Takeshi Kitano
- Known for
- Directing
- Born
- January 18, 1947
- Birthplace
- 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).
Filmography
In Your Blood: Hoki Naiden TBA
Actor
AUM: The Cult at the End of the World 2025
as Self (archive footage)
Broken Rage 2024
as Nezumi, Director, Writer, Editor
Kubi 2023
as Hashiba Hideyoshi, Editor, Screenplay, Director, Novel
Analog 2023
Novel
Asakusa Kid 2021
Novel
Citizen Kitano 2020
as Self
Why Are We Creative? 2018
as Self
Plankton Salesmen 2017
as Self (archive footage)
Outrage Coda 2017
as Otomo, Editor, Director, Screenplay
Hard-Wired Humanity 2017
as Self
Prison Break 2017
as Urata
Ghost in the Shell 2017
as Aramaki
Doctor X: Gekai Daimon Michiko Special 2016
Actor
While the Women Are Sleeping 2016
as Sahara
A Living Promise 2016
as Detective Koichiro Iwase
Aka Medaka 2015
as Tatekawa Danshi
Mozu The Movie 2015
as Daruma
Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen 2015
as Detective Murakami, Writer, Editor, Director
Morning 2014
Actor, Screenplay, Director
The 8th Floor 2014
as Self
In Between Mountains and Oceans 2014
as Himself
Seicho Matsumoto's Black Gospel 2014
as Rokuro Fujisawa
Kids Return: The Reunion 2013
Original Story
Miwa: A Japanese Icon 2013
as Self
Trespassing Bergman 2013
as Self
Beyond Outrage 2012
as Otomo, Director, Writer, Editor
Dearest 2012
as Teruo Sugino
A Special Day 2012
as Self
Kikoku 2010
as Private First Class Oomiya
Outrage 2010
as Otomo, Director, Screenplay, Editor
Takeshi's Castle Vol. 1 2009
Actor, Director
What the War Meant 2008
as Hideki Tojo
The Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit 2008
as Take-Majin (voice)
Achilles and the Tortoise 2008
as Machisu, Director, Screenplay, Editor
Yayoi Kusama: I Love Me 2008
Actor
To Each His Own Cinema 2007
as The projectionist (segment "Rencontre unique"), Director, Screenplay, Producer, Editor
Glory to the Filmmaker! 2007
as Takeshi / Yakuza / Father / Ninja / Detective / Astronomer, Director, Writer, Editor
Takeshis' 2005
as Beat Takeshi / Mr. Kitano, Director, Writer, Editor
One Fine Day 2005
as Projectionist, Director, Writer
The Golden Cups: One More Time 2004
as Himself
Blood and Bones 2004
as Joon-pyong Kim
Izo 2004
as Chancellor
Electric Yakuza, Go to Hell! 2004
as Self
Arakimentari 2004
as Self
Zatoichi 2003
as Zatoichi / Ichi, Director, Editor, Screenplay
The Final Battleground — Making of Battle Royale II 2003
as Self
Battle Royale II: Requiem 2003
as Kitano
Kichiku 2002
Actor
Dolls 2002
Screenplay, Director, Editor
Kogoro Akechi vs Kaijin Nijyuu Menso 2002
as Niju Menso
Asakusa Kid 2002
Original Story
Shooting Film is Battleground: Making of BATTLE ROYALE 2001
as Self
The 300 million yen robbery 2000
Actor
Battle Royale 2000
as Kitano
Making of 'Battle Royale' 2000
as Self
Brother 2000
as Aniki Yamamoto, Director, Editor, Writer
Scenes by the Sea: Takeshi Kitano 2000
as Self
Taboo 1999
as Toshizo Hijikata
The Unpredictable Takeshi Kitano 1999
as Self
Kikujiro 1999
as Kikujiro, Screenplay, Editor, Director
Kiseki Taiken! Anbiribabō: Kyōfu Eizō Kaiki Shashin Korekushon 1999
Actor
Kiseki Taiken! Anbiribabō: 1999 Nostradamus Senritsu no Daiyogen Mysterious Unbelievable 1999
Actor
- Jam Session (The Official Bootleg of Kikujiro)
Jam Session (The Official Bootleg of Kikujiro) 1999
Actor
Zankyo 1999
Actor
Tokyo Eyes 1998
as Yakusa
Fireworks 1997
as Yoshitaka Nishi, Editor, Director, Screenplay
Hana-bi (1997) – Behind-the-scenes Footage 1997
as Self - Himself, Director
Making-of Kids Return 1996
as Himself
Kids Return 1996
Director, Writer, Editor
Gonin 1995
as Ichiro Kyoya
Johnny Mnemonic 1995
as Takahashi
Getting Any? 1995
as Scientist, Writer, Director, Editor
Many Happy Returns 1993
as Daisuke Shiba, Novel
Sonatine 1993
as Aniki Murakawa, Director, Editor, Screenplay
北野武の世界 1993
as Lui-même
Erotic Liaisons 1992
as Okuyama
Dioxin from Fish! 1992
as Azuma
A Legend of Turmoil 1992
as Kiichirou Yashiro
Shoko Asahara with Takeshi 1991
as Self
A Scene at the Sea 1991
Director, Editor, Screenplay
Kim's War 1991
as Kim Hyi-ro
KILL THEM ALL 1990
Actor
Boiling Point 1990
as Uehara, Director, Screenplay
Hoshi wo tsugu mono 1990
as Yama no hito
The Yagyu Code: Secret Scrolls 1990
Actor
Violent Cop 1989
as Azuma Ryosuke, Director, Writer
The Boss' Wife 1988
as Shoji Sugimoto, Hitman
雨の降る駅 1986
as 演员
No More Comics! 1986
as Yakuza
Jesus' Ark 1985
as Takeyoshi Sengoku
Demon 1985
as Yajima
Joke with a Sorrowful Heart 1985
as Hiroshi Igarashi
Tokyo Melody: A Film About Ryuichi Sakamoto 1985
as Hara (archive footage)
The Crimes of Kiyoshi Ōkubo 1983
as Kiyoshi Ôkubo
The Mosquito on the Tenth Floor 1983
as Man at Racetrack
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence 1983
as Hara
Summer Secrets 1982
as Ramen shop owner
Completely... With That Air! 1981
Actor
Manon 1981
as Shinobu
The Dump Truck Rascal 1981
Actor
Makoto-chan 1980
Actor
Go, Go Second Time Virgin 1969
as Gang Member
Credits from TMDB.