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.
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.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Tatsuya Nakadai, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
External links
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/nm0619938
Wikipedia: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q449621
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Filmography (Movies)
The Limit
Character:Narrator
Release Date:04/01/2025
Life Work of Akira Kurosawa
Character:Self
Release Date:25/11/2022
The Pass: Last Days of the Samurai
Character:Makino Tadayuki
Release Date:17/06/2022
The Return
Character:
Release Date:04/11/2019
A Town and a Tall Chimney
Character:
Release Date:22/06/2019
Sleeping Village
Character:(narration)
Release Date:02/02/2019
Henkan kōshōjin: Itsuka, Okinawa o torimodosu
Character:Narrator
Release Date:30/06/2018
Lear on the Shore
Character:Kuwahata Chokichi
Release Date:03/06/2017
Great evil does not go to sleep: The counterattack of the special investigation unit prosecutor
Character:Yohei Tachibana
Release Date:05/10/2016
A Duel Tale
Character:
Release Date:31/10/2015
NORINTEN 稲塚権次郎物語
Character:
Release Date:19/09/2015
ふたりの死刑囚
Character:Narrator
Release Date:05/07/2015
Before The Leaves Fall
Character:Kenichiro Miya
Release Date:23/05/2015
Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya
Character:Self
Release Date:27/11/2014
Gun Woman
Character:Hamazaki
Release Date:28/02/2014
Giovanni's Island
Character:Older Junpei Senou (voice)
Release Date:22/02/2014
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
Character:Charcoal-maker Old Man (voice)
Release Date:23/11/2013
The Human Trust
Character:Nobuhiro Sasakura
Release Date:19/10/2013
Promise: The Nabari Poisoned Wine Case, The Life of a Death-row Inmate
Character:
Release Date:16/02/2013
Until the Break of Dawn
Character:Sadayuki Akiyama
Release Date:10/11/2012
Japan's Tragedy
Character:Fujio Murai
Release Date:05/10/2012
Gaku
Character:Kazama Shin-ichi
Release Date:01/01/2012
Zatoichi: The Last
Character:Tendo
Release Date:29/05/2010
Haru's Journey
Character:Tadao Nakai
Release Date:22/05/2010
Listen to My Heart
Character:Kyozo Hayami
Release Date:10/11/2009
Tatsuya Nakadai on 'The Human Condition'
Character:Self
Release Date:08/09/2009
Through the Mist
Character:(Archive Footage)
Release Date:13/03/2009
Murder of the Inugami Clan
Character:Sahei Inugami
Release Date:16/12/2006
Yamato
Character:
Release Date:17/12/2005
Wish Upon a Star
Character:Takanori Wakamiya
Release Date:26/08/2005
The Taika Reforms
Character:Minabuchi no Syôan
Release Date:01/01/2005
Like Asura
Character:Kotaro Takezawa
Release Date:08/11/2003
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Kagemusha'
Character:Self
Release Date:25/10/2002
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Yojimbo'
Character:Self
Release Date:25/10/2002
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Sanjuro'
Character:Self
Release Date:25/10/2002
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'High and Low'
Character:Self
Release Date:25/10/2002
Dawn of a New Day: The Man Behind VHS
Character:Matsushita (Matsushita Denki Co.)
Release Date:16/06/2002
To Dance with the White Dog
Character:Eisuke Nakamoto
Release Date:13/04/2002
Vengeance for Sale
Character:Umetaro Katakura
Release Date:16/02/2002
Kurosawa
Character:Self
Release Date:24/12/2000
After the Rain
Character:Tsuji Gettan
Release Date:22/01/2000
Jubaku: Spellbound
Character:Hideaki Sasaki
Release Date:18/09/1999
Kurosawa: The Last Emperor
Character:Self
Release Date:01/01/1999
The Life and Love of Kenji Miyazawa
Character:Seijiro Miyazawa
Release Date:14/09/1996
East Meets West
Character:Kaishu Katsu
Release Date:12/08/1995
Summer of the Moonlight Sonata
Character:
Release Date:12/06/1993
Kin chan no Cinema Jack
Character:
Release Date:22/05/1993
Lone Wolf and Cub: The Final Conflict
Character:Yagyu Retsudo
Release Date:06/02/1993
Wicked City
Character:Daishu
Release Date:20/11/1992
Faraway Sunset
Character:Kobayashi
Release Date:04/07/1992
Basara: The Princess Goh
Character:Oribe Furuta
Release Date:11/04/1992
Pinwheel Hamakichi's Spell
Character:
Release Date:01/01/1992
Heat Wave
Character:Tsunejiro Murai
Release Date:09/02/1991
Florence My Love
Character:
Release Date:02/02/1991
13 Assassins
Character:
Release Date:28/03/1990
Let Him Rest in Peace
Character:
Release Date:03/11/1989
Four Days of Snow and Blood
Character:Sugiyama
Release Date:17/06/1989
Return from the River Kwai
Character:Major Harada
Release Date:07/04/1989
Another Way: D-Kikan-Joho
Character:
Release Date:17/09/1988
Oración
Character:Heihachiro Wagu
Release Date:23/07/1988
Trinacria: Porsche 959
Character:
Release Date:01/11/1987
Hachiko
Character:Shujiro Ueno
Release Date:01/08/1987
Taikoki
Character:(Narrator)
