Takeshi Kitano was born in Adachi, Tokyo, with two older brothers and an older sister. His father worked as a house painter, with Kitano revealing that he used to live like a yakuza, while his mother was a strict disciplinarian and educator who worked in a factory. In his working-class neighborhood, the children looked up to baseball players and yakuza, with many of his neighbors being the latter. Kitano entered Meiji University and studied engineering, before dropping out at age 19. He went to the Asakusa district in 1972 to become a comedian. While working as an elevator operator at the Asakusa France-za strip club, he became an apprentice of its comedian Senzaburo Fukami and eventually the theater's MC.
Takeshi Kitano
Takeshi Kitano
北野 武, January 18, 1947 • 79 y.o.
| Place of Birth | Ginza, Tokyo, Japan |
| Citizenship | Japan |
| Career | 1969 — ... |
| Genres | Drama, Crime, Thriller |
| Height | 1.68 m 5′ 6″ |
| Zodiac sign | capricorn |
| Nicknames | Take-chan |
| Education | University: Meiji University |
| Family | father: Kikujiro Kitano brother/sister: Masaru Kitano marriage: Mikiko Matsuda |
Facts
Videos Stills Posters Filming Promo Screenshots Covers Fan Art
© Google Images
Characters
Ghost in the Shell
2017 "Ghost in the Shell" (69 y.o.)
Aramaki
Outrage
2010 "Outrage" (62 y.o.)
Autoreiji
Ôtomo
The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi
2003 "The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi" (55 y.o.)
Zatoichi
Zatôichi / Ichi
Battle Royale
2000 "Battle Royale" (52 y.o.)
Batoru rowaiaru
Kitano-sensei
Brother
2000 "Brother" (52 y.o.)
Aniki Yamamoto
Fireworks
1997 "Fireworks" (49 y.o.)
Hana-bi
Yoshitaka Nishi
Johnny Mnemonic
1995 "Johnny Mnemonic" (47 y.o.)
Takahashi
Boiling Point
1990 "Boiling Point" (42 y.o.)
3-4 x jûgatsu
Uehara
Violent Cop
1989 "Violent Cop" (41 y.o.)
Sono otoko, kyôbô ni tsuki
Azuma
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
1982 "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence" (34 y.o.)
Hara
- Drama 30%
- Thriller 15%
- Crime 14%
- Action 14%
- Comedy 11%
- Reset
1 
United States • Takeshi Kitano
2 
2024 — Ryousuke Ashiya
Fantasy
Japan
3 
2024 — Nezumi
Comedy, Crime, Drama, 1 hr 6 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
4 
2023 — ...
1 episode, 2023
Comedy, 30 min
India • Masato Inui
5 
5
Kubi
2023 — Hideyoshi Hashiba
History, Drama, 2 hr 11 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
6 
The Forgotten Army – Azaadi ke liye, 2020 — General Yamashitha
1 episode, 2020
Drama, History, War, 38 min
India • Kabir Khan...
7 
Futatsu no Sokoku, 2019
Drama, History, Romance, 2 hr 24 min
Japan • Hideta Takahata
8
2017 — Otomo
Action, Crime, Drama, 1 hr 44 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
9
9
Hagoku
2017 — Susumu Urata
Drama, 1 hr 48 min
Japan • Yoshihiro Fukagawa
10
2017 — Aramaki
Sci-Fi, Action, Crime, 1 hr 46 min (in credits: 'Beat' Takeshi Kitano)
United States, China, Hong Kong • Rupert Sanders
11
2016
Documentary
Philippines • Khavn
12
2016 — Kantaro Kurosu
Mystery, 1 hr 48 min (in credits: Beat Takeshi)
Japan • Naomi Tamura
13
Onna ga nemurutoki, 2016 — Sahara
Drama, Mystery, 1 hr 43 min
Japan • Wayne Wang
14
Jinsei no yakusoku, 2016
Drama, 2 hours
Japan • Kan Ishibashi
15
15
Red Medaka
Aka medaka, 2015 — Danshi
Comedy, Drama, 2 hr 25 min
Japan • Hideta Takahata
16
Gekijouban Mozu, 2015 — Daruma
Action, Crime, Drama, 1 hr 56 min
Japan • Eiichiro Hasumi
17
Ryûzô to 7 nin no kobun tachi, 2015 — Murakami
Action, Comedy, 2 hr 5 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
18
18
Black Gospel
Kuroi fukuin, 2014 — Fujisawa
Mystery, 1 hr 50 min
Japan • Kan Ishibashi
19
Autoreiji: Biyondo, 2012 — Otomo
Action, Crime, Thriller, 1 hr 50 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
20
20
Dearest
Anata e, 2012 — Teruo Sugino
Drama, 1 hr 50 min (in credits: Bîto Takeshi)
Japan • Yasuo Furuhata
21
2010 — Masachika Ando
7 Episodes, 2010
Drama, 45 min (in credits: Beat Takeshi)
Japan • Takeshi Shirakawa
22
22
Kikoku
2010
Drama
Japan • Shin'ichi Kamoshita
23
23
Outrage
Autoreiji, 2010 — Ôtomo
Action, Crime, Drama, 1 hr 50 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
24
2009 — Kitano
1 episode, 2009
Comedy, 58 min (in credits: Beat Takeshi)
Japan • Tsutomu Hanabusa...
