking for his mother, and goes on a series of misadventures with him. He hosted '' Koko ga Hen da yo Nihonjin'' (English translation, ''This doesn't make sense, Japanese people!'') which was a Japanese TV show that was broadcast weekly from 1998 to 2002, a talk show on which a large panel of Japanese-speaking foreigners from around the world debate current issues in Japanese society. He currently hosts '' Unbelievable'', which was relaunched in 2001, and the weekly television program ''Beat Takeshi's TV Tackle''. ''TV Tackle'' is a kind of panel discussion among entertainers and politicians regarding controversial current events. Another of his shows is ''Sekai Marumie TV'' ("The World Exposed"), a weekly collection of various interesting video clips from around the world, often focusing on the weird aspects of other countries. On this show, he plays a childlike idiot, insulting the guests, and usually appearing wearing strange costumes during the show.


2000–present

Kitano played a similarly named character in the controversial 2000 Japanese blockbuster '' Battle Royale'', which takes place in a future in which a group of teenagers are randomly selected each year to eliminate each other on a deserted island. His 2000 film ''
Brother A brother (: brothers or brethren) is a man or boy who shares one or more parents with another; a male sibling. The female counterpart is a sister. Although the term typically refers to a family, familial relationship, it is sometimes used ende ...
'' was deliberately intended to be a hit abroad. Shot in Los Angeles, it starred Kitano as a deposed and exiled Tokyo yakuza setting up a drug empire in Los Angeles with the aid of a local gangster played by
Omar Epps Omar Hashim Epps (born July 20, 1973) is an American actor, rapper, and producer. Epps's film roles include ''Juice (1992 film), Juice'', ''Higher Learning'', ''The Wood'', ''In Too Deep (1999 film), In Too Deep'', and ''Love & Basketball''. His ...
. However, the film met with tepid international response. Although in Japan it did better financially than ''Hana-bi''. ''
Dolls A doll is a physical model, model typically of a human or humanoid character, often used as a toy for children. Dolls have also been used in traditional religious rituals throughout the world. Traditional dolls made of materials such as clay and ...
'' in 2002 had Kitano directing but not starring in a romantic drama with three different stories about undying love, and was loosely based on a
bunraku is a form of traditional Japanese puppet theatre, founded in Osaka in the beginning of the 17th century, which is still performed in the modern day. Three kinds of performers take part in a performance: the or (puppeteers), the (chanters) ...
play. Following the disappointing response to the film ''Brother'' and the film ''Dolls'', Kitano received a sequence of unsympathetic reviews from the press in the United States. Criticism was less severe in Europe and Asia though many commentators were not as lavish with their praise as they had been with his previous films. 2003's '' Zatōichi'', directed by and starring Kitano, silenced many of these dissenters. With a new take on the character from Shintaro Katsu's long-running film and TV series, ''Zatōichi'' was Kitano's biggest box office success in Japan, did quite well in limited release across the world, and won countless awards at home and abroad, including the Silver Lion award at the Venice Film Festival. Kitano revealed that he was approached by others to create the film and therefore differed from his own techniques and followed the common filmmaking process in order to please them and make a pure-entertainment film. From April 2005 to 2008, Kitano was an instructor at the Graduate School of Visual Arts,
Tokyo University of the Arts or is a school of art and music in Japan. Located in Ueno Park, it also has facilities in Toride, Ibaraki, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Kitasenju and Adachi, Tokyo. The university has trained artists in the fields of painting, sculpture, crafts, inter ...
