Tatsuya Nakadai
Acteur·rice
13 décembre 1932
Meguro, Tokyo, Japan
Died 8 novembre 2025
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. Discovered on the streets of Tokyo by director Masaki Kobayashi, Nakadai rose to prominence starring in 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.
Known for
As an actor
The Gion Tempest
Masaki
The Limit
2025 · Narrator
Life Work of Akira Kurosawa
2022 · Self
The Pass: Last Days of the Samurai
2022 · Makino Tadayuki
The Return
2019
A Town and a Tall Chimney
2019
Sleeping Village
2019 · (narration)
Henkan kōshōjin: Itsuka, Okinawa o torimodosu
2018 · Narrator
Lear on the Shore
2017 · Kuwahata Chokichi
Great evil does not go to sleep: The counterattack of the special investigation unit prosecutor
2016 · Yohei Tachibana
ふたりの死刑囚
2015 · Narrator
A Duel Tale
2015
Before The Leaves Fall
2015 · Kenichiro Miya
NORINTEN 稲塚権次郎物語
2015
Nakadai Tatsuya: to Live for Acting
2015
Giovanni's Island
2014 · Older Junpei Senou (voice)
Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya
2014 · Self
Gun Woman
2014 · Hamazaki
A Sinner's Lie
2014 · Kenzo Haneda
The Human Trust
2013 · Nobuhiro Sasakura
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
2013 · Charcoal-maker Old Man (voice)
Promise: The Nabari Poisoned Wine Case, The Life of a Death-row Inmate
2013
Japan's Tragedy
2012 · Fujio Murai
Until the Break of Dawn
2012 · Sadayuki Akiyama
Gaku
2012 · Kazama Shin-ichi
Haru's Journey
2010 · Tadao Nakai
Zatoichi: The Last
2010 · Tendo
Listen to My Heart
2009 · Kyozo Hayami
Through the Mist
2009 · (archive footage)
Tatsuya Nakadai on 'The Human Condition'
2009 · Self
Samurai Banners
2007
Murder of the Inugami Clan
2006 · Sahei Inugami
Wish Upon a Star
2005 · Takanori Wakamiya
Yamato
2005
The Taika Reforms
2005 · Minabuchi no Syôan
Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World
2004 · Matsumoto Kentaro
Like Asura
2003 · Kotaro Takezawa
Vengeance for Sale
2002 · Umetaro Katakura
Dawn of a New Day: The Man Behind VHS
2002 · Matsushita (Matsushita Denki Co.)
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Kagemusha'
2002 · Self
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'High and Low'
2002 · Self
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Yojimbo'
2002 · Self
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Sanjuro'
2002 · Self
To Dance with the White Dog
2002 · Eisuke Nakamoto
嘱託刑事･小山田昭平 旅路の果て
2001
Kurosawa
2000 · Self
After the Rain
2000 · Tsuji Gettan
Kurosawa: The Last Emperor
1999 · Self
Jubaku: Spellbound
1999 · Hideaki Sasaki
The Life and Love of Kenji Miyazawa
1996 · Seijiro Miyazawa
East Meets West
1995 · Kaishu Katsu
A Son of the Good Earth
1995
Kin chan no Cinema Jack
1993
Lone Wolf and Cub: The Final Conflict
1993 · Yagyu Retsudo
Summer of the Moonlight Sonata
1993
Wicked City
1992 · Daishu
Basara: The Princess Goh
1992 · Oribe Furuta
Pinwheel Hamakichi's Spell
1992
Faraway Sunset
1992 · Kobayashi
Pinwheel Hamakichi's Spell
1992
Heat Wave
1991 · Tsunejiro Murai
Florence My Love
1991
13 Assassins
1990
Return from the River Kwai
1989 · Major Harada
Four Days of Snow and Blood
1989 · Sugiyama
Let Him Rest in Peace
1989
Another Way: D-Kikan-Joho
1988
Oración
1988 · Heihachiro Wagu
Hachiko
1987 · Shujiro Ueno
Taikoki
1987 · (Narrator)