Release Date:01/01/1987
Michi
Character:Seiji Tajima
Release Date:06/09/1986
Atami Murder Case
Character:Denbei Nikaido
Release Date:07/06/1986
The Empty Table
Character:Nobuyuki Kidoji
Release Date:01/11/1985
Ran
Character:Lord Hidetora Ichimonji
Release Date:01/06/1985
A. K.
Character:Self
Release Date:20/05/1985
Making of Ran
Character:Self
Release Date:01/01/1985
Fireflies in the North
Character:Takeshi Tsukigata
Release Date:01/09/1984
The Fir Trees Remain
Character:
Release Date:01/12/1983
Shadow Hunters
Character:
Release Date:06/10/1983
Battle Anthem
Character:
Release Date:04/06/1983
Final Yamato
Character:Narrator
Release Date:19/03/1983
The Legend of Sayo
Character:
Release Date:17/12/1982
Tange Sazen: The Million Ryo Pot
Character:Sazen Tange
Release Date:22/10/1982
The Law of Hell
Character:
Release Date:30/08/1982
Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather
Character:Masagoro Kiryuin - Onimasa
Release Date:05/06/1982
Willful Murder
Character:Yashiro
Release Date:07/11/1981
Magistrate of the Floating World
Character:
Release Date:01/05/1981
Port Arthur
Character:Maresuke Nogi
Release Date:02/08/1980
Kagemusha
Character:Shingen Takeda / Kagemusha
Release Date:26/04/1980
Hunter in the Dark
Character:Gomyo Kiyoemon
Release Date:17/06/1979
Blood Type: Blue
Character:Minami
Release Date:23/11/1978
The Phoenix
Character:Jingi the Conqueror, leader of the Takamagahara
Release Date:12/08/1978
Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron
Character:Kumokiri Nizaemon
Release Date:01/07/1978
Queen Bee
Character:Ginzo Daidoji
Release Date:11/02/1978
Sugata Sanshiro
Character:Yano
Release Date:29/10/1977
The Corporation
Character:
Release Date:14/08/1976
Human Revolution II
Character:
Release Date:19/06/1976
Elegy
Character:Setsuo Katsuragi
Release Date:11/02/1976
Solar Eclipse
Character:Yasuo Hoshino, the Chief Cabinet Secretary
Release Date:06/09/1975
I Am a Cat
Character:Kushami
Release Date:31/05/1975
Battle Cry
Character:Hijikata Toshizo
Release Date:14/03/1975
The Gate of Youth
Character:
Release Date:15/02/1975
The Family
Character:Teppei Manpyo
Release Date:26/01/1974
Rise, Fair Sun
Character:
Release Date:27/10/1973
The Human Revolution
Character:
Release Date:08/09/1973
Belladonna of Sadness
Character:The Devil (voice)
Release Date:30/06/1973
The King
Character:Kinjiro Sekine
Release Date:19/05/1973
The Wolves
Character:Seji Iwahashi
Release Date:30/10/1971
Inn of Evil
Character:Sadashichi
Release Date:11/09/1971
The Battle of Okinawa
Character:Colonel Hiromichi Yahara
Release Date:14/08/1971
Challenge at Dawn
Character:Tsukagoshi
Release Date:22/05/1971
Will to Conquer
Character:
Release Date:17/10/1970
Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival
Character:Ronin
Release Date:12/08/1970
The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan
Character:Naojiro Kataoka
Release Date:18/04/1970
The Ambitious
Character:Shintaro Nakaoka
Release Date:14/02/1970
Duel at Fort Ezo
Character:Daizennokami Honjo
Release Date:09/02/1970
Portrait of Hell
Character:Yoshihide
Release Date:18/11/1969
Blood End
Character:Sentaro
Release Date:15/11/1969
Tenchu!
Character:Hanpeita Takechi
Release Date:09/08/1969
Battle of the Japan Sea
Character:Major Genjiro Akashi
Release Date:01/08/1969
Safari 5000
Character:
Release Date:19/07/1969
Goyokin
Character:Magobei Wakizaka
Release Date:01/05/1969
The Human Bullet
Character:Narrator
Release Date:22/10/1968
Admiral Yamamoto
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:14/08/1968
Kill!
Character:Genta
Release Date:22/06/1968
Today We Kill, Tomorrow We Die!
