Cast & creator
Toshirō Mifune
Best known for Seven Samurai, Falcons of Edo, Shōgun
Toshirō Mifune (April 1, 1920 - December 24, 1997) was a Japanese actor who is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors in the history of Japanese cinema. He was born in Qingdao, China, but was raised in Japan. Mifune's career spanned over 50 years, during which he collaborated extensively with renowned director Akira Kurosawa, creating some of the most iconic films in Japanese cinema. Mifune gained international recognition for his performances in Kurosawa's films, particularly in samurai films. He portrayed strong, dynamic, and often rebellious characters, bringing a raw intensity to his roles. Some of his notable collaborations with Kurosawa include "Rashomon" (1950), "Seven Samurai" (1954), "Yojimbo" (1961), and "The Hidden Fortress" (1958), which inspired George Lucas's "Star Wars." Apart from his work with Kurosawa, Mifune appeared in numerous other films, showcasing his versatility as an actor. He played roles in various genres, including dramas, comedies, and war films. Some of his other notable films include "The Throne of Blood" (1957), "High and Low" (1963), and "Red Beard" (1965). Mifune's charismatic presence, powerful performances, and ability to convey complex emotions made him an iconic figure in Japanese cinema. He received international recognition and awards for his contributions to the film industry, including several honors at the Venice Film Festival and a lifetime achievement award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Also known as: Toshiroh Mifune, Mifune Toshirō
180
film credits
12
television credits
178
1947–2016 · acting roles
7.6
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (192)
Showing 192 of 192 credits
Seven Samurai
Kikuchiyo
1954
Falcons of Edo
Kanbei Uchiyama
1978
Shōgun
Lord Yoshi Toranaga
1980V.I.P. Schaukel
Self
1971
High and Low
Kingo Gondo
1963
Rashomon
Tajômaru
1950
Red Beard
Dr. Kyojio Niide ("Red Beard")
1965
Midway
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
1976
Yojimbo
Sanjuro Kuwabatake / The Samurai
1961
Throne of Blood
Taketoki Washizu
1957The 47 Ronins of Ako
Tachibana Sakon
1979
Drunken Angel
Matsunaga
1948
1941
Cmdr. Akiro Mitamura
1979
Samurai Rebellion
Isaburo Sasahara
1967Samurai Rebellion
Producer
1967
Red Sun
Kuroda Jubei
1971
The Hidden Fortress
General Rokurota Makabe
1958
Grand Prix
Izō Yamura
1966
Epic Chushingura
Oishi Kuranosuke
1971
Burning Mountain River
Otsuichi Amo
1984
Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen
(archive footage)
2012
Shadow of the Wolf
Kroomak
1992
Hell in the Pacific
Captain Tsuruhiko Kuroda
1968
Tuesday Suspense Theater
1981
Ronin of the Wastelands
Kujuro Toge
1972Ronin of the Wastelands
Associate Producer
1972
The Bushido Blade
Shogun's Commander
1981
Mifune: The Last Samurai
Self - Actor / Various Roles (archive footage)
2016
Sanjuro
Sanjûrô Tsubaki / The ronin
1962
Stray Dog
Det. Murakami
1949
The Bad Sleep Well
Kôichi Nishi
1960
The Idiot
Denkichi Akama
1951
Chûshingura
Genba Tawaraboshi
1962
Winter Kills
Keith
1979
The Sword of Doom
Toranosuke Shimada
1966
The Walking Major
Kinugasa Tadao
1970
The Important Man
Ánimas Trujano
1961
I Live in Fear
Kiichi Nakajima
1955
Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island
Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
1956
Port Arthur
Emperor Meiji
1980
The Life of Oharu
Katsunosuke
1952
Death of a Tea Master
Rikyu Sen-no
1989
Japan's Longest Day
War Minister General Korechika Anami
1967
The Challenge
Toru Yoshida
1982
Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo
Yojimbo/Sasa
1970
Shogun's Samurai: The Yagyu Clan Conspiracy
Yoshinao Tokugawa
1978
Shogun
Lord Yoshi Toranaga
1980
Ronin in a Lawless Town
Mr. Danna
1976
Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto
Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
1954
Japanese Godfather: Ambition
Kosuke Oishi
1977
The Quiet Duel
Dr. Kyoji Fujisaki
1949
The Lower Depths
Sutekichi the Thief
1957
The Last Gunfight
Detective Saburo Fujioka
1960
Sekigahara
Sakon Shima
1981
Admiral Yamamoto
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
1968
Inchon
Saito-San
1981
The Three Treasures
Prince Yamato Takeru
1959
Battle of the Japan Sea
Admiral Heihachiro Togo
1969
Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple
Musashi Miyamoto a.k.a. Takezo
1955
Journey of Honor
Ieyasu Tokugawa
1991
Samurai Assassin
Tsuruchiyo Niiro
1965
The Fall of Ako Castle
Tsuchiya Michinao
1978
Scandal
Ichirô Aoye
1950
Theater Of Life
Hyōtarō Aonari
1983
Proof of the Man
Yohei Kori
1977
The Storm of the Pacific
Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi
1960
Attack Squadron
Lt. Colonel Senda
1963
The Man Who Came to Port
Gorō Niinuma
1952
Saga of the Vagabonds
Rokuro Kai
1959
Samurai Banners
Kansuke Yamamoto
1969Samurai Banners
Producer
1969
The Retreat from Kiska
Omura
1965
Grand Prix: Challenge of the Champions
Self
1966
Vendetta of a Samurai
Mataemon Araki
1952
The Sands of Kurobe
Kitagawa
1968
Japanese Godfather: Conclusion
Kosuke Oishi
1978
The Militarists
Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto
1970
Sanshiro Sugata
Shogoro Yano
1965
A Dangerous Hero
Kawada
1957
Paper Tiger
Ambassador Kagoyama
1975The Day the Sun Rose
Kumaza
1968
The Eagle of the Pacific
1st Lieutenant Tomonaga
1953
Princess from the Moon
Taketori-no-Miyatsuko
1987
The Brave Man Says Little
1983
The Big Boss
Kashimura
1959
Safari 5000
Yūichirō Takase
1969
Legacy of the 500,000
Takeichi Matsuo
1963Legacy of the 500,000
Director
1963Legacy of the 500,000
Associate Producer
1963
The Black Fury
Eiichi Tsuda
1954
The Ambitious
Shojiro Goto
1970
Red Lion
Gonzo
1969Red Lion
Producer
1969
Battle Anthem
Admiral Heihachiro Togo
1983
The Rickshaw Man
Matsugorō Tomishima
1958
Tora-san Goes North
Junkichi Ueno
1987
The Gambling Samurai
Kunisada Chuji
1960
Desperado Outpost
Battalion Commander
1959
Picture Bride
The Benshi
1995
Fort Graveyard
Sergeant Kosugi
1965Fort Graveyard
Associate Producer
1965
The Adventures of Kosuke Kindaichi
Kindaichi of 11th Generation in "The Woman in the Eye"
1979
Daredevil in the Castle
Mohei
1961
Foghorn
Chiyokichi
1952
Whirlwind
Lord Akashi
1964
Scoundrel
Kanji
1956
Downtown
Yoshio Tsuruishi
1957
Who Knows a Woman's Heart
Mizuno
1951
Samurai Pirate
Sukezaemon Naya, aka 'Luzon' [Sinbad, in US version]
1963
Okita Soji: Swordsman of Fire
Shūsai Kondō
1984
Lowly Ronin 4: Living Hell
Sanjuro Hinoki
1983
Strawberry Road
Taoka
1991
The Last Embrace
Shinkichi / Hayakawa
1953
All About Marriage
