Directing · Tokyo, Japan · Born January 18, 1947
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).
MovieAUM: The Cult at the End of the World
2025
as Self (archive footage)
MovieBroken Rage
2024
as Nezumi
MovieKubi
2023
as Hashiba Hideyoshi
TVTakeshi's Castle Japan
2023
MovieCitizen Kitano
2020
as Self
TVたけしのその時カメラは回っていた
2020
TVIdaten: Tokyo Olympics Story
2019
as 古今亭志生
MovieWhy Are We Creative?
2018
as Self
TVKiseki taiken! Unbelievable
2018
as Storyteller
MoviePlankton Salesmen
2017
as Self (archive footage)
MovieOutrage Coda
2017
as Otomo
MoviePrison Break
2017
as Urata
MovieGhost in the Shell
2017
as Aramaki
MovieDoctor X: Gekai Daimon Michiko Special
2016
MovieWhile the Women Are Sleeping
2016
as Sahara
MovieA Living Promise
2016
as Detective Koichiro Iwase
MovieAka Medaka
2015
as Tatekawa Danshi
MovieMozu The Movie
2015
as Daruma
MovieRyuzo and the Seven Henchmen
2015
as Detective Murakami
TVたけしのこれがホントのニッポン芸能史
2015
TVオモクリ監督～O－Creator's TV Show～
2014
MovieMorning
2014
MovieThe 8th Floor
2014
as Self
MovieIn Between Mountains and Oceans
2014
as Himself
MovieSeicho Matsumoto's Black Gospel
2014
as Rokuro Fujisawa
MovieMiwa: A Japanese Icon
2013
as Himself
MovieTrespassing Bergman
2013
as Self
TV日曜ゴールデンで何やってんだテレビ
2012
MovieBeyond Outrage
2012
as Otomo
MovieDearest
2012
as Teruo Sugino
MovieA Special Day
2012
as Self
MovieKikoku
2010
as Private First Class Oomiya
MovieOutrage
2010
as Otomo
MovieTakeshi's Castle Vol. 1
2009
MovieWhat the War Meant
2008
as Hideki Tojo
MovieThe Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit
2008
as Take-Majin (voice)
MovieAchilles and the Tortoise
2008
as Machisu
MovieYayoi Kusama: I Love Me
2008
TVDots and Lines
2007
as Jutaro Torikai
MovieTo Each His Own Cinema
2007
as The projectionist (segment "Rencontre unique")
MovieGlory to the Filmmaker!
2007
as Takeshi / Yakuza / Father / Ninja / Detective / Astronomer
MovieTakeshis'
2005
as Beat Takeshi / Mr. Kitano
MovieThe Golden Cups: One More Time
2004
as Himself
MovieBlood and Bones
2004
as Joon-pyong Kim
MovieIzo
2004
as Chancellor
MovieElectric Yakuza, Go to Hell!
2004
as Self
MovieArakimentari
2004
as Self
MovieZatoichi
2003
as Zatoichi / Ichi
MovieThe Final Battleground — Making of Battle Royale II
2003
as Self
MovieBattle Royale II: Requiem
2003
as Kitano
TVMXC
2003
TVMusashi
2003
as Munisai Shinmen
TVTakeshi's Castle
2002
MovieKichiku
2002
MovieKogoro Akechi vs Kaijin Nijyuu Menso
2002
as Niju Menso
MovieShooting Film is Battleground: Making of BATTLE ROYALE
2001
as Self
MovieThe 300 million yen robbery
2000
MovieBattle Royale
2000
as Kitano
MovieBrother
2000
as Aniki Yamamoto
MovieMaking of 'Battle Royale'
2000
as Self
TVThe Story of One Century
2000
MovieScenes by the Sea: Takeshi Kitano
2000
as Self
MovieTaboo
1999
as Toshizo Hijikata
MovieThe Unpredictable Takeshi Kitano
1999
as Self
MovieKikujiro
1999
as Kikujiro
MovieKiseki Taiken! Anbiribabō: Kyōfu Eizō Kaiki Shashin Korekushon
1999
MovieKiseki Taiken! Anbiribabō: 1999 Nostradamus Senritsu no Daiyogen Mysterious Unbelievable
1999
Jam Session (The Official Bootleg of Kikujiro)
1999
MovieZankyo
1999
加ト・けん・たけしの世紀末スペシャル!!
1998
MovieTokyo Eyes
1998
as Yakusa
MovieFireworks
1997
as Yoshitaka Nishi
MovieHana-bi (1997) – Behind-the-scenes Footage
1997
as Self - Himself
MovieMaking-of Kids Return
1996
as Himself
MovieGonin
1995
as Ichiro Kyoya
MovieJohnny Mnemonic
1995
as Takahashi
MovieGetting Any?
1995
as Scientist
MovieMany Happy Returns
1993
as Daisuke Shiba
MovieSonatine
1993
as Aniki Murakawa
TVToday's Close-Up
1993
as 出演
MovieErotic Liaisons
1992
as Okuyama
MovieDioxin from Fish!
1992
as Azuma
北野ファンクラブ
1992
Kitano fan kurabu
1992
as Self
MovieA Legend of Turmoil
1992
as Kiichirou Yashiro
MovieShoko Asahara with Takeshi
1991
as Self
MovieKim's War
1991
as Kim Hyi-ro
MovieKILL THEM ALL
1990
MovieBoiling Point
1990
as Uehara
MovieHoshi wo tsugu mono
1990
as Yama no hito
MovieThe Yagyu Code: Secret Scrolls
1990
MovieViolent Cop
1989
as Azuma Ryosuke
TVBeat Takeshi Presents TV Tackle
1989
MovieThe Boss' Wife
1988
as Shoji Sugimoto, Hitman
Movie雨の降る駅
1986
as 演员
TVTakeshi's Castle
1986
as Count Takeshi
MovieNo More Comics!
1986
as Police
MovieJesus' Ark
1985
as Takeyoshi Sengoku
MovieDemon
1985
as Yajima
MovieJoke with a Sorrowful Heart
1985
as Hiroshi Igarashi
MovieTokyo Melody: A Film About Ryuichi Sakamoto
1985
as Hara (archive footage)
MovieThe Crimes of Kiyoshi Ōkubo
1983
as Kiyoshi Ôkubo
MovieThe Mosquito on the Tenth Floor
1983
as Man at Racetrack
MovieMerry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
1983
as Hara
MovieSummer Secrets
1982
as Ramen shop owner
MovieCompletely... With That Air!
1981
MovieManon
1981
as Shinobu
MovieThe Dump Truck Rascal
1981
MovieMakoto-chan
1980
MovieGo, Go Second Time Virgin
1969
as Gang Member
TVGolden Horse Awards
1962
as Self
MovieIn Your Blood: Hoki Naiden
Kodai bunmei Misuterī Takeshi no shin sekai nana fushigi dai hyakka