25
2008 — Hideki Tôjô
Drama, History, War
Japan • Shin'ichi Kamoshita
26
Akiresu to kame, 2008 — Machisu Kuramochi
Comedy, Drama, 1 hr 59 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
27
Girara no gyakushû: Tôya-ko Samitto kikiippatsu, 2008 — Take Monster, voice
Sci-Fi, Comedy, 1 hr 38 min (in credits: Beat Takeshi)
Japan • Minoru Kawasaki
28
Ten to sen, 2007 — Jûtarô Torikai
Drama, Mystery, 1 hr 54 min (in credits: Beat Takeshi)
Japan • Kan Ishibashi
29
Kantoku · Banzai!, 2007
Comedy, Drama, 1 hr 44 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
30
Chacun son cinéma ou Ce petit coup au coeur quand la lumière s’éteint et que le film commence, 2007 — The projectionist (segment "Subarashiki kyûjitsu")
Comedy, Drama, 1 hr 40 min
France • Theodoros Angelopoulos...
31
2007
Mystery
Japan • Tsuyoshi Katayama
32
Takeshi no komanechi daigaku sûgaku ka, 2006 — 2013 — Tetsujin, himself
8 Episodes, 2011-2013
Comedy
Japan
33
33
Takeshis'
2005 — Beat Takeshi / Mr. Kitano
Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, 1 hr 48 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
34
2004
Documentary, 52 min
France • Yves Montmayeur
35
Chi to hone, 2004 — Joon-pyong Kim
Drama, 2 hr 20 min
Japan • Yôichi Sai
36
36
Izo
2004 — Chancellor
Sci-Fi, Horror, Action, 2 hr 8 min (in credits: 'Bîto' Takeshi)
Japan • Takashi Miike
37
Zatoichi, 2003 — Zatôichi / Ichi
Action, Comedy, Crime, 1 hr 56 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
38
Batoru rowaiaru II: Rekuiemu, 2003 — Kitano
Action, Drama, Thriller, 2 hr 14 min (in credits: Beat Takeshi)
Japan • Kenta Fukasaku...
39
2003 — Munisai Shinmen
7 Episodes, 2003
Adventure, Drama, Romance, 43 min
Japan • Mitsunobu Ozaki...
