Acting
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. Nakadai rose to prominence starring in Masaki 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. Description above from the Wikipedia article Tatsuya Nakadai, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Filmography
The Limit
Film · 2025
Life Work of Akira Kurosawa
Film · 2022
The Pass: Last Days of the Samurai
Film · 2022
The Return
Film · 2019
A Town and a Tall Chimney
Film · 2019
Sleeping Village
Film · 2019
Henkan kōshōjin: Itsuka, Okinawa o torimodosu
Film · 2018
Lear on the Shore
Film · 2017
Tatsuya Nakadai on Five Japanese Masters
Film · 2017
Great evil does not go to sleep: The counterattack of the special investigation unit prosecutor
Film · 2016
Cold Case: Door of Truth
Series · 2016
Futari no shikeishû - saishin imada hirakarezu
Film · 2015
A Duel Tale
Film · 2015
Before The Leaves Fall
Film · 2015
NORIN TEN inadzukagonjirō monogatari
Film · 2015
Nakadai Tatsuya: to Live for Acting
Film · 2015
Giovanni's Island
Film · 2014
Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya
Film · 2014
Gun Woman
Film · 2014
A Sinner's Lie
Series · 2014
The Human Trust
Film · 2013
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
Film · 2013
Promise: The Nabari Poisoned Wine Case, The Life of a Death-row Inmate
Film · 2013
Japan's Tragedy
Film · 2012
Until the Break of Dawn
Film · 2012
Gaku
Film · 2012
Haru's Journey
Film · 2010
Zatoichi: The Last
Film · 2010
Listen to My Heart
Film · 2009
Through the Mist
Film · 2009
Tatsuya Nakadai on 'The Human Condition'
Film · 2009
Samurai Banners
Series · 2007
Murder of the Inugami Clan
Film · 2006
Wish Upon a Star
Film · 2005
Yamato
Film · 2005
The Taika Reforms
Film · 2005
Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World
Series · 2004
Like Asura
Film · 2003
Vengeance for Sale
Film · 2002
Dawn of a New Day: The Man Behind VHS
Film · 2002
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Kagemusha'
Film · 2002
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Yojimbo'
Film · 2002
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Sanjuro'
Film · 2002
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'High and Low'
Film · 2002
To Dance with the White Dog
Film · 2002
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Ran'
