Cast & creator
Takeshi Kitano
Best known for Golden Horse Awards, Nagi-Asu: A Lull in the Sea, Ghost in the Shell
Takeshi Kitano (北野 武, Kitano Takeshi, born January 18, 1947), also known in Japan as Beat Takeshi (ビートたけし, Bīto Takeshi), is a Japanese comedian, actor, and filmmaker. While he is known primarily as a comedian and TV host in his native Japan, he is better known abroad for his work as a filmmaker and actor as well as TV host. Kitano rose to prominence in the 1970s as one half of the comedy duo Two Beat, before going solo and becoming one of the three biggest comedians in the country. After several small acting roles, he made his directorial debut with 1989's Violent Cop and garnered international acclaim for Sonatine (1993). He was not widely accepted as an accomplished director in Japan until Hana-bi won the Golden Lion in 1997. In October 2017, Kitano completed his Outrage crime trilogy with the release of Outrage Coda. He is also known internationally for hosting the game show Takeshi's Castle (1986–1990) and starring in the film Battle Royale (2000).
Also known as: Такэси Китано, Beat Takeshi, 기타노 타케시, 비트 타케시, "Beat" Takeshi Kitano
169
film credits
22
television credits
115
1962–2025 · acting roles
7.0
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (191)
Showing 191 of 191 credits
Golden Horse Awards
Self
1962
Nagi-Asu: A Lull in the Sea
Assistant Editor
2013
Ghost in the Shell
Aramaki
2017
MXC
2003
Idaten: Tokyo Olympics Story
古今亭志生
2019
Battle Royale
Kitano
2000
Takeshi's Castle
2002Takeshi's Castle
Creator
2002
Zatoichi
Zatoichi / Ichi
2003Zatoichi
Editor
2003Zatoichi
Screenplay
2003Zatoichi
Director
2003
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
Hara
1983
Brother
Aniki Yamamoto
2000Brother
Editor
2000Brother
Director
2000Brother
Writer
2000
Johnny Mnemonic
Takahashi
1995
Kikujiro
Kikujiro
1999Kikujiro
Screenplay
1999Kikujiro
Editor
1999Kikujiro
Director
1999
Musashi
Munisai Shinmen
2003
Taboo
Toshizo Hijikata
1999
Takeshi's Castle
Count Takeshi
1986
A Scene at the Sea
Director
1991A Scene at the Sea
Editor
1991A Scene at the Sea
Screenplay
1991
Kids Return
Director
1996Kids Return
Editor
1996Kids Return
Writer
1996
Boiling Point
Uehara
1990Boiling Point
Director
1990Boiling Point
Screenplay
1990
Blood and Bones
Joon-pyong Kim
2004
Fireworks
Yoshitaka Nishi
1997Fireworks
Editor
1997Fireworks
Director
1997Fireworks
Screenplay
1997
Today's Close-Up
出演
1993
Sonatine
Aniki Murakawa
1993Sonatine
Director
1993Sonatine
Editor
1993Sonatine
Screenplay
1993
Beyond Outrage
Otomo
2012Beyond Outrage
Director
2012Beyond Outrage
Writer
2012Beyond Outrage
Editor
2012
To Each His Own Cinema
The projectionist (segment "Rencontre unique")
2007To Each His Own Cinema
Director
2007To Each His Own Cinema
Screenplay
2007To Each His Own Cinema
Producer
2007To Each His Own Cinema
Editor
2007
Outrage
Otomo
2010Outrage
Screenplay
2010Outrage
Director
2010Outrage
Editor
2010
Violent Cop
Azuma Ryosuke
1989Violent Cop
Director
1989Violent Cop
Writer
1989
Battle Royale II: Requiem
Kitano
2003
Why Are We Creative?
Self
2018
Plankton Salesmen
Self (archive footage)
2017
The Boss' Wife
Shoji Sugimoto, Hitman
1988
Outrage Coda
Otomo
2017Outrage Coda
Director
2017Outrage Coda
Editor
2017Outrage Coda
Screenplay
2017
Erotic Liaisons
Okuyama
1992
Asakusa Kid
Novel
2021
Trespassing Bergman
Self
2013
Kubi
Hashiba Hideyoshi
2023Kubi
Editor
2023Kubi
Screenplay
2023Kubi
Director
2023Kubi
Novel
2023
Arakimentari
Self
2004
Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen
Detective Murakami
2015Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen
Director
2015Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen
Writer
2015Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen
Editor
2015
Dolls
Editor
2002Dolls
Director
2002Dolls
Screenplay
2002
Hard-Wired Humanity
Self
AUM: The Cult at the End of the World
Self (archive footage)
2025
Takeshis'
Beat Takeshi / Mr. Kitano
2005Takeshis'
Director
2005Takeshis'
Editor
2005Takeshis'
Writer
2005
Takeshi's Castle Japan
2023
Izo
Chancellor
2004
Getting Any?