40
40
Kichiku
2002
Drama, 2 hr 30 min (in credits: Beat Takeshi)
Japan • Noboru Tanaka
41
Akechi Kogoro Tai Kaijin Niju Menso, 2002 — Niju Menso
Drama, Mystery, Crime, 2 hours
Japan • Katsuo Fukuzawa
42
2001 — 2000
Drama, Romance
Japan
43
2000
Crime, Mystery, 1 hr 30 min
Japan • Meiji Fujita
44
Batoru rowaiaru, 2000 — Kitano-sensei
Action, Drama, Thriller, 1 hr 54 min (in credits: Bito Takeshi)
Japan • Kinji Fukasaku
45
45
Brother
2000 — Aniki Yamamoto
Crime, Drama, Thriller, 1 hr 54 min
Japan, United Kingdom, France • Takeshi Kitano
46
46
Zankyo
1999
Action, Drama, Crime, 1 hr 51 min
Japan • Ikuo Sekimoto
47
47
Taboo
Gohatto, 1999 — Captain Toshizo Hijikata
Drama, History, Thriller, 1 hr 40 min (in credits: 'Beat' Takeshi)
Japan, France, United Kingdom • Nagisa Oshima
48
48
Kikujiro
Kikujirô no natsu, 1999 — Kikujiro
Drama, Comedy, 2 hr 2 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
49
49
Tokyo Eyes
1998 — Yakusa
Comedy, Thriller, 1 hr 37 min
Japan, France • Jean-Pierre Limosin
50
50
Fireworks
Hana-bi, 1997 — Yoshitaka Nishi
Crime, Drama, Romance, 1 hr 43 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
51
51
The Five
Gonin, 1995 — Ichiro Kyoya
Action, Drama, Crime, 1 hr 49 min (in credits: Beat Takeshi)
Japan • Takashi Ishii
52
1995 — Takahashi
Sci-Fi, Action, Drama, 1 hr 38 min (in credits: Takeshi)
Canada, United States • Robert Longo
53
53
Getting Any?
Minna – yatteru ka!, 1994 — Invisible Human Promotion Society Doctor
Comedy, 1 hr 48 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
54
Kyôso tanjô, 1993 — Daisuke Shiba
Comedy, 1 hr 35 min
Japan • Toshihiro Tenma
55
55
Sonatine
Sonachine, 1993 — Aniki Murakawa
Crime, Drama, Thriller, 1 hr 34 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
56
Erotikku na kankei, 1992 — Okuyama
Comedy, Crime, Drama, 1 hr 35 min
Japan • Koji Wakamatsu
57
Sakana kara daiokishin!!, 1992 — Azuma
Comedy, Drama, 2 hr 1 min (in credits: Beat Takeshi)
Japan • Ryûdô Uzaki
58
Shura no densetsu, 1992 — Kiichiro Yashiro
Crime, 1 hr 50 min
Japan • Akiyoshi Kimata
59
1991
Drama, 1 hr 55 min
Japan • Masaaki Odagiri
60
3–4 x jûgatsu, 1990 — Uehara
Action, Comedy, Crime, 1 hr 36 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
61
1990 — Yama no ojichan
1 hr 45 min
Japan • Kazuo Komizu
62
62
Violent Cop
Sono otoko, kyôbô ni tsuki, 1989 — Azuma
Action, Crime, Drama, 1 hr 43 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
63
63
Anego
1988 — Shoji Sugimoto, Hitman
Crime, Drama, 1 hr 41 min (in credits: 'Beat' Takeshi)
Japan • Ryuichi Takamori
64
1988
Crime
Japan
65
1988
Biography, Drama, 1 hr 24 min (in credits: Beat Takeshi)
Japan
66
Komikku zasshi nanka iranai!, 1986 — Police
Comedy, 2 hours (in credits: Beat Takeshi)
Japan • Yôjirô Takita
67
Shimura Ken no Bakatonosama, 1986 — 2014
Comedy, 2 hours
Japan
68
1986 — Hoshinaga
Crime
Japan
69
69
Demon
Yasha, 1985 — Yajima
Crime, Drama, 2 hr 7 min (in credits: Beat Takeshi)
Japan • Yasuo Furuhata
70
1985 — Hiroshi Igarashi
Drama, Family, 1 hr 48 min (in credits: Beat Takeshi)
Japan • Masaharu Segawa
71
1984
Drama
Japan
72
1983 — 1987 — Emcee, himself
Comedy, 2 hours
Japan
73
Jû-kai no mosukîto, 1983 — A man at a race horse track
Drama, 1 hr 48 min (in credits: Beat Takeshi)
Japan • Yôichi Sai
74
1982 — Hara
Drama, War, 2 hr 3 min (in credits: Takeshi)
United Kingdom, New Zealand, Japan • Nagisa Oshima
75
1982
Drama, 1 hr 32 min
Japan
76
1982
Drama, 54 min
Japan • Teruhiko Kuze
77
Sukkari… sono ki de!, 1981
Comedy, 1 hr 27 min (in credits: Beat Takeshi)
Japan • Tsugunobu Kotani
78
78
Manon
1981 — Shinobu
Drama, 1 hr 48 min
Japan • Yoichi Higashi
79
Danpu wataridori, 1981 — Police 1
Action, 2 hr 5 min
Japan • Ikuo Sekimoto
80
80
Makoto-chan
1980 — voice
Anime, Animation, 1 hr 25 min
Japan • Tsutomu Shibayama
81
Yuke yuke nidome no shojo, 1969 — Gang member, uncredited
Horror, Drama, 1 hr 5 min
Japan • Koji Wakamatsu
1
United States • Takeshi Kitano
2
2024
Comedy, Crime, Drama, 1 hr 6 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
3
3
Kubi
2023
History, Drama, 2 hr 11 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