Acting teacher
1958
Yagyu Secret Scrolls
Tasaburō Kasumi
1957
The Masterless 47
Kazuo Momoi
1960
Rise Against the Sword
Abare Gōemon
1966
Snow Trail
Eijima
1947
Sasaki Kojiro
Miyamoto Musashi
1951
A Man in the Storm
Saburō Watari
1957
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'The Hidden Fortress'
Self
2002
Domineering
Masao Tadokoro
1982
A Wife's Heart
Kenkichi
1956
No More God, No More Love
Kōzō Kanzaki
1985
Lowly Ronin
Sanjuro Hinoki
1981
Elegy
Prosecutor Daisuke Toki
1951
No Time for Tears
Mitsuo Yano
1955
The Surf
Skipper of the Utashima-maru
1954
Man Against Man
Kaji
1960
Tokyo Sweetheart
Kurokawa
1952
The Ballad of the Sea of Genkai
Kyūbei Matsufuji
1986
Yagyu Secret Scrolls: Ninjitsu - Part II
Tasaburo
1958
Onmitsu Doshin: The Edo Secret Police
Sadanobu Matsudaira
1979Onmitsu Doshin: The Edo Secret Police
Associate Producer
1979
Sword for Hire
Sasa Hayatenosuke
1952
Lowly Ronin 5: The Teenage Orphan Girl
Sûrônin Rakuyôjûrô
1983
Lowly Ronin 2: The Spray of Blood
Sanjuro Hinoki
1982
The Demon Comes in Spring
Kukkune no jî
1989
Lord Mito
Sakuzaemon Okumura
1978
The Lowly Ronin 3: Duel at Dawn
1982
Love and Faith
Taiko Hideyoshi
1978
Shag
Captain Takeo Murata
1978Shag
Executive Producer
1978
Kin no tamago: Golden Girl
1952
These Foolish Times
Genzaburo Onō, Gang Boss
1947
Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor
Isami Kondo
1969Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor
Producer
1969
The Life of a Horse Trader
Yonetaro Katayama
1951
Incident at Blood Pass
Yojimbo
1970Incident at Blood Pass
Producer
1970
The Women of Osaka Castle
Tokugawa Ieyasu
1983
Escape from Prison
Shinkichi
1950
A Man Among Men
"Buick" Maki
1955
My Wonderful Yellow Car
Matsumura
1953
The Miracle of Joe, the Petrel
Fisherman
1984
The Mad Atlantic
Heihachirô Murakami
1966The Mad Atlantic
Executive Producer
1966
The Underworld
Chief Inspector Kumada
1956
Meeting of the Ghost of Apres-Guerre
Kenji Kawakami
1951
Holiday in Tokyo
Tenkai's nephew Jirō
1958
Rebels on the High Sea
Matsuo Tokuzō
1956
The Shatterer
Murai
1987
Adventure in Kigan Castle
Osami
1966Adventure in Kigan Castle
Associate Producer
1966
The Youth and His Amulet
Fudo-Myo (Immovable Bright King)
1961
Yaji and Kita on the Road
Toshinoshin Taya
1958
Deep River
Tsukada
1995
Tatsu
Tatsu
1962
Jakoman and Tetsu
Tetsu
1949
Wedding Ring
Takeshi Ema
1950
Settlement of Love
Shuntarō Ōhira
1956
The Retired Samurai
Hikozaemon Ōkubo
1987
Samurai Saga
Heihachiro Komaki
1959
All is Well 2
Daikichi Risshun
1955
Sunflower Girl
Ippei Hitachi
1953
Rainy Night Duel
Masahiko Koseki
1956
The Masterless 47 – Part II
1961
Theater of Life
1958
Good Luck to These Two
Toshio Maruyama
1957
Conduct Report on Professor Ishinaka
Teisaku Nagasawa
1950
Three Gentlemen Return from Hong Kong
Zhang Zhizhang
1962
Heaven and Earth: Dawn Episode
Nagao Tamekage
1990
cf Girl
Shūichirō Hase
1989
Morning for Two
Producer
1971
Beyond Love and Hate
Gorō Sakata
1951
Lowly Ronin 6: Betrayal at Yatate Pass
Sûrônin Hinoki Sajûrô
1983
Secret of the Forbidden Valley
1983
All is Well
Daikichi Risshun
1955
Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 2
Tamon Umei
1982
Swift Current
Shunsuke Kosugi
1952
Pirates
Tora
1951
Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 1
Tamon Umei
1981