
Tatsuya Nakadai
Born December 13, 1932 · 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.
Notable Appearances
Movies
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Today We Kill, Tomorrow We Die!

The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity

Belladonna of Sadness

Giovanni's Island

Hachiko

Yamato

Wicked City

After the Rain

The Sword of Doom

Return from the River Kwai

Gun Woman

Final Yamato

Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya

The Battle of Okinawa

Kurosawa

Four Days of Snow and Blood

Japan's Longest Day

Three Yakuza

The Phoenix

Port Arthur

Fireflies in the North

East Meets West

Goyokin

Battle of the Japan Sea

When a Woman Ascends the Stairs

Kurosawa: The Last Emperor

Tenchu!

Through the Mist

Odd Obsession

Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather

The Human Bullet

Untamed Woman

Jubaku: Spellbound

The Empty Table

Admiral Yamamoto

Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron

Heat Wave

Conflagration

Inn of Evil

13 Assassins

Like Asura

Cash Calls Hell

Love Under the Crucifix

Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'High and Low'

Haru's Journey

The Family

Murder of the Inugami Clan

Blood Type: Blue

The Pass: Last Days of the Samurai

Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival

Fort Graveyard

Battle Cry

The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan

Battle Anthem

Battleship Yamato

Legacy of the 500,000

Zatoichi: The Last

Dawn of a New Day: The Man Behind VHS

The Inheritance

The Human Trust

Solar Eclipse

Hunter in the Dark

I Am a Cat

The Fox Dancing in the Dusk

Queen Bee

The Ambitious

The Age of Assassins

Wish Upon a Star

A. K.

Challenge at Dawn

Kill!

Human Revolution II

Kojiro

Black River

The Wolves

Immortal Love

Tange Sazen: The Million Ryo Pot

The Gate of Youth

The Corporation

Listen to My Heart

Portrait of Hell

Pressure of Guilt

A Woman's Life

The Last Judgment

Lone Wolf and Cub: The Final Conflict

Taikoki

Willful Murder

The Fir Trees Remain

Until the Break of Dawn

The Taika Reforms

The Thick-Walled Room

Basara: The Princess Goh

The Beast Shall Die

Oración

Another Way: D-Kikan-Joho

Get 'em All

Great evil does not go to sleep: The counterattack of the special investigation unit prosecutor

Kin chan no Cinema Jack

Daughters, Wives and a Mother

The Law of Hell

The Return

Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Kagemusha'

Faraway Sunset

Vengeance for Sale

Will to Conquer

Sugata Sanshiro

The Life and Love of Kenji Miyazawa

As the Clouds Scatter

Pilgrimage at Night

Rise, Fair Sun

The Naked Sun

Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Sanjuro'

Ant Hell War

Tatsuya Nakadai on 'The Human Condition'

Madame Aki

Atami Murder Case

The Mandarin Room

Michi

Lear on the Shore

The Legend of Sayo

Henkan kōshōjin: Itsuka, Okinawa o torimodosu

Safari 5000

The Shadow Daughter

Japan's Tragedy

All About Marriage

Mr. Giant's Victory Flag

Phoenix

A Duel Tale

Ôban

Skin-Colored Moon

Farm Girls

Sleeping Village

Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Ran'

The Other Woman

Promise: The Nabari Poisoned Wine Case, The Life of a Death-row Inmate

The Journey

Diary of an Elegant Hot Spring

The Blue Beast

Floating Weeds Diary

Gaku

The Daphne

The Human Revolution

Shadow Hunters

Zoku Ôban: Fûun hen

A Boy and Three Mothers

Life Work of Akira Kurosawa

Making of Ran

Teenage Sazae

Before The Leaves Fall

Magistrate of the Floating World

A Dangerous Hero

Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Yojimbo'

Three Dolls in Ginza

Zokuzoku Ôban: Dotô hen

Summer of the Moonlight Sonata

A Town and a Tall Chimney

Blood End

Oban kanketsu hen

To Dance with the White Dog

Miren

Illusion of Blood

The Limit

Love on Rainbow Island

Let Him Rest in Peace

How the Bell of Liberty Rings

Duel at Fort Ezo

Futari no shikeishû - saishin imada hirakarezu

Go and Get It

The Gion Tempest

Kampai! Miai Kekkon

Elegy

Sazae-san

Who Is Gomez?

The King

Trinacria: Porsche 959

Pinwheel Hamakichi's Spell

NORIN TEN inadzukagonjirō monogatari

Florence My Love
























