Tatsuya Nakadai (仲代 達矢 , Nakadai Tatsuya , born Motohisa Nakadai December 13, 1932) is a Japanese film actor famous for the wide variety of characters he has portrayed and many collaborations with famous Japanese film directors.
He was featured in 11 films directed by Masaki Kobayashi , including The Human Condition trilogy, wherein he starred as the lead character Kaji, plus Harakiri , Samurai Rebellion and Kwaidan .
Nakadai worked with a number of Japan's best-known filmmakers—starring or co-starring in five films directed by Akira Kurosawa , as well as being cast in significant films directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara (The Face of Another ), Mikio Naruse (When a Woman Ascends the Stairs ), Kihachi Okamoto (Kill! and The Sword of Doom ), Hideo Gosha (Goyokin ), Shirō Toyoda (Portrait of Hell ) and Kon Ichikawa (Enjō and Odd Obsession ).
Nakadai grew up in a very poor family and was unable to afford a university education, prompting him to take up acting. He greatly admired American films and was a fan of actors such as John Wayne and Marlon Brando. Nakadai was working as a shop clerk in Tokyo before a chance encounter with director Masaki Kobayashi led to him being cast in the film The Thick Walled Room . The following year, he made a brief and uncredited cameo in Seven Samurai where he is seen for a few seconds as a samurai walking through town.Nakadai's role in Seven Samurai is technically his debut as The Thick-Walled Room' s release was delayed for three years due to controversial subject matter. His major breakthrough as an actor came when he was given the part of Jo, a young yakuza in Black River , another film directed by Kobayashi. Nakadai continued to work with Kobayashi into the 1960s and won his first Blue Ribbon Award for his role in Harakiri as the aging rōnin Hanshiro Tsugumo.
Nakadai appeared in two Kurosawa films from the 1980s. In Kagemusha Nakadai plays both the titular thief turned body-double and the famous daimyō Takeda Shingen whom the thief is tasked with impersonating. This dual role helped him win his second Blue Ribbon Award for Best Actor. In Ran Nakadai plays another daimyo, Hidetora Ichimonji, who is loosely based on King Lear from Shakespeare's play King Lear .
He taught and trained promising young actors including Kōji Yakusho, Mayumi Wakamura , Tōru Masuoka, Azusa Watanabe , Kenichi Takitō and others.
In 2015, he received the Order of Culture .
Chevalier De L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (1992)Medal with Purple Ribbon (1996)Order of the Rising Sun, 4th Class, Gold Rays with Rosette (2003)Person of Cultural Merit (2007)Asahi Prize (2013)Kawakita Award (2013) Toshiro Mifune Award (2015) Order of Culture (2015)Actor
2020
The Pass: Last Days of the Samurai as
Makino Tadayuki
2019
A Town and a Tall Chimney as
SEKINE Hyoma
2018
Henkan Koshonin Itsuka, Okinawa o Torimodosu as
Narrator (voice)
2017
Henkan Koshonin Itsuka, Okinawa o Torimodosu (TV Movie) as
Narrator (voice)
2016
Cold Case: Shinjitsu No Tobira (TV Mini Series) as
Kiyoshi Suzaki (Older)