. Kitano's film, '' Takeshis''' was released in Japan in November 2005, as the first installment in his surrealist autobiographical series. This was followed in 2007, by his second surrealist autobiographical film '' Glory to the Filmmaker!'' (appearing as Beat Takeshi), and a third in 2008, titled '' Achilles and the Tortoise''. In between these films, Kitano appeared in a number of other television projects and smaller projects. In 2007 he appeared in ''Dots and Lines'' (a TV mini-series) as Jūtarō Torikai. Also in 2007, Kitano appeared in ''To Each His Own Cinema'' as the projectionist (in the segment "Rencontre unique") as Beat Takeshi, and in the TV movie ''Wada Akiko Satsujin Jiken''. In 2008, he did the voice-over in ''The Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit'', for Take-Majin, a heroic monster based on Kitano. In 2010, the Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain in Paris held a one-man show displaying his paintings and installations. A room in the basement played a 12-hour loop of his work as a TV host. Kitano's 2010 film '' Outrage'' was screened at the
2010 Cannes Film Festival The 63rd Cannes Film Festival took place from 12 to 23 May 2010. American filmmaker Tim Burton served as jury president for the main competition. Thai filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul won the Palme d'Or, the festival's top prize, for the dram ...
. He admitted he tried something different for ''Outrage'' by adding a lot of dialogue, stepping back as the main character to make an ensemble piece, and having the feel of a nature documentary watching the characters kill each other. A sequel, 2012's '' Outrage Beyond'', was screened in competition at the 69th Venice International Film Festival. He also appeared in Yasuo Furuhata's 2012 film, '' Dearest''. In September 2012, Takeshi Kitano said that the producers wanted him to make a third ''Outrage'' film depending on the box office. On 7 March 2013, ''Minkei News'' of Hong Kong reported that Kitano won the Best Director award for ''Outrage Beyond'' at the 7th
Asian Film Awards The Asian Film Awards are presented annually by the Asian Film Awards Academy to recognise the excellence of the film professionals in the film industries of Asian cinema. History On January 29, 2007, Wilfred Wong, the Chairman of Hong Kon ...
in Hong Kong. On 10 August 2013, in an interview reported by John Bleasdale, Kitano revealed his current plans for a sequel to ''Outrage Beyond'' and an untitled personal film project. As Kitano stated, "Ideally what would happen would be this: ''Outrage Beyond'' becomes a huge hit, so huge that my producer allows me to make one film I really want to do and then come back to the sequel after I've made the film I really want to do." In September 2015, it was announced that Kitano would be contributing his voice and likeness to the character Toru Hirose in the
SEGA is a Japanese video game company and subsidiary of Sega Sammy Holdings headquartered in Tokyo. It produces several List of best-selling video game franchises, multi-million-selling game franchises for arcade game, arcades and video game cons ...
video game '' Yakuza 6: The Song of Life''. This collaboration marked Kitano's first involvement with the video game industry in 30 years since the 1986 release of '' Takeshi no Chōsenjō''. Takeshi co-starred in the live action adaptation of the manga ''
Ghost in the Shell ''Ghost in the Shell'' is a Japanese cyberpunk media franchise based on the manga series of the same name written and illustrated by Masamune Shirow. The manga, first serialized between 1989 and 1991, is set in mid-21st century Japan and tel ...
'', marking his return to American cinema nearly twenty years after '' Johnny Mnemonic'' in 1995. Although he has expressed his dislike of anime and manga in the past, he accepted the role because "even though this stylish piece of entertainment is totally different from the films I've directed, I thought it was interesting that Aramaki, the role I play, is a character who gives off a peculiar vibe and, in various episodes, is set at the core of the characters' relationships. I'm looking forward to see how the movie turns out." In 2017, Kitano released the third and final installment in the successful '' Outrage'' series titled '' Outrage Coda''. He left ''Office Kitano'' in 2018 and became affiliated with ''T.N Gon'' jp">:ja:T.Nゴン">jp Kitano's samurai film '' Kubi'' about the
Honnō-ji Incident The was the assassination of Japanese daimyo Oda Nobunaga at Honnō-ji, a temple in Kyoto, on 21 June 1582 (2nd day of the sixth month, Tenshō 10). Nobunaga was on the verge of unifying the country, but died in the unexpected rebellion of ...
premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.


