Takeshi Kitano

Directing·Jan 18, 1947·Tokyo, Japan

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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).

Film	Credit
AUM: The Cult at the End of the World2025 · Self (archive footage)	Self (archive footage)
Broken Rage2024 · Nezumi, Director, Writer	Nezumi, Director, Writer
Kubi2023 · Hashiba Hideyoshi, Screenplay, Director	Hashiba Hideyoshi, Screenplay, Director
Citizen Kitano2020 · Self	Self
Why Are We Creative?2018 · Self	Self
Plankton Salesmen2017 · Self (archive footage)	Self (archive footage)
Outrage Coda2017 · Otomo, Director, Screenplay	Otomo, Director, Screenplay
Prison Break2017 · Urata	Urata
Ghost in the Shell2017 · Aramaki	Aramaki
Doctor X: Gekai Daimon Michiko Special2016 · Actor	Actor
While the Women Are Sleeping2016 · Sahara	Sahara
A Living Promise2016 · Detective Koichiro Iwase	Detective Koichiro Iwase
Aka Medaka2015 · Tatekawa Danshi	Tatekawa Danshi
Mozu The Movie2015 · Daruma	Daruma
Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen2015 · Detective Murakami, Director, Writer	Detective Murakami, Director, Writer
Morning2014 · Actor, Director, Screenplay	Actor, Director, Screenplay
The 8th Floor2014 · Self	Self
In Between Mountains and Oceans2014 · Himself	Himself
Seicho Matsumoto's Black Gospel2014 · Rokuro Fujisawa	Rokuro Fujisawa
Miwa: A Japanese Icon2013 · Himself	Himself
Trespassing Bergman2013 · Self	Self
Beyond Outrage2012 · Otomo, Director, Writer	Otomo, Director, Writer
Dearest2012 · Teruo Sugino	Teruo Sugino
A Special Day2012 · Self	Self
Kikoku2010 · Private First Class Oomiya	Private First Class Oomiya
Outrage2010 · Otomo, Director, Screenplay	Otomo, Director, Screenplay
Takeshi's Castle Vol. 12009 · Actor, Director	Actor, Director
What the War Meant2008 · Hideki Tojo	Hideki Tojo
The Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit2008 · Take-Majin (voice)	Take-Majin (voice)
Achilles and the Tortoise2008 · Machisu, Director, Screenplay	Machisu, Director, Screenplay
Yayoi Kusama: I Love Me2008 · Actor	Actor
To Each His Own Cinema2007 · The projectionist (segment "Rencontre unique"), Director, Screenplay, Producer	The projectionist (segment "Rencontre unique"), Director, Screenplay, Producer
Glory to the Filmmaker!2007 · Takeshi / Yakuza / Father / Ninja / Detective / Astronomer, Director, Writer	Takeshi / Yakuza / Father / Ninja / Detective / Astronomer, Director, Writer
Takeshis'2005 · Beat Takeshi / Mr. Kitano, Director, Writer	Beat Takeshi / Mr. Kitano, Director, Writer
The Golden Cups: One More Time2004 · Himself	Himself
Blood and Bones2004 · Joon-pyong Kim	Joon-pyong Kim
Izo2004 · Chancellor	Chancellor
Electric Yakuza, Go to Hell!2004 · Self	Self
Arakimentari2004 · Self	Self
Zatoichi2003 · Zatoichi / Ichi, Director, Screenplay	Zatoichi / Ichi, Director, Screenplay
The Final Battleground — Making of Battle Royale II2003 · Self	Self
Battle Royale II: Requiem2003 · Kitano	Kitano
Kichiku2002 · Actor	Actor
Dolls2002 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Kogoro Akechi vs Kaijin Nijyuu Menso2002 · Niju Menso	Niju Menso
Shooting Film is Battleground: Making of BATTLE ROYALE2001 · Self	Self
The 300 million yen robbery2000 · Actor	Actor
Battle Royale2000 · Kitano	Kitano