Scientist
1995Getting Any?
Director
1995Getting Any?
Writer
1995Getting Any?
Editor
1995
Gonin
Ichiro Kyoya
1995
The Story of One Century
2000
Demon
Yajima
1985
Glory to the Filmmaker!
Takeshi / Yakuza / Father / Ninja / Detective / Astronomer
2007Glory to the Filmmaker!
Director
2007Glory to the Filmmaker!
Writer
2007Glory to the Filmmaker!
Editor
2007
In Between Mountains and Oceans
Himself
2014
While the Women Are Sleeping
Sahara
2016
Dots and Lines
Jutaro Torikai
2007
Go, Go Second Time Virgin
Gang Member
1969
Doctor X: Gekai Daimon Michiko Special
2016
Manon
Shinobu
1981
Seicho Matsumoto's Black Gospel
Rokuro Fujisawa
2014
Achilles and the Tortoise
Machisu
2008Achilles and the Tortoise
Director
2008Achilles and the Tortoise
Editor
2008Achilles and the Tortoise
Screenplay
2008
The Mosquito on the Tenth Floor
Man at Racetrack
1983
Broken Rage
Nezumi
2024Broken Rage
Writer
2024Broken Rage
Director
2024Broken Rage
Editor
2024
たけしのその時カメラは回っていた
2020
Makoto-chan
1980
A Special Day
Self
2012
Tokyo Melody: A Film About Ryuichi Sakamoto
Hara (archive footage)
1985
Mozu The Movie
Daruma
2015
Kiseki taiken! Unbelievable
Storyteller
2018
The Unpredictable Takeshi Kitano
Self
1999
Beat Takeshi Presents TV Tackle
1989
Prison Break
Urata
2017
Citizen Kitano
Self
2020
No More Comics!
Yakuza
1986
Tokyo Eyes
Yakusa
1998
Scenes by the Sea: Takeshi Kitano
Self
2000
オモクリ監督～O－Creator's TV Show～
2014
Miwa: A Japanese Icon
Self
2013
Analog
Novel
2023
Dearest
Teruo Sugino
2012
Aka Medaka
Tatekawa Danshi
2015
Zankyo
1999
Completely... With That Air!
1981
Electric Yakuza, Go to Hell!
Self
2004
Kim's War
Kim Hyi-ro
1991
The Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit
Take-Majin (voice)
2008
Kikoku
Private First Class Oomiya
2010
Dioxin from Fish!
Azuma
1992
KILL THEM ALL
1990
The Crimes of Kiyoshi Ōkubo
Kiyoshi Ôkubo
1983
What the War Meant
Hideki Tojo
2008
A Legend of Turmoil
Kiichirou Yashiro
1992
Making-of Kids Return
Himself
1996
Kogoro Akechi vs Kaijin Nijyuu Menso
Niju Menso
2002
The 300 million yen robbery
2000
Shooting Film is Battleground: Making of BATTLE ROYALE
Self
2001
A Living Promise
Detective Koichiro Iwase
2016
Kids Return: The Reunion
Original Story
2013
Kichiku
2002
The 8th Floor
Self
2014
Many Happy Returns
Daisuke Shiba
1993Many Happy Returns
Novel
1993
The Yagyu Code: Secret Scrolls
1990
Shoko Asahara with Takeshi
Self
1991
The Dump Truck Rascal
1981
Hoshi wo tsugu mono
Yama no hito
1990
Summer Secrets
Ramen shop owner
1982
The Final Battleground — Making of Battle Royale II
Self
2003Kodai bunmei Misuterī Takeshi no shin sekai nana fushigi dai hyakka
Joke with a Sorrowful Heart
Hiroshi Igarashi
1985
Jesus' Ark
Takeyoshi Sengoku
1985加ト・けん・たけしの世紀末スペシャル!!
1998
Making of 'Battle Royale'
Self
2000
Takeshi's Castle Vol. 1
2009Takeshi's Castle Vol. 1
Director
2009
雨の降る駅
演员
1986
Morning
2014Morning
Screenplay
2014Morning
Director
2014北野ファンクラブ
1992
日曜ゴールデンで何やってんだテレビ
2012
Asakusa Kid
Original Story
2002
One Fine Day
Projectionist
2005One Fine Day
Director
2005One Fine Day
Writer
2005
Hana-bi (1997) – Behind-the-scenes Footage
Self - Himself
1997Hana-bi (1997) – Behind-the-scenes Footage
Director
1997Kitano fan kurabu
Self
1992Jam Session (The Official Bootleg of Kikujiro)
1999
Yayoi Kusama: I Love Me
2008
たけしのこれがホントのニッポン芸能史
2015
In Your Blood: Hoki Naiden
The Golden Cups: One More Time
Himself
2004
Kiseki Taiken! Anbiribabō: 1999 Nostradamus Senritsu no Daiyogen Mysterious Unbelievable
1999