Acting · Meguro, Tokyo, Japan · Born December 13, 1932
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.
MovieThe Limit
2025
as Narrator
MovieLife Work of Akira Kurosawa
2022
as Self
MovieThe Pass: Last Days of the Samurai
2022
as Makino Tadayuki
MovieThe Return
2019
MovieA Town and a Tall Chimney
2019
MovieSleeping Village
2019
as (narration)
MovieHenkan kōshōjin: Itsuka, Okinawa o torimodosu
2018
as Narrator
MovieLear on the Shore
2017
as Kuwahata Chokichi
MovieGreat evil does not go to sleep: The counterattack of the special investigation unit prosecutor
2016
as Yohei Tachibana
MovieA Duel Tale
2015
MovieNORINTEN 稲塚権次郎物語
2015
Movieふたりの死刑囚
2015
as Narrator
MovieBefore The Leaves Fall
2015
as Kenichiro Miya
MovieNakadai Tatsuya: to Live for Acting
2015
MovieIsao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya
2014
as Self
TVA Sinner's Lie
2014
as Kenzo Haneda
MovieGun Woman
2014
as Hamazaki
MovieGiovanni's Island
2014
as Older Junpei Senou (voice)
MovieThe Tale of The Princess Kaguya
2013
as Charcoal-maker Old Man (voice)
MovieThe Human Trust
2013
as Nobuhiro Sasakura
MoviePromise: The Nabari Poisoned Wine Case, The Life of a Death-row Inmate
2013
MovieUntil the Break of Dawn
2012
as Sadayuki Akiyama
MovieJapan's Tragedy
2012
as Fujio Murai
MovieGaku
2012
as Kazama Shin-ichi
MovieZatoichi: The Last
2010
as Tendo
MovieHaru's Journey
2010
as Tadao Nakai
MovieListen to My Heart
2009
as Kyozo Hayami
MovieTatsuya Nakadai on 'The Human Condition'
2009
as Self
MovieThrough the Mist
2009
as (archive footage)
TVSamurai Banners
2007
MovieMurder of the Inugami Clan
2006
as Sahei Inugami
MovieYamato
2005
MovieWish Upon a Star
2005
as Takanori Wakamiya
MovieThe Taika Reforms
2005
as Minabuchi no Syôan
TVCrying Out Love, in the Center of the World
2004
as Matsumoto Kentaro
MovieLike Asura
2003
as Kotaro Takezawa
MovieAkira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Kagemusha'
2002
as Self
MovieAkira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'High and Low'
2002
as Self
MovieAkira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Yojimbo'
2002
as Self
MovieAkira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Sanjuro'
2002
as Self
MovieAkira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Ran'
2002
as Self
MovieDawn of a New Day: The Man Behind VHS
2002
as Matsushita (Matsushita Denki Co.)
MovieTo Dance with the White Dog
2002
as Eisuke Nakamoto
MovieVengeance for Sale
2002
as Umetaro Katakura
嘱託刑事･小山田昭平 旅路の果て
2001
MovieKurosawa
2000
as Self
MovieAfter the Rain
2000
as Tsuji Gettan
MovieJubaku: Spellbound
1999
as Hideaki Sasaki
MovieKurosawa: The Last Emperor
1999
as Self
MovieThe Life and Love of Kenji Miyazawa
1996
as Seijiro Miyazawa
TVA Son of the Good Earth
1995
MovieEast Meets West
1995
as Kaishu Katsu
MovieSummer of the Moonlight Sonata
1993
MovieKin chan no Cinema Jack
1993
MovieLone Wolf and Cub: The Final Conflict
1993
as Yagyu Retsudo
MovieWicked City
1992
as Daishu
MovieFaraway Sunset
1992
as Kobayashi
TVPinwheel Hamakichi's Spell
1992
MovieBasara: The Princess Goh
1992
as Oribe Furuta
MoviePinwheel Hamakichi's Spell
1992
MovieHeat Wave
1991
as Tsunejiro Murai
MovieFlorence My Love
1991
Movie戦艦大和
1990
Movie13 Assassins
1990
MovieLet Him Rest in Peace
1989
MovieFour Days of Snow and Blood
1989
as Sugiyama
MovieReturn from the River Kwai
1989
as Major Harada
MovieAnother Way: D-Kikan-Joho
1988
MovieOración
1988
as Heihachiro Wagu
MovieTrinacria: Porsche 959
1987
MovieHachiko
1987
as Shujiro Ueno
MovieTaikoki
1987
as (Narrator)
MovieMichi
1986
as Seiji Tajima
MovieAtami Murder Case
1986
as Denbei Nikaido
MovieThe Empty Table
1985
as Nobuyuki Kidoji
MovieRan
1985
as Lord Hidetora Ichimonji
MovieA. K.
