Tatsuya Nakadai
Tatsuya Nakadai (仲代 達矢, Nakadai Tatsuya; born Motohisa Nakadai; December 13, 1932 – November 8, 2025) was a Japanese actor. Widely regarded as one of the greatest actors in the history of Japanese cinema, he collaborated extensively with many of Japan's best-known and acclaimed directors. In his over seven decade career, he appeared in more than 160 films, and received numerous accolades. He was honored with a Medal with Purple Ribbon in 1996 and Japan's Order of Culture in 2015.
Discovered on the streets of Tokyo by director Masaki Kobayashi, Nakadai rose to prominence starring in Kobayashi's films, with his breakthrough being the protagonist of the epic anti-war trilogy The Human Condition (1959–1961). He won the Blue Ribbon Award for Best Actor for his performance as the vengeful ronin in Harakiri (1962), a role he considered his finest. Nakadai collaborated on eleven films with Kobayashi—including Kwaidan (1964) and Samurai Rebellion (1967)—and five with Akira Kurosawa, most notably as the tragic warlord in Ran (1985), a performance that earned global acclaim. His other notable credits included Seven Samurai (1954), Yojimbo (1961), The Sword of Doom (1966), The Face of Another (1966), Goyokin (1969), Kagemusha (1980), and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013).
A lifelong stage actor, he founded the Gendai Nohgaku-kai troupe in 1975 and continued performing on stage into his nineties.
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Acting
Movie
Seven Samurai
as Samurai Wandering through Town (uncredited)
1954
Movie
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
as Charcoal-maker Old Man (voice)
2013
Movie
Ran
as Lord Hidetora Ichimonji
1985
Movie
Yojimbo
as Unosuke, gunfighter
1961
Movie
Harakiri
as Hanshiro Tsugumo
1962
Movie
High and Low
as Chief Detective Tokura
1963
Movie
Kagemusha
as Shingen Takeda / Kagemusha
1980
Movie
Sanjuro
as Hanbei Muroto
1962
Movie
Kwaidan
as Minokichi (segment "The Woman of the Snow")
1965
Movie
Belladonna of Sadness
as The Devil (voice)
1973
Movie
The Human Condition I: No Greater Love
as Kaji
1959
Movie
The Face of Another
as Mr. Okuyama
1966
Movie
Samurai Rebellion
as Tatewaki Asano
1967
Movie
The Sword of Doom
as Ryunosuke Tsukue
1966
Movie
The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity
as Kaji
1959
Movie
The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer
as Kaji
1961
Movie
Hachiko
as Shujiro Ueno
1987
Movie
Gun Woman
as Hamazaki
2014
Movie
When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
as Kenichi Komatsu
1960
Movie
Giovanni's Island
as Older Junpei Senou (voice)
2014
Movie
After the Rain
as Tsuji Gettan
2000
Movie
Kill!
as Genta
1968
Movie
Today We Kill, Tomorrow We Die!
as James Elfego
1968
Movie
Goyokin
as Magobei Wakizaka
1969