- Koibumi (2016) - Kiyoshi Suzaki (Older)
2016
Kyoaku wa nemurasenai: Tokusô Kenji no gyakushû (TV Movie)
2015
Burst (TV Mini Series) - Episode #1.7 (2015)
- Episode #1.6 (2015)
- Episode #1.5 (2015)
- Episode #1.4 (2015)
- Episode #1.3 (2015)
- Episode #1.2 (2015)
- Episode #1.1 (2015)
2015
Hatashiai (TV Movie) as
Shoji Sanosuke
2015
Nôrin Ten: A Gonjirô Inazuka Story
2014
A Sinner's Lie (TV Mini Series) - Episode #1.5 (2014)
- Episode #1.4 (2014)
- Episode #1.3 (2014)
- Episode #1.2 (2014)
- Episode #1.1 (2014)
2014
Gun Woman as
Mr. Hamazaki (credit only)
2014
Giovanni's Island as
Junpei Senou (older) (voice)
2013
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya as
Sumiyaki no rôjin (voice)
2013
The Human Trust as
Nobuhiro Sasakura
2013
Yakusoku: Nabari dokubudôshu jiken shikeishû no shôgai as
Masaru okunishi
2012
Until the Break of Dawn as
Sadayuki Akiyama
2012
Gaku (TV Movie) as
Kazama Shin-ichi
2010
Zatoichi: The Last as
Tendo
2010
Haru tono tabi as
Tadao Nakai
2009
Hikidashi no naka no rabu retâ as
Kyozo Hayami
2008
VeggieTales FitnessHof (TV Series) as
Old Man with Sign
- Junior's großes Abenteuer (2008) - Old Man with Sign
2007
The Trusted Confidant (TV Series) as
Takeda Nobutora
- Nobutora tsuihô / Nobutora's Banishment (2007) - Takeda Nobutora
- Harunobu muhon / Harunobu Commits Treason (2007) - Takeda Nobutora
- Kansuke utareru / Kansuke's "death" (2007) - Takeda Nobutora
- Kishû! Umi no kuchi / Surprise Attack! Unnokuchi (2007) - Takeda Nobutora
- Harunobu Uijin / Harunobu's First Battle (2007) - Takeda Nobutora
- Shikan he no michi / The Road to Employment (2007) - Takeda Nobutora
- Suruga dairan / Suruga Rebellion (2007) - Takeda Nobutora
- Fukushû no oni / Demon of Vengeance (2007) - Takeda Nobutora
- Mari shiten no tsuma / Marici's Wife (2007) - Takeda Nobutora
- Saraba kokyô / Farewell, Birthplace (2007) - Takeda Nobutora
- Sekigan no otoko / The One-Eyed Man (2007) - Takeda Nobutora
2006
Inugami-ke no ichizoku as
Sahei Inugami
2006
Shin ningen kousaten (TV Series) as
Yuji
- Tsubasa aru fune ha (2006) - Yuji
- Aka hige no saigetsu (2006) - Yuji
- Intai kisha no fairu (2006) - Yuji
2005
Otoko-tachi no Yamato as
Katsumi Kamio (75 years old)
2005
Hoshi ni negaio: 7jô ma de umareta 410man no hoshi (TV Movie) as
Takanori Wakamiya
2004
Sekai no chûshin de, ai wo sakebu (TV Series) as
Matsumoto Kentaro
2003
Ashura no gotoku as
Kotaro Takezawa
2002
Dawn of a New Day: The Man Behind VHS as
Matsushita (Matsushita Denki Co.)
2002
To Dance with the White Dog as
Eisuke Nakamoto
2001
Sukedachi-ya Sukeroku as
Umetaro Katakura
2001
Aki no ryojô sasupensu 3: Shokutaku keiji Koyamada Shô'hei tabiji no hate (TV Movie)
1999
Kin'yû fushoku rettô: Jubaku as
Hideaki Sasaki
1999
After the Rain as
Tsuji Gettan
1996
Hideyoshi (TV Series) as
Sen no Rikyu (Tea Ceremony master)
1996
Miyazawa Kenji sono ai as
Seijirou Miyazawa
1995
Daichi no Ko (TV Series) as
Koji Matsumoto
1995
East Meets West as
Rentaro Katsu
1993
Go Tsubu no Shinju (TV Movie) as
Partner
1993
Kozure Ôkami: Sono chîsaki te ni as
Yagyu Retsudo
1992
Wicked City as
Yuen Tai-Chung
1992