Character:James Elfego
Release Date:28/03/1968
Journey
Character:
Release Date:12/11/1967
Japan's Longest Day
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:03/08/1967
Samurai Rebellion
Character:Tatewaki Asano
Release Date:27/05/1967
Gomez's Name is Gomez
Character:Sakamoto
Release Date:27/05/1967
Kojiro
Character:Musashi Miyamoto
Release Date:01/04/1967
The Age of Assassins
Character:Shinji Kikyo
Release Date:04/02/1967
The Daphne
Character:
Release Date:01/10/1966
The Face of Another
Character:Mr. Okuyama
Release Date:15/07/1966
The Sword of Doom
Character:Ryunosuke Tsukue
Release Date:25/02/1966
Cash Calls Hell
Character:Oida
Release Date:15/01/1966
Fort Graveyard
Character:Sakuma
Release Date:18/09/1965
Illusion of Blood
Character:Iyemon Tamiya
Release Date:25/07/1965
Three Yakuza
Character:
Release Date:22/05/1965
The Last Judgment
Character:
Release Date:16/05/1965
Kwaidan
Character:Minokichi (segment "The Woman of the Snow")
Release Date:06/01/1965
Ant Hell War
Character:
Release Date:29/04/1964
Mr. Giant's Victory Flag
Character:
Release Date:12/02/1964
A Woman's Life
Character:
Release Date:16/11/1963
Miren
Character:Ryôta Kinoshita
Release Date:12/10/1963
Legacy of the 500,000
Character:Mitsura Gunji
Release Date:18/04/1963
High and Low
Character:Chief Detective Tokura
Release Date:01/03/1963
Pressure of Guilt
Character:
Release Date:17/02/1963
Yushu Heiya
Character:Tatsumi
Release Date:15/01/1963
Chibusa o daku musume tachi
Character:
Release Date:07/10/1962
Harakiri
Character:Hanshiro Tsugumo
Release Date:15/09/1962
Love Under the Crucifix
Character:Ukon Takayama
Release Date:03/06/1962
The Inheritance
Character:Kikuo Furukawa
Release Date:16/02/1962
Sanjuro
Character:Hanbei Muroto
Release Date:01/01/1962
Immortal Love
Character:Heibei
Release Date:16/09/1961
As the Clouds Scatter
Character:
Release Date:09/07/1961
The Other Woman
Character:Minami
Release Date:30/05/1961
Yojimbo
Character:Unosuke, gunfighter
Release Date:25/04/1961
The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer
Character:Kaji
Release Date:28/01/1961
Get 'em All
Character:Tsubota
Release Date:29/11/1960
The Blue Beast
Character:
Release Date:26/06/1960
Daughters, Wives and a Mother
Character:Kuroki Shingo
Release Date:21/05/1960
When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
Character:Kenichi Komatsu
Release Date:15/01/1960
The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity
Character:Kaji
Release Date:20/11/1959
Pilgrimage at Night
Character:
Release Date:20/09/1959
Three Dolls in Ginza
Character:Kyosuke Tamura
Release Date:14/07/1959
Odd Obsession
Character:Kimura
Release Date:23/06/1959
The Beast Shall Die
Character:Kunihiko Date
Release Date:09/06/1959
The Human Condition I: No Greater Love
Character:Kaji
Release Date:15/01/1959
The Naked Sun
Character:
Release Date:01/10/1958
Conflagration
Character:Tokari
Release Date:22/09/1958
Diary of an Elegant Hot Spring
Character:Kazuo Shimada
Release Date:19/08/1958
Oban kanketsu hen
Character:Shin Don
Release Date:01/07/1958
Go and Get It
Character:His assistant
Release Date:08/06/1958
All About Marriage
Character:Akira Nakayama
Release Date:26/05/1958
A Boy and Three Mothers
Character:The Engineer
Release Date:18/02/1958
Kampai! Miai Kekkon
Character:Kunihiko Sasada
Release Date:09/01/1958
Teenage Sazae
Character:
Release Date:28/12/1957
Zokuzoku Ôban: Dotô hen
Character:Shindon
Release Date:17/12/1957
Black River
Character:Jo
Release Date:23/10/1957
Skin-Colored Moon
Character:Jirô Taki
Release Date:08/10/1957
A Dangerous Hero
Character:
Release Date:30/07/1957
Zoku Ôban: Fûun hen
Character:Shin don
Release Date:19/07/1957
The Shadow Daughter
Character:
Release Date:05/06/1957
Untamed Woman
Character:Kimura
Release Date:28/05/1957
Ôban
Character:Shin Don
Release Date:05/03/1957
The Mandarin Room
Character:
Release Date:19/12/1956
Sazae-san
Character:Norisuke
Release Date:12/12/1956
The Thick-Walled Room
Character:(Uncredited)
Release Date:31/10/1956
Love on Rainbow Island
Character:Yûji Wada
Release Date:16/10/1956
Phoenix
Character:
Release Date:14/06/1956
Floating Weeds Diary
Character:
Release Date:15/11/1955
Seven Samurai
Character:Samurai Wandering through Town (uncredited)
Release Date:26/04/1954
Television Appearances
A Sinner's Lie
Character:Kenzo Haneda
Samurai Banners
Character:
Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World
Character:Matsumoto Kentaro
嘱託刑事･小山田昭平 旅路の果て
Character:
A Son Of The Good Earth
Character:
Pinwheel Hamakichi's Spell
Character:
Momi no Ki wa Nokotta: Ranshin
Character:
Kinagashi Bugyō
Character:
Aoki Ookami Narukichiomoase no Shougai
Character:ナレーション
Suna no Utsuwa
Character:今西栄太郎
Shin Heike Monogatari
Character:Taira no Kiyomori
ゴメスの名はゴメス
Character:
Images