Trinacria: Porsche 959
1987
Atami Murder Case
1986 · Denbei Nikaido
Michi
1986 · Seiji Tajima
Ran
1985 · Lord Hidetora Ichimonji
The Empty Table
1985 · Nobuyuki Kidoji
Making of Ran
1985 · Self
A. K.
1985 · Self
Fireflies in the North
1984 · Takeshi Tsukigata
The Fox Dancing in the Dusk
1984
Final Yamato
1983 · Narrator
Battle Anthem
1983
The Fir Trees Remain
1983
Shadow Hunters
1983
Momi no Ki wa Nokotta: Ranshin
1983
Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather
1982 · Masagoro Kiryuin - Onimasa
The Law of Hell
1982
Tange Sazen: The Million Ryo Pot
1982 · Sazen Tange
The Legend of Sayo
1982
Magistrate of the Floating World
1981
Willful Murder
1981 · Yashiro
Kinagashi Bugyō
1981
Kagemusha
1980 · Shingen Takeda / Kagemusha
Port Arthur
1980 · Maresuke Nogi
Aoki Ookami Narukichiomoase no Shougai
1980 · ナレーション
Hunter in the Dark
1979 · Gomyo Kiyoemon
Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron
1978 · Kumokiri Nizaemon
Queen Bee
1978 · Ginzo Daidoji
Blood Type: Blue
1978 · Minami
The Phoenix
1978 · Jingi the Conqueror, leader of the Takamagahara
Sugata Sanshiro
1977 · Yano
Suna no Utsuwa
1977 · 今西栄太郎
The Corporation
1976
Human Revolution II
1976
Elegy
1976 · Setsuo Katsuragi
I Am a Cat
1975 · Kushami
Battle Cry
1975 · Hijikata Toshizo
The Gate of Youth
1975
Solar Eclipse
1975 · Yasuo Hoshino, the Chief Cabinet Secretary
The Family
1974 · Teppei Manpyo
Rise, Fair Sun
1973 · Sakuzo
Belladonna of Sadness
1973 · The Devil (voice)
The Human Revolution
1973
The King
1973 · Kinjiro Sekine
Shin Heike Monogatari
1972 · Taira no Kiyomori
The Wolves
1971 · Seji Iwahashi
Inn of Evil
1971 · Sadashichi
The Battle of Okinawa
1971 · Colonel Hiromichi Yahara
Challenge at Dawn
1971 · Tsukagoshi
Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival
1970 · Ronin
The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan
1970 · Naojiro Kataoka
Duel at Fort Ezo
1970 · Daizennokami Honjo
Will to Conquer
1970
The Ambitious
1970 · Shintaro Nakaoka
Tenchu!
1969 · Hanpeita Takechi
Goyokin
1969 · Magobei Wakizaka
Portrait of Hell
1969 · Yoshihide
Blood End
1969 · Sentaro
Battle of the Japan Sea
1969 · Major Genjiro Akashi
Safari 5000
1969
Kill!
1968 · Genta
Today We Kill, Tomorrow We Die!
1968 · James Elfego
The Human Bullet
1968 · Narrator
Admiral Yamamoto
1968 · Narrator (voice)
Samurai Rebellion
1967 · Tatewaki Asano
The Age of Assassins
1967 · Shinji Kikyo
Kojiro
1967 · Musashi Miyamoto
Journey
1967
Japan's Longest Day
1967 · Narrator (voice)
Gomez's Name is Gomez
1967 · Sakamoto
ゴメスの名はゴメス
1967
The Face of Another
1966 · Mr. Okuyama
The Sword of Doom
1966 · Ryunosuke Tsukue
Cash Calls Hell
1966 · Oida
The Daphne
1966
Kwaidan
1965 · Minokichi (segment "The Woman of the Snow")
Illusion of Blood
1965 · Iyemon Tamiya
Fort Graveyard
1965 · Sakuma
Three Yakuza
1965
The Last Judgment
1965
Ant Hell War
1964
Mr. Giant's Victory Flag
1964
High and Low
1963 · Chief Detective Tokura
A Woman's Life
1963
Pressure of Guilt
1963
Legacy of the 500,000
1963 · Mitsura Gunji
Miren
1963 · Ryôta Kinoshita
Madame Aki
1963 · Tatsumi
Sanjuro
1962 · Hanbei Muroto
Harakiri
1962 · Hanshiro Tsugumo
The Inheritance
1962 · Kikuo Furukawa
Love Under the Crucifix
1962 · Ukon Takayama
Farm Girls
1962
Yojimbo
1961 · Unosuke, gunfighter
The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer
1961 · Kaji
Immortal Love
1961 · Heibei
The Other Woman
1961 · Minami
As the Clouds Scatter
1961
When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
1960 · Kenichi Komatsu
Daughters, Wives and a Mother
1960 · Kuroki Shingo
The Blue Beast
1960 · Yasuhiko Kuroki
Get 'em All
1960 · Tsubota
The Human Condition I: No Greater Love
1959 · Kaji
The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity
1959 · Kaji
Odd Obsession
1959 · Kimura
The Beast Shall Die
1959 · Kunihiko Date
Pilgrimage at Night
1959
Three Dolls in Ginza
1959
The Human Condition
1959 · Kaji
Oban kanketsu hen
1958 · Shin Don
Conflagration
1958 · Tokari
A Boy and Three Mothers
1958 · The Engineer
The Naked Sun
1958
All About Marriage
1958 · Akira Nakayama
Diary of an Elegant Hot Spring
1958 · Kazuo Shimada
Go and Get It
1958 · His assistant
Kampai! Miai Kekkon
1958 · Kunihiko Sasada
Zokuzoku Ôban: Dotô hen
1957 · Shindon
Ôban
1957 · Shin Don
Zoku Ôban: Fûun hen
1957 · Shin don
Black River
1957 · Jo
A Dangerous Hero
1957
Untamed Woman
1957 · Kimura
Teenage Sazae
1957
The Shadow Daughter
1957
Skin-Colored Moon
1957 · Jirô Taki
Phoenix
1956
Love on Rainbow Island
1956 · Yûji Wada
Sazae-san
1956 · Norisuke
The Mandarin Room
1956
The Thick-Walled Room
1956 · (Uncredited)
Floating Weeds Diary
1955
Seven Samurai
1954 · Samurai Wandering through Town (uncredited)
How the Bell of Liberty Rings
1954 · (uncredited)