Toki rakujitsu as
Kobayashi
1991
Heat Wave as
Tsunejiro Murai
1990
Jusan-nin no Shikaku (TV Movie)
1990
Bujinesuman no chichi yori musuko e no 30-tsuu no tegami (TV Series)
1989
Four Days of Snow and Blood as
Sugiyama
1989
Return from the River Kwai as
Major Harada
1988
Another Way: D-Kikan-Joho as
Shimamura
1988
Oracion as
Heihachiro Wagu
1987
Taikoki (TV Movie)(Narrator)
1986
Atami satsujin jiken as
Denbei Nikaido
1985
Family Without a Dinner Table as
Nabayuki Kidoji
1985
Ran as
Lord Hidetora Ichimonji
1984
Kita no hotaru as
Takeshi Tsukigata
1983
Uchû senkan Yamato: Kanketsuhen as
Narrator (voice)
1982
Jigoku no Okite (TV Movie) as
Ikuzô
1982
Tange Sazen Kenfû! Hyakuman ryô no tsubo (TV Movie) as
Tange Sazen
1982
Onimasa as
Masagoro Kiryûin - Onimasa
1981
Willful Murder as
Yashiro
1981
Kinagashi bugyo (TV Movie)
1980
Aokiôkami narukichiomoase no shôgai (TV Movie)
1980
The Battle of Port Arthur as
General Nogi
1980
Kagemusha as
Shingen Takeda / Kagemusha
1979
Hunter in the Dark as
Gomyo Kiyoemon
1978
Blue Christmas as
Kazuya Minami
1978
Hi no tori as
Jingi the Conqueror, leader of the Takamagahara
1978
Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron as
Kumokiri Nizaemon
1978
Queen Bee as
Ginzo Daidoji
1976
Banka as
Setsuo Katsuragi
1975
Kinkanshoku as
Hoshino, the Chief Cabinet Secretary
1975
The Gate of Youth as
Yuki, Shinsuke's father
1974
Yajû shisubeshi: fukushû no mekanikku
1974
The Family as
Teppei Manpyo
1973
Belladonna of Sadness as
Devil (voice)
1972
Shin heike monogatari (TV Series)
1971
Shussho iwai as
Seji Iwahashi
1971
Inn of Evil as
Sadashichi
1971
Battle of Okinawa as
Colonel Hiromichi Yahara
1970
Will to Conquer as
Toyo Yoshida
1970
Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival as
Ronin (as Tatsuya Nakayo)
1970
The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan as
Naojiro Kataoka
1970
Bakumatsu as
Shintaro Nakaoka
1970
Ezo yakata no ketto as
Daizennokami Honjo
1969
Hitokiri as
Hanpeita Takechi
1969
Battle of the Japan Sea as
Major Genjiro Akashi
1969
Goyokin as
Magobei Wakizaka
1968
The Human Bullet as
A narrator
1968
Admiral Yamamoto as
Narrator (voice)
1968
Today We Kill, Tomorrow We Die! as
James Elfego
1967
Samurai Rebellion as
Tatewaki Asano
1967
Sasaki Kojiro as
Musashi Miyamoto
1967
The Age of Assassins as
Shinji Kikyo
1966
The Daphne as
Professor Kanahira
1966
Shurushuru (TV Movie)
1966
The Face of Another as
Mr. Okuyama
1966
The Sword of Doom as
Ryunosuke Tsukue
1965
Toda-ke no kyôdai (TV Mini Series)
1965
Illusion of Blood as
Iyemon Tamiya
1965
Three Yakuza as
Hatsukari-no-Sentaro
1964
Kwaidan as
Mi nokichi (segment "Yuki-Onna")
1963
A Woman's Life as
Akimoto
1963
High and Low as
Chief Detective Tokura
1962
Harakiri as
Hanshiro Tsugumo
1962
Love Under the Crucifix as
Ukon Takayama
1962
The Inheritance as
Kikuo Furukawa
1961
Kumo ga chigireru toki
1961
Yojimbo as
Unosuke - Gunfighter
1961
The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer as
Kaji
1960
The Blue Beast as
Yasuhiko Kuroki
1960
Musume tsuma haha as
Shingo Kuroki, Reiji's friend
1960
When a Woman Ascends the Stairs as