4
2017
Action, Crime, Drama, 1 hr 44 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
5
Ryûzô to 7 nin no kobun tachi, 2015
Action, Comedy, 2 hr 5 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
6
Autoreiji: Biyondo, 2012
Action, Crime, Thriller, 1 hr 50 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
7
7
Outrage
Autoreiji, 2010
Action, Crime, Drama, 1 hr 50 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
8
Akiresu to kame, 2008
Comedy, Drama, 1 hr 59 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
9
Kantoku · Banzai!, 2007
Comedy, Drama, 1 hr 44 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
10
Chacun son cinéma ou Ce petit coup au coeur quand la lumière s’éteint et que le film commence, 2007 — (segment "Subarashiki kyûjitsu")
Comedy, Drama, 1 hr 40 min
France • Theodoros Angelopoulos...
11
11
Takeshis'
2005
Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, 1 hr 48 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
12
Zatoichi, 2003
Action, Comedy, Crime, 1 hr 56 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
13
13
Dolls
2002
Drama, Romance, 1 hr 54 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
14
14
Brother
2000
Crime, Drama, Thriller, 1 hr 54 min
Japan, United Kingdom, France • Takeshi Kitano
15
15
Kikujiro
Kikujirô no natsu, 1999
Drama, Comedy, 2 hr 2 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
16
16
Fireworks
Hana-bi, 1997
Crime, Drama, Romance, 1 hr 43 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
17
17
Kids Return
Kizzu ritân, 1996
Crime, Drama, Sport, 1 hr 47 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
18
18
Getting Any?
Minna – yatteru ka!, 1994
Comedy, 1 hr 48 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
19
19
Sonatine
Sonachine, 1993
Crime, Drama, Thriller, 1 hr 34 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
20
Ano natsu, ichiban shizukana umi, 1991
Comedy, Drama, Romance, 1 hr 41 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
21
3–4 x jûgatsu, 1990
Action, Comedy, Crime, 1 hr 36 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
22
22
Violent Cop
Sono otoko, kyôbô ni tsuki, 1989
Action, Crime, Drama, 1 hr 43 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
1
2024
Comedy, Crime, Drama, 1 hr 6 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
2
2
Kubi
2023 — (novel)
History, Drama, 2 hr 11 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
3
2017
Action, Crime, Drama, 1 hr 44 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
4
Ryûzô to 7 nin no kobun tachi, 2015
Action, Comedy, 2 hr 5 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
5
Autoreiji: Biyondo, 2012
Action, Crime, Thriller, 1 hr 50 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
6
6
Outrage
Autoreiji, 2010
Action, Crime, Drama, 1 hr 50 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
7
Akiresu to kame, 2008
Comedy, Drama, 1 hr 59 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
8
Kantoku · Banzai!, 2007
Comedy, Drama, 1 hr 44 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
9
Chacun son cinéma ou Ce petit coup au coeur quand la lumière s’éteint et que le film commence, 2007
Comedy, Drama, 1 hr 40 min
France • Theodoros Angelopoulos...
10
10
Takeshis'
2005
Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, 1 hr 48 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
11
Zatoichi, 2003
Action, Comedy, Crime, 1 hr 56 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
12
12
Dolls
2002
Drama, Romance, 1 hr 54 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
13
13
Brother
2000
Crime, Drama, Thriller, 1 hr 54 min
Japan, United Kingdom, France • Takeshi Kitano
14
14
Kikujiro
Kikujirô no natsu, 1999
Drama, Comedy, 2 hr 2 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
15
15
Fireworks
Hana-bi, 1997
Crime, Drama, Romance, 1 hr 43 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
16
16
Kids Return
Kizzu ritân, 1996
Crime, Drama, Sport, 1 hr 47 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
17
17
Getting Any?