Awards

Kitano won the
Golden Lion The Golden Lion () is the highest prize given to a film at the Venice Film Festival. The prize was introduced in 1949 by the organizing committee and is regarded as one of the film industry's most prestigious and distinguished prizes. In 1970, a ...
award at the 54th Venice International Film Festival in 1997 for his film '' Hana-bi''. In 2008, at the
30th Moscow International Film Festival The 30th Moscow International Film Festival was held from 19 to 28 June 2008. The Golden George was awarded to the Iranian film '' As Simple as That'' directed by Reza Mirkarimi. Jury * Liv Ullmann (Norway – Chairman of the Jury) * Michael ...
, Kitano was given the Lifetime Achievement Award. In March 2010 Kitano was named a Commander of the Order of the Arts and Letters of France. On the 29th of April 2022 he received the Golden Mulberry Lifetime Achievement Award at the 24th Far East International Film Festival of Udine 2022, in Italy.


Agency

1988–2018.3: Office Kitano is a Japanese
talent management Talent management (TM) is the anticipation of required human capital for an organization and the planning to meet those needs. The field has been growing in significance and gaining interest among practitioners as well as in the scholarly deba ...
company founded in February 1988 by Kitano. In March 2018 Kitano left Office Kitano in order to become independent. Following this the company changed its name to TAP on January 1, 2020. 2018.4-: T.N Gon. In 2015, Kitano established .


Filmography


Film


As actor

* '' Go, Go, Second Time Virgin'' (1969) * ''Shinjuku Mad'' (1970) * '' Makoto-chan'' (1980) * ' (1981) * ''Manon'' (1981) * ''Sukkari... Sono Kide'' (1981) * ''Secret of Summer'' (1982) * ''
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence , also known as , is a 1983 war film co-written and directed by Nagisa Ōshima, co-written by Paul Mayersberg, and produced by Jeremy Thomas. The film is based on the experiences of Sir Laurens van der Post (portrayed by Tom Conti as Lt. Col. J ...
'' (1983) * ''Mosquito on the Tenth Floor'' (1983) * ''Kanashii kibun de joke'' (1985) * ''Yasha'' (1985) * ''
Comic Magazine Comic magazine or comics magazine may refer to: * A comic book * A comics anthology * ''Comic Magazine'', a 1986 Japanese film * Comic Magazines, the parent company of Quality Comics * British comics * List of Franco-Belgian comics magazines, Franc ...
'' (1986) * ''Anego'' (1988) * '' Violent Cop'' (1989) * ''
Boiling Point The boiling point of a substance is the temperature at which the vapor pressure of a liquid equals the pressure surrounding the liquid and the liquid changes into a vapor. The boiling point of a liquid varies depending upon the surrounding envi ...
'' (1990) * ''Setsuna Kimono, Sore wa Ai'' (1990) * ''Hoshi wo tsugu mono'' (1990) * ''A Legend of Turmoil'' (1992) * ''Dioxin from Fish!'' (1992) * ''Erotic Liaisons'' (1992) * ''Silver Ball'' (1992) * '' Sonatine'' (1993) * ''Kyoso Tanjo'' (1993) * '' Getting Any?'' (1995) * '' Johnny Mnemonic'' (1995) * '' Gonin'' (1995) * '' Hana-bi'' (1997) * '' Tokyo Eyes'' (1998) * '' Kikujiro'' (1999) * ''
Taboo A taboo is a social group's ban, prohibition or avoidance of something (usually an utterance or behavior) based on the group's sense that it is excessively repulsive, offensive, sacred or allowed only for certain people.''Encyclopædia Britannica ...
'' (1999) * ''Remains of Chivalry Zankyo'' (1999) * ''
Brother A brother (: brothers or brethren) is a man or boy who shares one or more parents with another; a male sibling. The female counterpart is a sister. Although the term typically refers to a family, familial relationship, it is sometimes used ende ...
'' (2000) * '' Battle Royale'' (2000) * '' Zatoichi'' (2003) * '' Battle Royale II: Requiem'' (2003) * '' Izo'' (2004) * '' Blood and Bones'' (2004) * ''The Golden Cups One More Time'' (2004) * '' Takeshis''' (2005) * ''Arakimentari'' (2005) * '' Glory to the Filmmaker!'' (2007) * '' The Monster X Strikes Back/Attack the G8 Summit'' (2008) - Take-Majin * '' Achilles and the Tortoise'' (2008) * '' Outrage'' (2010) * '' Dearest'' (2012) * '' Beyond Outrage'' (2012) * '' Ryuzo 7'' (2015) * '' Mozu'' (2015) * '' While the Women Are Sleeping'' (2016) * ''
Ghost in the Shell ''Ghost in the Shell'' is a Japanese cyberpunk media franchise based on the manga series of the same name written and illustrated by Masamune Shirow. The manga, first serialized between 1989 and 1991, is set in mid-21st century Japan and tel ...
'' (2017) - Chief Daisuke Aramaki * '' Outrage Coda'' (2017) * '' Kubi'' (2023) - Hashiba Hideyoshi * '' Broken Rage'' (2024) - Nezumi


