The Limit
2025 · Movie
as Narrator (voice)
Tatsuya Nakadai
1932-12-13
•
Meguro, Tokyo, Japan
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.
Filmography
Life Work of Akira Kurosawa
2022 · Movie
as Self
The Pass: Last Days of the Samurai
2022 · Movie
as Makino Tadayuki
The Return
2019 · Movie
A Town and a Tall Chimney
2019 · Movie
Sleeping Village
2019 · Movie
as Narrator (voice)
Henkan kōshōjin: Itsuka, Okinawa o torimodosu
2018 · Movie
as Narrator (voice)
Lear on the Shore
2017 · Movie
as Kuwahata Chokichi
Great evil does not go to sleep: The counterattack of the special investigation unit prosecutor
2016 · Movie
as Yohei Tachibana
Futari no shikeishû - saishin imada hirakarezu
2015 · Movie
as Narrator (voice)
A Duel Tale
2015 · Movie
as Sanosuke Shoji
Before The Leaves Fall
2015 · Movie
as Kenichiro Miya
NORINTEN 稲塚権次郎物語
2015 · Movie
Nakadai Tatsuya: to Live for Acting
2015 · Movie
Giovanni's Island
2014 · Movie
as Older Junpei Senou (voice)
Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya
2014 · Movie
as Self
Gun Woman
2014 · Movie
as Hamazaki
A Sinner's Lie
2014 · TV Show
as Kenzo Haneda
The Human Trust
2013 · Movie
as Nobuhiro Sasakura
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
2013 · Movie
as Charcoal-maker Old Man (voice)
Promise: The Nabari Poisoned Wine Case, The Life of a Death-row Inmate
2013 · Movie
as Masaru Okunishi
Japan's Tragedy
2012 · Movie
as Fujio Murai
Until the Break of Dawn
2012 · Movie
as Sadayuki Akiyama
Gaku
2012 · Movie
as Kazama Shin-ichi
Haru's Journey
2010 · Movie
as Tadao Nakai
Zatoichi: The Last
2010 · Movie
as Tendo
Listen to My Heart
2009 · Movie
as Kyozo Hayami
Through the Mist
2009 · Movie
as (archive footage)
Tatsuya Nakadai on 'The Human Condition'
2009 · Movie
as Self
Samurai Banners
2007 · TV Show
Murder of the Inugami Clan
2006 · Movie
as Sahei Inugami
Wish Upon a Star
2005 · Movie
as Takanori Wakamiya
Yamato
2005 · Movie
The Taika Reforms
2005 · Movie
as Minabuchi no Syôan
Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World
2004 · TV Show
as Matsumoto Kentaro
Like Asura
2003 · Movie
as Kotaro Takezawa
Vengeance for Sale
2002 · Movie
as Umetaro Katakura
Dawn of a New Day: The Man Behind VHS
2002 · Movie
as Matsushita (Matsushita Denki Co.)
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Kagemusha'
2002 · Movie
as Self
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Yojimbo'
2002 · Movie
as Self
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Sanjuro'
2002 · Movie
as Self
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'High and Low'
2002 · Movie
as Self
To Dance with the White Dog
2002 · Movie
as Eisuke Nakamoto
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Ran'
2002 · Movie
as Self
No image
嘱託刑事･小山田昭平 旅路の果て
2001 · TV Show
Kurosawa
2000 · Movie
as Self
After the Rain
2000 · Movie
as Tsuji Gettan
Kurosawa: The Last Emperor
1999 · Movie
as Self
Jubaku: Spellbound
1999 · Movie
as Hideaki Sasaki
The Life and Love of Kenji Miyazawa
1996 · Movie
as Seijiro Miyazawa
East Meets West
1995 · Movie
as Kaishu Katsu
A Son of the Good Earth
1995 · TV Show
Kin chan no Cinema Jack
1993 · Movie
Lone Wolf and Cub: The Final Conflict
1993 · Movie
as Yagyu Retsudo
Summer of the Moonlight Sonata
1993 · Movie
Wicked City
1992 · Movie
as Daishu
Basara: The Princess Goh
1992 · Movie
as Oribe Furuta
Pinwheel Hamakichi's Spell
1992 · Movie
Faraway Sunset
1992 · Movie
as Kobayashi
Pinwheel Hamakichi's Spell
1992 · TV Show
Heat Wave
1991 · Movie
as Tsunejiro Murai
Florence My Love
1991 · Movie
13 Assassins
1990 · Movie
Battleship Yamato
1990 · Movie
as Vice Admiral Seiichi Itō
Return from the River Kwai
1989 · Movie
as Major Harada
Four Days of Snow and Blood
1989 · Movie
as Sugiyama
Let Him Rest in Peace
1989 · Movie
Another Way: D-Kikan-Joho
1988 · Movie
Oración
1988 · Movie
as Heihachiro Wagu
Hachiko
1987 · Movie
as Shujiro Ueno
Taikoki
1987 · Movie
as (Narrator)