1985
as Self
MovieMaking of Ran
1985
as Self
MovieFireflies in the North
1984
as Takeshi Tsukigata
MovieThe Fox Dancing in the Dusk
1984
MovieThe Fir Trees Remain
1983
TVMomi no Ki wa Nokotta: Ranshin
1983
MovieShadow Hunters
1983
MovieBattle Anthem
1983
MovieFinal Yamato
1983
as Narrator
MovieThe Legend of Sayo
1982
MovieTange Sazen: The Million Ryo Pot
1982
as Sazen Tange
MovieThe Law of Hell
1982
MovieOnimasa: A Japanese Godfather
1982
as Masagoro Kiryuin - Onimasa
MovieWillful Murder
1981
as Yashiro
MovieMagistrate of the Floating World
1981
TVKinagashi Bugyō
1981
TVAoki Ookami Narukichiomoase no Shougai
1980
as ナレーション
MoviePort Arthur
1980
as Maresuke Nogi
MovieKagemusha
1980
as Shingen Takeda / Kagemusha
MovieHunter in the Dark
1979
as Gomyo Kiyoemon
MovieBlood Type: Blue
1978
as Minami
MovieThe Phoenix
1978
as Jingi the Conqueror, leader of the Takamagahara
MovieBandits vs. Samurai Squadron
1978
as Kumokiri Nizaemon
MovieQueen Bee
1978
as Ginzo Daidoji
MovieSugata Sanshiro
1977
as Yano
TVSuna no Utsuwa
1977
as 今西栄太郎
MovieThe Corporation
1976
MovieHuman Revolution II
1976
MovieElegy
1976
as Setsuo Katsuragi
MovieSolar Eclipse
1975
as Yasuo Hoshino, the Chief Cabinet Secretary
MovieI Am a Cat
1975
as Kushami
MovieBattle Cry
1975
as Hijikata Toshizo
MovieThe Gate of Youth
1975
MovieThe Family
1974
as Teppei Manpyo
MovieRise, Fair Sun
1973
as Sakuzo
MovieThe Human Revolution
1973
MovieBelladonna of Sadness
1973
as The Devil (voice)
MovieThe King
1973
as Kinjiro Sekine
TVShin Heike Monogatari
1972
as Taira no Kiyomori
MovieThe Wolves
1971
as Seji Iwahashi
MovieInn of Evil
1971
as Sadashichi
MovieThe Battle of Okinawa
1971
as Colonel Hiromichi Yahara
MovieChallenge at Dawn
1971
as Tsukagoshi
MovieWill to Conquer
1970
MovieZatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival
1970
as Ronin
MovieThe Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan
1970
as Naojiro Kataoka
MovieThe Ambitious
1970
as Shintaro Nakaoka
MovieDuel at Fort Ezo
1970
as Daizennokami Honjo
MoviePortrait of Hell
1969
as Yoshihide
MovieBlood End
1969
as Sentaro
MovieTenchu!
1969
as Hanpeita Takechi
MovieBattle of the Japan Sea
1969
as Major Genjiro Akashi
MovieSafari 5000
1969
MovieGoyokin
1969
as Magobei Wakizaka
MovieThe Human Bullet
1968
as Narrator (voice)
MovieAdmiral Yamamoto
1968
as Narrator (voice)
MovieKill!
