Tatsuya Nakadai
Known for: Acting
Born: December 13, 1932
Died: November 8, 2025
Place of birth: 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.
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Filmography
192 movies · 12 TV shows, newest first
NR
The Limit
2025
8.0
Life Work of Akira Kurosawa
2022
7.4
The Pass: Last Days of the Samurai
2022
7.3
The Return
2019
8.0
A Town and a Tall Chimney
2019
6.7
Sleeping Village
2019
NR
Henkan kōshōjin: Itsuka, Okinawa o torimodosu
2018
6.4
Lear on the Shore
2017
7.0
Great evil does not go to sleep: The counterattack of the special investigation unit prosecutor
2016
8.0
A Duel Tale
2015
NR
NORIN TEN inadzukagonjirō monogatari
2015
NR
Futari no shikeishû - saishin imada hirakarezu
2015
NR
Before The Leaves Fall
2015
NR
Nakadai Tatsuya: to Live for Acting
2015
6.7
Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya
2014
8.4
A Sinner's Lie
2014
5.0
Gun Woman
2014
7.5
Giovanni's Island
2014
8.1
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
2013
4.0
The Human Trust
2013
NR
Promise: The Nabari Poisoned Wine Case, The Life of a Death-row Inmate
2013
6.6
Until the Break of Dawn
2012
6.5
Japan's Tragedy
2012
NR
Gaku
2012
5.4
Zatoichi: The Last
2010
6.6
Haru's Journey
2010
NR
Listen to My Heart
2009
NR
Tatsuya Nakadai on 'The Human Condition'
2009
6.3
Through the Mist
2009
7.6
Samurai Banners
2007
6.9
Murder of the Inugami Clan
2006
5.4
Yamato
2005
NR
Wish Upon a Star
2005
NR
The Taika Reforms
2005
8.4
Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World
2004
6.6
Like Asura
2003
7.0
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Kagemusha'
2002
NR
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'High and Low'
2002
NR
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Yojimbo'
2002
NR
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Sanjuro'
2002
NR
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Ran'