Trinacria: Porsche 959
1987 · Movie
Atami Murder Case
1986 · Movie
as Denbei Nikaido
Michi
1986 · Movie
as Seiji Tajima
Ran
1985 · Movie
as Lord Hidetora Ichimonji
The Empty Table
1985 · Movie
as Nobuyuki Kidoji
Making of Ran
1985 · Movie
as Self
A. K.
1985 · Movie
as Self
Fireflies in the North
1984 · Movie
as Takeshi Tsukigata
The Fox Dancing in the Dusk
1984 · Movie
Final Yamato
1983 · Movie
as Narrator
Battle Anthem
1983 · Movie
The Fir Trees Remain
1983 · Movie
Shadow Hunters
1983 · Movie
Momi no Ki wa Nokotta: Ranshin
1983 · TV Show
Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather
1982 · Movie
as Masagoro Kiryuin - Onimasa
The Law of Hell
1982 · Movie
as Ikuzô
Tange Sazen: The Million Ryo Pot
1982 · Movie
as Sazen Tange
The Legend of Sayo
1982 · Movie
as Otozo
Magistrate of the Floating World
1981 · Movie
Willful Murder
1981 · Movie
as Yashiro
Kinagashi Bugyō
1981 · TV Show
Kagemusha
1980 · Movie
as Shingen Takeda / Kagemusha
Port Arthur
1980 · Movie
as Maresuke Nogi
Aoki Ookami Narukichiomoase no Shougai
1980 · TV Show
as ナレーション
Hunter in the Dark
1979 · Movie
as Gomyo Kiyoemon
Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron
1978 · Movie
as Kumokiri Nizaemon
Queen Bee
1978 · Movie
as Ginzo Daidoji
Blood Type: Blue
1978 · Movie
as Minami
The Phoenix
1978 · Movie
as Jingi the Conqueror, leader of the Takamagahara
Sugata Sanshiro
1977 · Movie
as Yano
Suna no Utsuwa
1977 · TV Show
as 今西栄太郎
The Corporation
1976 · Movie
as Tadashi Iki
Human Revolution II
1976 · Movie
Elegy
1976 · Movie
as Setsuo Katsuragi
I Am a Cat
1975 · Movie
as Kushami
Battle Cry
1975 · Movie
as Hijikata Toshizo
The Gate of Youth
1975 · Movie
Solar Eclipse
1975 · Movie
as Yasuo Hoshino, the Chief Cabinet Secretary
The Family
1974 · Movie
as Teppei Manpyo
Rise, Fair Sun
1973 · Movie
as Sakuzo
Belladonna of Sadness
1973 · Movie
as The Devil (voice)
The Human Revolution
1973 · Movie
The King
1973 · Movie
as Kinjiro Sekine
Shin Heike Monogatari
1972 · TV Show
as Taira no Kiyomori
The Wolves
1971 · Movie
as Seji Iwahashi
Inn of Evil
1971 · Movie
as Sadashichi
The Battle of Okinawa
1971 · Movie
as Colonel Hiromichi Yahara
Challenge at Dawn
1971 · Movie
as Tsukagoshi
Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival
1970 · Movie
as Ronin
The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan
1970 · Movie
as Naojiro Kataoka
Duel at Fort Ezo
1970 · Movie
as Daizennokami Honjo
Will to Conquer
1970 · Movie
The Ambitious
1970 · Movie
as Shintaro Nakaoka
Tenchu!
1969 · Movie
as Hanpeita Takechi
Goyokin
1969 · Movie
as Magobei Wakizaka
Portrait of Hell
1969 · Movie
as Yoshihide
Blood End
1969 · Movie
as Sentaro
Battle of the Japan Sea
1969 · Movie
as Major Genjiro Akashi
Safari 5000
1969 · Movie
Kill!
1968 · Movie
as Genta
Today We Kill, Tomorrow We Die!