Film · 2002
嘱託刑事･小山田昭平 旅路の果て
Series · 2001
Kurosawa
Film · 2000
After the Rain
Film · 2000
Kurosawa: The Last Emperor
Film · 1999
Jubaku: Spellbound
Film · 1999
The Life and Love of Kenji Miyazawa
Film · 1996
East Meets West
Film · 1995
A Son of the Good Earth
Series · 1995
Kin chan no Cinema Jack
Film · 1993
Lone Wolf and Cub: The Final Conflict
Film · 1993
Summer of the Moonlight Sonata
Film · 1993
Wicked City
Film · 1992
Basara: The Princess Goh
Film · 1992
Pinwheel Hamakichi's Spell
Film · 1992
Faraway Sunset
Film · 1992
Pinwheel Hamakichi's Spell
Series · 1992
Heat Wave
Film · 1991
Florence My Love
Film · 1991
13 Assassins
Film · 1990
Battleship Yamato
Film · 1990
Return from the River Kwai
Film · 1989
Four Days of Snow and Blood
Film · 1989
Let Him Rest in Peace
Film · 1989
Another Way: D-Kikan-Joho
Film · 1988
Oración
Film · 1988
Hachiko
Film · 1987
Taikoki
Film · 1987
Trinacria: Porsche 959
Film · 1987
Atami Murder Case
Film · 1986
Michi
Film · 1986
Ran
Film · 1985
The Empty Table
Film · 1985
Making of Ran
Film · 1985
A. K.
Film · 1985
Fireflies in the North
Film · 1984
The Fox Dancing in the Dusk
Film · 1984
Final Yamato
Film · 1983
Battle Anthem
Film · 1983
The Fir Trees Remain
Film · 1983
Shadow Hunters
Film · 1983
Momi no Ki wa Nokotta: Ranshin
Series · 1983
Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather
Film · 1982
The Law of Hell
Film · 1982
Tange Sazen: The Million Ryo Pot
Film · 1982
The Legend of Sayo
Film · 1982
Magistrate of the Floating World
Film · 1981
Willful Murder
Film · 1981
Kinagashi Bugyō
Series · 1981
Kagemusha
Film · 1980
Port Arthur
Film · 1980
Aoki Ookami Narukichiomoase no Shougai
Series · 1980
Hunter in the Dark
Film · 1979
Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron
Film · 1978
Queen Bee
Film · 1978
Blood Type: Blue
Film · 1978
The Phoenix
Film · 1978
Sugata Sanshiro
Film · 1977
Suna no Utsuwa
Series · 1977
The Corporation
Film · 1976
Human Revolution II
Film · 1976
Elegy
Film · 1976
I Am a Cat
Film · 1975
Battle Cry
Film · 1975
The Gate of Youth
Film · 1975
Solar Eclipse
Film · 1975
The Family
Film · 1974
Rise, Fair Sun
Film · 1973
Belladonna of Sadness
Film · 1973
The Human Revolution
Film · 1973
The King
Film · 1973
Shin Heike Monogatari
Series · 1972
The Wolves
Film · 1971
Inn of Evil
Film · 1971
The Battle of Okinawa
Film · 1971
Challenge at Dawn
Film · 1971
Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival
Film · 1970
The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan
Film · 1970
Duel at Fort Ezo
Film · 1970
Will to Conquer
Film · 1970
The Ambitious
Film · 1970
Tenchu!
Film · 1969
Goyokin
Film · 1969
Portrait of Hell
Film · 1969
Blood End
Film · 1969
Battle of the Japan Sea
Film · 1969
Safari 5000
Film · 1969
Kill!
Film · 1968
Today We Kill, Tomorrow We Die!
Film · 1968
The Human Bullet
Film · 1968
Admiral Yamamoto
Film · 1968
Samurai Rebellion
Film · 1967
The Age of Assassins
Film · 1967
Kojiro
Film · 1967
The Journey
Film · 1967
Japan's Longest Day
Film · 1967
Who Is Gomez?
Film · 1967
ゴメスの名はゴメス
Series · 1967
The Face of Another
Film · 1966
The Sword of Doom
Film · 1966
Cash Calls Hell
Film · 1966
The Daphne
Film · 1966
Kwaidan
Film · 1965
Illusion of Blood
Film · 1965
Fort Graveyard
Film · 1965
Three Yakuza
Film · 1965
The Last Judgment
Film · 1965
Ant Hell War
Film · 1964
Mr. Giant's Victory Flag
Film · 1964
High and Low
Film · 1963
A Woman's Life
Film · 1963
Pressure of Guilt
Film · 1963
Legacy of the 500,000
Film · 1963
Miren
Film · 1963
Madame Aki
Film · 1963
Sanjuro
Film · 1962
Harakiri
Film · 1962
The Inheritance
Film · 1962
Love Under the Crucifix
Film · 1962
Farm Girls
Film · 1962
Yojimbo
Film · 1961
The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer
Film · 1961
Immortal Love
Film · 1961
The Other Woman
Film · 1961
As the Clouds Scatter
Film · 1961
When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
Film · 1960
Daughters, Wives and a Mother
Film · 1960
The Blue Beast
Film · 1960
Get 'em All
Film · 1960
The Human Condition I: No Greater Love
Film · 1959
The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity
Film · 1959
Odd Obsession
Film · 1959
The Beast Shall Die
Film · 1959
Pilgrimage at Night
Film · 1959
Three Dolls in Ginza
Film · 1959
Oban kanketsu hen
Film · 1958
Conflagration
Film · 1958
A Boy and Three Mothers
Film · 1958
The Naked Sun
Film · 1958
All About Marriage
Film · 1958
Diary of an Elegant Hot Spring
Film · 1958
Go and Get It
Film · 1958
Kampai! Miai Kekkon
Film · 1958
The Gion Tempest
Film · 1958
Zokuzoku Ôban: Dotô hen
Film · 1957
Ôban
Film · 1957
Zoku Ôban: Fûun hen
Film · 1957
Black River
Film · 1957
A Dangerous Hero
Film · 1957
Untamed Woman
Film · 1957
Teenage Sazae
Film · 1957
The Shadow Daughter
Film · 1957
Skin-Colored Moon
Film · 1957
Phoenix
Film · 1956
Love on Rainbow Island
Film · 1956
Sazae-san
Film · 1956
The Mandarin Room
Film · 1956
The Thick-Walled Room
Film · 1956
Floating Weeds Diary
Film · 1955
Seven Samurai
Film · 1954
How the Bell of Liberty Rings
Film · 1954