1968
as Genta
MovieToday We Kill, Tomorrow We Die!
1968
as James Elfego
MovieJourney
1967
MovieJapan's Longest Day
1967
as Narrator (voice)
MovieSamurai Rebellion
1967
as Tatewaki Asano
MovieGomez's Name is Gomez
1967
as Sakamoto
ゴメスの名はゴメス
1967
MovieKojiro
1967
as Musashi Miyamoto
MovieThe Age of Assassins
1967
as Shinji Kikyo
MovieThe Daphne
1966
MovieThe Face of Another
1966
as Mr. Okuyama
MovieThe Sword of Doom
1966
as Ryunosuke Tsukue
MovieCash Calls Hell
1966
as Oida
MovieFort Graveyard
1965
as Sakuma
MovieIllusion of Blood
1965
as Iyemon Tamiya
MovieThree Yakuza
1965
MovieThe Last Judgment
1965
MovieKwaidan
1965
as Minokichi (segment "The Woman of the Snow")
MovieAnt Hell War
1964
MovieMr. Giant's Victory Flag
1964
MovieA Woman's Life
1963
MovieMiren
1963
as Ryôta Kinoshita
MovieLegacy of the 500,000
1963
as Mitsura Gunji
MovieHigh and Low
1963
as Chief Detective Tokura
MoviePressure of Guilt
1963
MovieMadame Aki
1963
as Tatsumi
MovieFarm Girls
1962
MovieHarakiri
1962
as Hanshiro Tsugumo
MovieLove Under the Crucifix
1962
as Ukon Takayama
MovieThe Inheritance
1962
as Kikuo Furukawa
MovieSanjuro
1962
as Hanbei Muroto
MovieImmortal Love
1961
as Heibei
MovieAs the Clouds Scatter
1961
MovieThe Other Woman
1961
as Minami
MovieYojimbo
1961
as Unosuke, gunfighter
MovieThe Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer
1961
as Kaji
MovieGet 'em All
1960
as Tsubota
MovieThe Blue Beast
1960
as Yasuhiko Kuroki
MovieDaughters, Wives and a Mother
1960
as Kuroki Shingo
MovieWhen a Woman Ascends the Stairs
1960
as Kenichi Komatsu
MovieThe Human Condition II: Road to Eternity
1959
as Kaji
MoviePilgrimage at Night
1959
MovieThree Dolls in Ginza
1959
MovieOdd Obsession
1959
as Kimura
MovieThe Beast Shall Die
1959
as Kunihiko Date
MovieThe Human Condition I: No Greater Love
1959
as Kaji
TVThe Human Condition
1959
as Kaji
MovieThe Naked Sun
1958
MovieConflagration
1958
as Tokari
MovieDiary of an Elegant Hot Spring
1958
as Kazuo Shimada
MovieOban kanketsu hen
1958
as Shin Don
MovieGo and Get It
1958
as His assistant
MovieAll About Marriage
1958
as Akira Nakayama
MovieA Boy and Three Mothers
1958
as The Engineer
MovieKampai! Miai Kekkon
1958
as Kunihiko Sasada
MovieTeenage Sazae
1957
MovieZokuzoku Ôban: Dotô hen
1957
as Shindon
MovieBlack River
1957
as Jo
MovieSkin-Colored Moon
1957
as Jirô Taki
MovieA Dangerous Hero
1957
MovieZoku Ôban: Fûun hen
1957
as Shin don
MovieThe Shadow Daughter
1957
MovieUntamed Woman
1957
as Kimura
MovieÔban
1957
as Shin Don
MovieThe Mandarin Room
1956
MovieSazae-san
1956
as Norisuke
MovieThe Thick-Walled Room
1956
as (Uncredited)
MovieLove on Rainbow Island
1956
as Yûji Wada
MoviePhoenix
1956
MovieFloating Weeds Diary
1955
MovieHow the Bell of Liberty Rings
1954
as (uncredited)
MovieSeven Samurai
1954
as Samurai Wandering through Town (uncredited)
MovieThe Gion Tempest
as Masaki