Minna – yatteru ka!, 1994
Comedy, 1 hr 48 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
18
18
Sonatine
Sonachine, 1993
Crime, Drama, Thriller, 1 hr 34 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
19
Ano natsu, ichiban shizukana umi, 1991
Comedy, Drama, Romance, 1 hr 41 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
20
3–4 x jûgatsu, 1990
Action, Comedy, Crime, 1 hr 36 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
21
21
Violent Cop
Sono otoko, kyôbô ni tsuki, 1989 — adaptation, uncredited
Action, Crime, Drama, 1 hr 43 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
1
2024
Comedy, Crime, Drama, 1 hr 6 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
2
2
Kubi
2023
History, Drama, 2 hr 11 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
3
2017
Action, Crime, Drama, 1 hr 44 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
4
Ryûzô to 7 nin no kobun tachi, 2015
Action, Comedy, 2 hr 5 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
5
Autoreiji: Biyondo, 2012
Action, Crime, Thriller, 1 hr 50 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
6
6
Outrage
Autoreiji, 2010 — uncredited
Action, Crime, Drama, 1 hr 50 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
7
Akiresu to kame, 2008
Comedy, Drama, 1 hr 59 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
8
Kantoku · Banzai!, 2007
Comedy, Drama, 1 hr 44 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
9
Chacun son cinéma ou Ce petit coup au coeur quand la lumière s’éteint et que le film commence, 2007 — (segment "One Fine Day")
Comedy, Drama, 1 hr 40 min
France • Theodoros Angelopoulos...
10
10
Takeshis'
2005
Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, 1 hr 48 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
11
Zatoichi, 2003
Action, Comedy, Crime, 1 hr 56 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
12
12
Dolls
2002
Drama, Romance, 1 hr 54 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
13
13
Brother
2000
Crime, Drama, Thriller, 1 hr 54 min
Japan, United Kingdom, France • Takeshi Kitano
14
14
Kikujiro
Kikujirô no natsu, 1999
Drama, Comedy, 2 hr 2 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
15
15
Fireworks
Hana-bi, 1997
Crime, Drama, Romance, 1 hr 43 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
16
16
Kids Return
Kizzu ritân, 1996
Crime, Drama, Sport, 1 hr 47 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
17
17
Getting Any?
Minna – yatteru ka!, 1994
Comedy, 1 hr 48 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
18
18
Sonatine
Sonachine, 1993
Crime, Drama, Thriller, 1 hr 34 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
19
Ano natsu, ichiban shizukana umi, 1991
Comedy, Drama, Romance, 1 hr 41 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
1
1
Analog
Anarogu, 2023 — novel
Drama, Romance, 2 hours
Japan • Hideta Takahata
2
Asakusa kiddo, 2021 — novel
Biography, Drama, 2 hr 2 min
Japan • Gekidan Hitori
3
Kizzu ritân: Saikai no toki, 2013 — original story
Crime, Drama, Sport, 1 hr 47 min
Japan • Hiroshi Shimizu
4
2002 — book
Drama, 1 hr 51 min
Japan • Makoto Shinozaki
5
2001 — (book)
Drama, Family, 2 hr 10 min
Japan
6
Kyôso tanjô, 1993 — novel
Comedy, 1 hr 35 min
Japan • Toshihiro Tenma
7
1986 — (novel)
Drama
Japan
8
1985 — ... — novel
Biography, Comedy, Drama, 20 min
Japan
1
1
Kubi
2023
History, Drama, 2 hr 11 min
Japan • Takeshi Kitano
2
2020 — ...
Drama
Japan
3
Chacun son cinéma ou Ce petit coup au coeur quand la lumière s’éteint et que le film commence, 2007 — (segment "One Fine Day")
Comedy, Drama, 1 hr 40 min
France • Theodoros Angelopoulos...
4
1990
1 hr 45 min
Japan • Kazuo Komizu
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