Takeshi Kitano
Biography
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).
Movies (93)
AUM: The Cult at the End of the World
2025
Broken Rage
2024
Kubi
2023
Citizen Kitano
2020
Why Are We Creative?
2018
Plankton Salesmen
2017
Outrage Coda
2017
Ghost in the Shell: Hard-Wired Humanity - Making Ghost in the Shell
2017
Prison Break
2017
Ghost in the Shell
2017
Doctor X: Gekai Daimon Michiko Special
2016
While the Women Are Sleeping
2016
A Living Promise
2016
Aka Medaka
2015
Mozu The Movie
2015
Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen
2015
Morning
2014
The 8th Floor
2014
In Between Mountains and Oceans
2014
Seicho Matsumoto's Black Gospel
2014
Miwa: A Japanese Icon
2013
Trespassing Bergman
2013
Beyond Outrage
2012
Dearest
2012
A Special Day
2012
Kikoku
2010
Outrage
2010
Takeshi's Castle Vol. 1
2009
What the War Meant
2008
The Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit
2008
Achilles and the Tortoise
2008
Yayoi Kusama: I Love Me
2008
To Each His Own Cinema
2007
Glory to the Filmmaker!
2007
Takeshis'
2005
The Golden Cups: One More Time
2004
Blood and Bones
2004
Izo
2004
Electric Yakuza, Go to Hell!
2004
Arakimentari
2004
Zatoichi
2003
The Final Battleground — Making of Battle Royale II
2003
Battle Royale II: Requiem
2003
Kichiku
2002
Kogoro Akechi vs Kaijin Nijyuu Menso
2002
Shooting Film is Battleground: Making of BATTLE ROYALE
2001
The 300 million yen robbery
2000
Battle Royale
2000
Brother
2000
Making of 'Battle Royale'
2000
Scenes by the Sea: Takeshi Kitano
2000
Taboo
1999
The Unpredictable Takeshi Kitano
1999
Kikujiro
1999
Kiseki Taiken! Anbiribabō: Kyōfu Eizō Kaiki Shashin Korekushon
1999
Kiseki Taiken! Anbiribabō: 1999 Nostradamus Senritsu no Daiyogen Mysterious Unbelievable
1999
Zankyo
1999
Tokyo Eyes
1998
Fireworks
1997
Hana-bi (1997) – Behind-the-scenes Footage
1997
Making-of Kids Return
1996
Gonin
1995
Johnny Mnemonic
1995
Getting Any?
1995
Many Happy Returns
1993
Sonatine
1993
Erotic Liaisons
1992
Dioxin from Fish!
1992
A Legend of Turmoil
1992
Shoko Asahara with Takeshi
1991
Kim's War
1991
KILL THEM ALL
1990
Boiling Point
1990
Hoshi wo tsugu mono
1990
The Yagyu Code: Secret Scrolls
1990
Violent Cop
1989
The Boss' Wife
1988
雨の降る駅
1986
No More Comics!
1986
Jesus' Ark
1985
Demon
1985
Joke with a Sorrowful Heart
1985
Tokyo Melody: A Film About Ryuichi Sakamoto
1985
The Crimes of Kiyoshi Ōkubo
1983
The Mosquito on the Tenth Floor
1983
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
1983
Summer Secrets
1982
Completely... With That Air!
1981
Manon
1981
The Dump Truck Rascal
1981
Makoto-chan
1980
Go, Go Second Time Virgin
1969
In Your Blood: Hoki Naiden
TV Shows (16)
Takeshi's Castle Japan
2023
たけしのその時カメラは回っていた
2020
Idaten: Tokyo Olympics Story
2019
Kiseki taiken! Unbelievable
2018
たけしのこれがホントのニッポン芸能史
2015
オモクリ監督～O－Creator's TV Show～
2014
日曜ゴールデンで何やってんだテレビ
2012
Dots and Lines
2007
MXC
2003
Musashi
2003
Takeshi's Castle
2002
The Story of One Century
2000
Today's Close-Up
1993
Beat Takeshi Presents TV Tackle
1989
Takeshi's Castle
1986
Golden Horse Awards
1962