Kenichi Komatsu, the manager
1959
The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity as
Kaji
1959
Odd Obsession as
Dr. Kimura / Toshiko's boyfriend
1959
Yajû shisubeshi as
Kunihiko Date
1959
The Human Condition I: No Greater Love as
Kaji
1958
Buttsuke homban as
his Assistant
1958
A Boy and Three Mothers as
The Engineer
1958
Kampai! Miai kekkon as
Kunihiko Sasada
1957
Sazae-san no seishun as
Norisuke
1957
Zokuzoku Ôban: Dotô hen as
Shindon
1957
Hadairo no tsuki as
Jirô Taki
1957
Zoku Ôban: Fûun hen as
Shin don
1957
Untamed Woman as
Shinkichi, the young tailor
1956
The Thick-Walled Room
1956
Hadashi no seishun as
Yûji Wada
1956
Hi no tori as
Keiichi Naganuma
1954
Seven Samurai as
Samurai Wandering Through Town (uncredited)
Soundtrack
1973
Rise, Fair Sun ("O sole mio")
1961
Immortal Love ("Bakudan sanyûshi no uta (aka: Song of the three heroes)", "Teki wa ikuman (aka: Countless enemy soldiers)")
Self
2019
Sleeping Village (Documentary)(voice)
2011
Tetsuko no heya (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 12 October 2018 (2018) - Self
- Episode dated 8 June 2017 (2017) - Self
- Episode dated 18 May 2015 (2015) - Self
- Tetsuya Nakadai & Keigo Nakadai (2011) - Self
2016
The 39th Annual Japan Academy Awards (TV Special) as
Self
2015
Futari no shikeishû - saishin imada hirakarezu (Documentary) as
Narration (voice)
2013
Isao Takahata and His Tale of Princess Kaguya (Documentary) as
Self
2013
Kakukoto no omosa: Sakka Satou Yasushi (Documentary) as
Narration (voice)
2013
Sutajio pâku kara konnichiwa (TV Series) as
Self - Guest
- Tatsuya Nakadai (2013) - Self - Guest
2010
Nakadai Tatsuya no Nihon eiga isan (TV Series) as
Self
- Kisai Tensai Inou no kantokutachi no genba (2011) - Self
- Episode #1.5 (2011) - Self
- Meishou Kisai Meijoyuutachi tono genba (2010) - Self
- Kyoshoutachi to no deai (2010) - Self
2011
The Making of 'Haru to no tabi' (Video documentary short) as
Self
2010
Bokura no jidai (TV Series) as
Self
- Tatsuya Nakadai, Mayumi Ozora & Yukiyo Toake (2010) - Self
2010
Chûbô desuyo! (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 23 January 2010 (2010) - Self
2003
Tsukuru to iu koto wa subarashii! Kurosawa Akira: Korega Kuroswa sasupensu da (Video documentary short) as
Self - Interviewee
2002
Kurosawa Akira: Tsukuru to iu koto wa subarashii (TV Series documentary) as
Self / Unosuke - Gunfighter
- Sanjuro (2002) - Self
- High and Low (2002) - Self
- Yojimbo (2002) - Self / Unosuke - Gunfighter
2000
Great Performances (TV Series) as
Self
- Kurosawa (2000) - Self
1999
Kurosawa: The Last Emperor (TV Movie documentary) as
Self
1985
A.K. (Documentary) as
Self
1983
Michinaru hanran (TV Movie documentary) as
Macbeth
1967
Japan's Longest Day as
Self - Narrator (voice)
1963
Reflets de Cannes (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- Episode dated 16 May 1963 (1963) - Self
Archive Footage
2022
Hollywood Insider (TV Series) as
Self
- Kurosawa and Shakespeare: Three Remarkable Adaptations from the Legendary Japanese Filmmaker (2022) - Self
2015
Today's Close Up (TV Series) as
Self
- Kihachi Okamoto (2015) - Self