2002
8.0
Dawn of a New Day: The Man Behind VHS
2002
9.0
To Dance with the White Dog
2002
6.8
Vengeance for Sale
2002NR
嘱託刑事･小山田昭平 旅路の果て
2001
7.0
Kurosawa
2000
7.3
After the Rain
2000
6.2
Jubaku: Spellbound
1999
6.2
Kurosawa: The Last Emperor
1999
8.0
The Life and Love of Kenji Miyazawa
1996
10.0
A Son of the Good Earth
1995
5.7
East Meets West
1995
9.0
Summer of the Moonlight Sonata
1993
NR
Kin chan no Cinema Jack
1993
7.5
Lone Wolf and Cub: The Final Conflict
1993
5.8
Wicked City
1992
10.0
Faraway Sunset
1992
NR
Pinwheel Hamakichi's Spell
1992
7.0
Basara: The Princess Goh
1992
NR
Pinwheel Hamakichi's Spell
1992
5.9
Heat Wave
1991
NR
Florence My Love
1991
NR
Battleship Yamato
1990
7.0
13 Assassins
1990
NR
Let Him Rest in Peace
1989
7.3
Four Days of Snow and Blood
1989
5.0
Return from the River Kwai
1989
1.0
Another Way: D-Kikan-Joho
1988
6.7
Oración
1988
NR
Trinacria: Porsche 959
1987
7.8
Hachiko
1987
8.0
Taikoki
1987
1.0
Michi
1986
10.0
Atami Murder Case
1986
6.9
The Empty Table
1985
8.0
Ran
1985
6.3
A. K.
1985
NR
Making of Ran
1985
5.6
Fireflies in the North
1984
NR
The Fox Dancing in the Dusk
1984
NR
The Fir Trees Remain
1983
NR
Momi no Ki wa Nokotta: Ranshin
1983
8.0
Shadow Hunters
1983
7.7
Battle Anthem
1983
6.8
Final Yamato
1983
7.0
The Legend of Sayo
1982
9.0
Tange Sazen: The Million Ryo Pot
1982
NR
The Law of Hell
1982
6.2
Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather
1982
8.0
Willful Murder
1981
6.0
Magistrate of the Floating World
1981
NR
Kinagashi Bugyō
1981
NR
Aoki Ookami Narukichiomoase no Shougai
1980
7.4
Port Arthur
1980
7.8
Kagemusha
1980
6.3
Hunter in the Dark
1979
6.1
Blood Type: Blue
1978
6.1
The Phoenix
1978
6.1
Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron
1978
7.6
Queen Bee
1978
10.0
Sugata Sanshiro
1977
NR
Suna no Utsuwa
1977
3.7
The Corporation
1976
8.0
Human Revolution II
1976
10.0
Elegy
1976
6.9
Solar Eclipse
1975
4.0
I Am a Cat
1975
5.9
Battle Cry
1975
8.3
The Gate of Youth
1975
9.0
The Family
1974
10.0
Rise, Fair Sun
1973
7.0
The Human Revolution
1973
7.3
Belladonna of Sadness
1973
NR
The King
1973
7.3
Shin Heike Monogatari
1972
7.4
The Wolves
1971
6.3
Inn of Evil
1971
7.8
The Battle of Okinawa
1971
NR
Challenge at Dawn
1971
NR
Will to Conquer
1970
6.8
Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival
1970
7.1
The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan
1970
7.3
The Ambitious
1970
5.8
Duel at Fort Ezo
1970
6.3
Blood End
1969
7.9
Portrait of Hell
1969
7.0
Tenchu!
1969
6.4
Battle of the Japan Sea
1969
7.2
Safari 5000
1969
7.5
Goyokin
1969
6.0
The Human Bullet
1968
8.5
Admiral Yamamoto
1968
7.0
Kill!
1968
6.0
Today We Kill, Tomorrow We Die!
1968
7.0
The Journey
1967
7.3
Japan's Longest Day
1967
8.3
Samurai Rebellion
1967
NR
Gomez's Name is Gomez
1967NR
ゴメスの名はゴメス
1967
8.0
Kojiro
1967
7.6
The Age of Assassins
1967
10.0
The Daphne
1966
7.8
The Face of Another
1966
7.8
The Sword of Doom
1966
7.5
Cash Calls Hell
1966
6.1
Fort Graveyard
1965
6.4
Illusion of Blood
1965
7.8
Three Yakuza
1965
8.3
The Last Judgment
1965
7.7
Kwaidan
1965
9.0
Ant Hell War
1964
8.0
Mr. Giant's Victory Flag
1964
7.1
A Woman's Life
1963
NR
Miren
1963
6.9
Legacy of the 500,000
1963
8.4
High and Low
1963
7.5
Pressure of Guilt
1963
7.0
Madame Aki
1963
10.0
Farm Girls
1962
8.5
Harakiri
1962
7.1
Love Under the Crucifix
1962
7.3
The Inheritance
1962
7.9
Sanjuro
1962
7.4
Immortal Love
1961
6.0
As the Clouds Scatter
1961
6.3
The Other Woman
1961
8.1
Yojimbo
1961
8.4
The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer
1961
7.0
Get 'em All
1960
8.0
The Blue Beast
1960
7.3
Daughters, Wives and a Mother
1960
8.0
When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
1960
8.2
The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity
1959
NR
Pilgrimage at Night
1959
NR
Three Dolls in Ginza
1959
6.3
Odd Obsession
1959
6.2
The Beast Shall Die
1959
8.1
The Human Condition I: No Greater Love
1959
7.0
The Naked Sun
1958
7.1
Conflagration
1958
NR
Diary of an Elegant Hot Spring
1958
NR
Oban kanketsu hen
1958
8.0
Go and Get It
1958
10.0
All About Marriage
1958
NR
The Gion Tempest
1958
7.0
A Boy and Three Mothers
1958
NR
Kampai! Miai Kekkon
1958
10.0
Teenage Sazae
1957
8.0
Zokuzoku Ôban: Dotô hen
1957
7.0
Black River
1957
NR
Skin-Colored Moon
1957
9.0
A Dangerous Hero
1957
9.0
Zoku Ôban: Fûun hen
1957
8.0
The Shadow Daughter
1957
7.5
Untamed Woman
1957
9.0
Ôban
1957
8.0
The Mandarin Room
1956
7.5
Sazae-san
1956
7.2
The Thick-Walled Room
1956
8.0
Love on Rainbow Island
1956
6.5
Phoenix
1956
4.3
Floating Weeds Diary
1955
NR
How the Bell of Liberty Rings
1954
8.5
Seven Samurai
1954