1968 · Movie
as James Elfego
The Human Bullet
1968 · Movie
as Narrator (voice)
Admiral Yamamoto
1968 · Movie
as Narrator (voice)
Samurai Rebellion
1967 · Movie
as Tatewaki Asano
The Age of Assassins
1967 · Movie
as Shinji Kikyo
Kojiro
1967 · Movie
as Musashi Miyamoto
Journey
1967 · Movie
Japan's Longest Day
1967 · Movie
as Narrator (voice)
Gomez's Name is Gomez
1967 · Movie
as Sakamoto
No image
ゴメスの名はゴメス
1967 · TV Show
The Face of Another
1966 · Movie
as Mr. Okuyama
The Sword of Doom
1966 · Movie
as Ryunosuke Tsukue
Cash Calls Hell
1966 · Movie
as Oida
The Daphne
1966 · Movie
Kwaidan
1965 · Movie
as Minokichi (segment "The Woman of the Snow")
Illusion of Blood
1965 · Movie
as Iyemon Tamiya
Fort Graveyard
1965 · Movie
as Sakuma
Three Yakuza
1965 · Movie
The Last Judgment
1965 · Movie
Ant Hell War
1964 · Movie
Mr. Giant's Victory Flag
1964 · Movie
High and Low
1963 · Movie
as Chief Detective Tokura
A Woman's Life
1963 · Movie
Pressure of Guilt
1963 · Movie
Legacy of the 500,000
1963 · Movie
as Mitsura Gunji
Miren
1963 · Movie
as Ryôta Kinoshita
Madame Aki
1963 · Movie
as Tatsumi
Sanjuro
1962 · Movie
as Hanbei Muroto
Harakiri
1962 · Movie
as Hanshiro Tsugumo
The Inheritance
1962 · Movie
as Kikuo Furukawa
Love Under the Crucifix
1962 · Movie
as Ukon Takayama
Farm Girls
1962 · Movie
Yojimbo
1961 · Movie
as Unosuke, gunfighter
The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer
1961 · Movie
as Kaji
Immortal Love
1961 · Movie
as Heibei
The Other Woman
1961 · Movie
as Minami
As the Clouds Scatter
1961 · Movie
When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
1960 · Movie
as Kenichi Komatsu
Daughters, Wives and a Mother
1960 · Movie
as Kuroki Shingo
The Blue Beast
1960 · Movie
as Yasuhiko Kuroki
Get 'em All
1960 · Movie
as Tsubota
The Human Condition I: No Greater Love
1959 · Movie
as Kaji
The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity
1959 · Movie
as Kaji
Odd Obsession
1959 · Movie
as Kimura
The Beast Shall Die
1959 · Movie
as Kunihiko Date
Pilgrimage at Night
1959 · Movie
Three Dolls in Ginza
1959 · Movie
The Human Condition
1959 · TV Show
as Kaji
Oban kanketsu hen
1958 · Movie
as Shin Don
Conflagration
1958 · Movie
as Tokari
A Boy and Three Mothers
1958 · Movie
as The Engineer
The Naked Sun
1958 · Movie
All About Marriage
1958 · Movie
as Akira Nakayama
Diary of an Elegant Hot Spring
1958 · Movie
as Kazuo Shimada
Go and Get It
1958 · Movie
as His assistant
Kampai! Miai Kekkon
1958 · Movie
as Kunihiko Sasada
Zokuzoku Ôban: Dotô hen
1957 · Movie
as Shindon
Ôban
1957 · Movie
as Shin Don
Zoku Ôban: Fûun hen
1957 · Movie
as Shin don
Black River
1957 · Movie
as Jo
A Dangerous Hero
1957 · Movie
Untamed Woman
1957 · Movie
as Kimura
Teenage Sazae
1957 · Movie
The Shadow Daughter
1957 · Movie
Skin-Colored Moon
1957 · Movie
as Jirô Taki
Phoenix
1956 · Movie
Love on Rainbow Island
1956 · Movie
as Yûji Wada
Sazae-san
1956 · Movie
as Norisuke
The Mandarin Room
1956 · Movie
The Thick-Walled Room
1956 · Movie
as (Uncredited)
Floating Weeds Diary
1955 · Movie
Seven Samurai
1954 · Movie
as Samurai Wandering through Town (uncredited)
How the Bell of Liberty Rings
1954 · Movie
as (uncredited)
The Gion Tempest
· Movie
as Masaki