Television

* ''Thousand Stars and One Night'' (1980–1981) * ''The Manzai'' (1980–1982) * ''Oretachi Hyōkin-zoku'' (1981–1989) * ''Bakumatsu Seishun Graffiti: Sakamoto Ryōma'' (1982), Yamauchi Yōdō * '' Laugh and Pon!'' (1983) * ''Super Jockey'' (1983–1999) * ''Sports Taisho'' (1985–1990) * ''Owarai Ultra Quiz'' (1989–1996, 2007) * Genki TV (1985–1996) * '' Takeshi's Castle'' (1986–1990) * ''TV Tackle'' (1989–present) * ''Heisei Board of Education'' (1991–1997) * ''Daredemo Picasso'' (1997–present) * '' Kiseki Taiken! Anbiribabō'' (1997–present) * '' Koko ga Hen da yo Nihonjin'' (1998–2002) * ''Musashi'' (2003) * ''Medical Horror Check Show'' (2004-2009) * '' Quiz $ Millionaire'' (2009) *
Fuji Television JOCX-DTV (channel 8), branded as or , is a Japanese television station that serves the Kantō region as the flagship (broadcasting), flagship station of the Fuji News Network (FNN) and the Fuji Network System (FNS). The station is owned-and- ...
midnight broadcasting series (1991–present) :''Kitano Fan Club'' :''Kitano Fuji'' :''Adachi-ku no Takeshi, Sekai no Kitano'' :''Saitoh Singu-ten'' :''Kitano Talent Meikan'' :''Takeshi Kitano presents Comăneci University Mathematics'' * ''Aka Medaka'' (2015) * ''Hagoku'' (2017) * '' Idaten'' (2019), Kokontei Shinshō V * ''Two Homelands'' (2019),
Hideki Tojo was a Japanese general and statesman who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 1941 to 1944 during the Second World War. His leadership was marked by widespread state violence and mass killings perpetrated in the name of Japanese nationalis ...


Radio

* ''
All Night Nippon is a Japanese radio program broadcast by Nippon Broadcasting System and other radio stations. DJs The day of the week below are for the evening preceding in Japan, i.e. day in UTC. * Mondays – Thursdays, 13:00 UTC – 15:00 UTC wi ...
by Beat Takeshi'' (1981–1990) * ''Beatnik Radio'' (1997–2000) * ''Beat Takeshi's literary night talk (NRN)'' * ''International men's friendship book show''


Books

* * * * * * * *


Video games


As designer

* '' Takeshi no Chōsenjō'' (1986)


As actor

* '' Yakuza 6: The Song of Life'' (2016)


Notes


References


Further reading

*


External links


Takeshi Kitano official site
* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kitano, Takeshi 1947 births Living people Male actors from Tokyo Commandeurs of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres Japanese male comedians Japanese male film actors Japanese film directors Japanese comedy film directors Japanese film editors Japanese film producers Japanese game show hosts 21st-century Japanese painters Japanese screenwriters Japanese male television actors Japanese television talk show hosts Yakuza film directors 20th-century Japanese comedians 21st-century Japanese comedians 20th-century Japanese male actors 21st-century Japanese male actors Directors of Golden Lion winners Venice Best Director Silver Lion winners Best Director Asian Film Award winners European Film Awards winners (people) Meiji University alumni Comedians from Tokyo 20th-century Japanese painters People from Adachi, Tokyo Japanese television show creators