Tatsuya Nakadai
Acting
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.
Known for
Acting204
movieThe Limit
2025
Narrator
movieThe Pass: Last Days of the Samurai
2022
Makino Tadayuki
movieSleeping Village
2019
(narration)
movieLear on the Shore
2017
Kuwahata Chokichi
movieGreat evil does not go to sleep: The counterattack of the special investigation unit prosecutor
2016
Yohei Tachibana
movieふたりの死刑囚
2015
Narrator
movieBefore The Leaves Fall
2015
Kenichiro Miya
tvA Sinner's Lie
2014
Kenzo Haneda
movieGun Woman
2014
Hamazaki
movieGiovanni's Island
2014
Older Junpei Senou (voice)
movieThe Tale of The Princess Kaguya
2013
Charcoal-maker Old Man (voice)
movieThe Human Trust
2013
Nobuhiro Sasakura
movieUntil the Break of Dawn
2012
Sadayuki Akiyama
movieJapan's Tragedy
2012
Fujio Murai
movieGaku
2012
Kazama Shin-ichi
movieHaru's Journey
2010
Tadao Nakai
movieListen to My Heart
2009
Kyozo Hayami
movieThrough the Mist
2009
(archive footage)
movieMurder of the Inugami Clan
2006
Sahei Inugami
movieWish Upon a Star
2005
Takanori Wakamiya
movieThe Taika Reforms
2005
Minabuchi no Syôan
tvCrying Out Love, in the Center of the World
2004
Matsumoto Kentaro
movieLike Asura
2003
Kotaro Takezawa
movieDawn of a New Day: The Man Behind VHS
2002
Matsushita (Matsushita Denki Co.)
movieTo Dance with the White Dog
2002
Eisuke Nakamoto
movieVengeance for Sale
2002
Umetaro Katakura
movieAfter the Rain
2000
Tsuji Gettan
movieJubaku: Spellbound
1999
Hideaki Sasaki
movieThe Life and Love of Kenji Miyazawa
1996
Seijiro Miyazawa
movieEast Meets West
1995
Kaishu Katsu
movieLone Wolf and Cub: The Final Conflict
1993
Yagyu Retsudo
movieWicked City
1992
Daishu
movieFaraway Sunset
1992
Kobayashi
movieBasara: The Princess Goh
1992
Oribe Furuta
movieHeat Wave
1991
Tsunejiro Murai
movieReturn from the River Kwai
1989
Major Harada
movieOración
1988
Heihachiro Wagu
movieHachiko
1987
Shujiro Ueno
movieTaikoki
1987
(Narrator)
movieMichi
1986
Seiji Tajima
movieAtami Murder Case
1986
Denbei Nikaido
movieThe Empty Table
1985
Nobuyuki Kidoji
movieRan
1985
Lord Hidetora Ichimonji
movieA. K.
1985
Self
movieFireflies in the North
1984
Takeshi Tsukigata
movieFinal Yamato
1983
Narrator
movieTange Sazen: The Million Ryo Pot
1982
Sazen Tange
movieOnimasa: A Japanese Godfather
1982
Masagoro Kiryuin - Onimasa
movieWillful Murder
1981
Yashiro
moviePort Arthur
1980
Maresuke Nogi
movieKagemusha
1980
Shingen Takeda / Kagemusha
movieHunter in the Dark
1979
Gomyo Kiyoemon
movieThe Phoenix
1978
Jingi the Conqueror, leader of the Takamagahara
movieBandits vs. Samurai Squadron
1978
Kumokiri Nizaemon
movieQueen Bee
1978
Ginzo Daidoji
tvSuna no Utsuwa
1977
今西栄太郎
movieElegy
1976
Setsuo Katsuragi
movieSolar Eclipse
1975
Yasuo Hoshino, the Chief Cabinet Secretary
movieI Am a Cat
1975
Kushami
movieBattle Cry
1975
Hijikata Toshizo
movieThe Family
1974
Teppei Manpyo
movieRise, Fair Sun
1973
Sakuzo
movieBelladonna of Sadness
1973
The Devil (voice)
movieThe King
1973
Kinjiro Sekine
tvShin Heike Monogatari
1972
Taira no Kiyomori
movieThe Wolves
1971
Seji Iwahashi
movieInn of Evil
1971
Sadashichi
movieThe Battle of Okinawa
1971
Colonel Hiromichi Yahara
movieChallenge at Dawn
1971
Tsukagoshi
movieThe Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan
1970
Naojiro Kataoka
movieThe Ambitious
1970
Shintaro Nakaoka
movieDuel at Fort Ezo
1970
Daizennokami Honjo
moviePortrait of Hell
1969
Yoshihide
movieBlood End
1969
Sentaro
movieTenchu!
1969
Hanpeita Takechi
movieBattle of the Japan Sea
1969
Major Genjiro Akashi
movieGoyokin
1969
Magobei Wakizaka
movieThe Human Bullet
1968
Narrator (voice)
movieAdmiral Yamamoto
1968
Narrator (voice)
movieKill!
1968
Genta
movieToday We Kill, Tomorrow We Die!
1968
James Elfego
movieJapan's Longest Day
1967
Narrator (voice)
movieSamurai Rebellion
1967
Tatewaki Asano
movieGomez's Name is Gomez
1967
Sakamoto
movieKojiro
1967
Musashi Miyamoto
movieThe Age of Assassins
1967
Shinji Kikyo
movieThe Face of Another
1966
Mr. Okuyama
movieThe Sword of Doom
1966
Ryunosuke Tsukue
movieFort Graveyard
1965
Sakuma
movieIllusion of Blood
1965
Iyemon Tamiya
movieKwaidan
1965
Minokichi (segment "The Woman of the Snow")
movieMiren
1963
Ryôta Kinoshita
movieLegacy of the 500,000
1963
Mitsura Gunji
movieHigh and Low
1963
Chief Detective Tokura
movieMadame Aki
1963
Tatsumi
movieHarakiri
1962
Hanshiro Tsugumo
movieLove Under the Crucifix
1962
Ukon Takayama
movieThe Inheritance
1962
Kikuo Furukawa
movieSanjuro
1962
Hanbei Muroto
movieImmortal Love
1961
Heibei
movieThe Other Woman
1961
Minami
movieYojimbo
1961
Unosuke, gunfighter
movieGet 'em All
1960
Tsubota
movieThe Blue Beast
1960
Yasuhiko Kuroki
movieDaughters, Wives and a Mother
1960
Kuroki Shingo
movieWhen a Woman Ascends the Stairs
1960
Kenichi Komatsu
movieOdd Obsession
1959
Kimura
movieThe Beast Shall Die
1959
Kunihiko Date
movieConflagration
1958
Tokari
movieDiary of an Elegant Hot Spring
1958
Kazuo Shimada
movieOban kanketsu hen
1958
Shin Don
movieGo and Get It
1958
His assistant
movieAll About Marriage
1958
Akira Nakayama
movieA Boy and Three Mothers
1958
The Engineer
movieKampai! Miai Kekkon
1958
Kunihiko Sasada
movieSkin-Colored Moon
1957
Jirô Taki
movieZoku Ôban: Fûun hen
1957
Shin don
movieUntamed Woman
1957
Kimura
movieÔban
1957
Shin Don
movieSazae-san
1956
Norisuke
movieThe Thick-Walled Room
1956
(Uncredited)
movieLove on Rainbow Island
1956
Yûji Wada
movieHow the Bell of Liberty Rings
1954
(uncredited)
movieSeven Samurai
1954
Samurai Wandering through Town (uncredited)
movieThe Gion Tempest
Masaki