Takeshi Kitano
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).
25 directing credits · 114 acting credits
Directing · 25
Zatoichi
2003
Fireworks
1997
Brother
2000
Kikujiro
1999
Outrage
2010
Sonatine
1993
Kids Return
1996
To Each His Own Cinema
2007
Dolls
2002
Outrage Coda
2017
Beyond Outrage
2012
Violent Cop
1989
A Scene at the Sea
1991
Kubi
2023
Getting Any?
1995
Achilles and the Tortoise
2008
Boiling Point
1990
Glory to the Filmmaker!
2007
Takeshis'
2005
Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen
2015
Broken Rage
2024
Morning
2014
Takeshi's Castle Vol. 1
2009
One Fine Day
—
Hana-bi (1997) – Behind-the-scenes Footage
1997
Acting · 114
Golden Horse Awards
1962
Zatoichi
2003
Idaten: Tokyo Olympics Story
2019
Ghost in the Shell
2017
Takeshi's Castle
2002
Battle Royale
2000
Musashi
2003
MXC
2003
Fireworks
1997
Brother
2000
Kikujiro
1999
Outrage
2010
Johnny Mnemonic
1995
Takeshi's Castle
1986
Sonatine
1993
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
1983
Today's Close-Up
1993
To Each His Own Cinema
2007
The Story of One Century
2000
Outrage Coda
2017
Beyond Outrage
2012
Violent Cop
1989
Taboo
1999
Izo
2004
Battle Royale II: Requiem
2003
Blood and Bones
2004
Kubi
2023
The Mosquito on the Tenth Floor
1983
Getting Any?
1995
Takeshi's Castle Japan
2023
Erotic Liaisons
1992
Tokyo Melody: A Film About Ryuichi Sakamoto
1985
Gonin
1995
Doctor X: Gekai Daimon Michiko Special
2016
Achilles and the Tortoise
2008
The Boss' Wife
1988
Trespassing Bergman
2013
Boiling Point
1990
Glory to the Filmmaker!
2007
Kodai bunmei Misuterī Takeshi no shin sekai nana fushigi dai hyakka
—
Go, Go Second Time Virgin
1969
Aka Medaka
2015
Dearest
2012
オモクリ監督～O－Creator's TV Show～
2014
Takeshis'
2005
A Living Promise
2016
Beat Takeshi Presents TV Tackle
1989
A Legend of Turmoil
1992
Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen
2015
No More Comics!
1986
While the Women Are Sleeping
2016
Miwa: A Japanese Icon
2013
Makoto-chan
1980
Ghost in the Shell: Hard-Wired Humanity - Making Ghost in the Shell
2017
Plankton Salesmen
2017
Demon
1985
Tokyo Eyes
1998
Manon
1981
Prison Break
2017
Broken Rage
2024
The Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit
2008
Seicho Matsumoto's Black Gospel
2014
Many Happy Returns
1993
Why Are We Creative?
2018
北野ファンクラブ
1992
Jam Session (The Official Bootleg of Kikujiro)
1999
Mozu The Movie
2015
Dioxin from Fish!
1992
Kikoku
2010
KILL THEM ALL
1990
A Special Day
2012
Summer Secrets
1982
Kichiku
2002
What the War Meant
2008
Kogoro Akechi vs Kaijin Nijyuu Menso
2002
Kiseki taiken! Unbelievable
2018
Hoshi wo tsugu mono
1990
AUM: The Cult at the End of the World
2025
日曜ゴールデンで何やってんだテレビ
2012
Shooting Film is Battleground: Making of BATTLE ROYALE
2001
Making of 'Battle Royale'
2000
Citizen Kitano
2020
The 300 million yen robbery
2000
加ト・けん・たけしの世紀末スペシャル!!
1998
Scenes by the Sea: Takeshi Kitano
2000
Electric Yakuza, Go to Hell!
2004
たけしのこれがホントのニッポン芸能史
2015
たけしのその時カメラは回っていた
2020
Morning
2014
The Unpredictable Takeshi Kitano
1999
Takeshi's Castle Vol. 1
2009
Kim's War
1991
Joke with a Sorrowful Heart
1985
The Crimes of Kiyoshi Ōkubo
1983
Dots and Lines
2007
In Between Mountains and Oceans
2014
The 8th Floor
2014
Arakimentari
2004
The Golden Cups: One More Time
2004
Zankyo
1999
Kitano fan kurabu
1992
Making-of Kids Return
1996
In Your Blood: Hoki Naiden
—
Jesus' Ark
1985
The Yagyu Code: Secret Scrolls
1990
Completely... With That Air!
1981
The Final Battleground — Making of Battle Royale II
2003
Shoko Asahara with Takeshi
1991
雨の降る駅
1986
The Dump Truck Rascal
1981
Kiseki Taiken! Anbiribabō: 1999 Nostradamus Senritsu no Daiyogen Mysterious Unbelievable
1999
Yayoi Kusama: I Love Me
2008
Kiseki Taiken! Anbiribabō: Kyōfu Eizō Kaiki Shashin Korekushon
1999
Hana-bi (1997) – Behind-the-scenes Footage
1997