Tatsuya Nakadai
Born
December 13, 1932 (age 92)
Died
November 8, 2025
Birthplace
Meguro, Tokyo, Japan

Tatsuya Nakadai

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.

Movies

The Limit
The Limit
2025
Narrator
The Pass: Last Days of the Samurai
The Pass: Last Days of the Samurai
2022 ★ 7.1
Makino Tadayuki
The Return
The Return
2019 ★ 8.0
A Town and a Tall Chimney
A Town and a Tall Chimney
2019 ★ 8.0
Sleeping Village
Sleeping Village
2019 ★ 6.7
(narration)
Black Baby
Black Baby
2018
Unosuke (archive footage)
Henkan kōshōjin: Itsuka, Okinawa o torimodosu
Henkan kōshōjin: Itsuka, Okinawa o torimodosu
2018
Narrator
Lear on the Shore
Lear on the Shore
2017 ★ 6.2
Kuwahata Chokichi
Great evil does not go to sleep: The counterattack of the special investigation unit prosecutor
Great evil does not go to sleep: The counterattack of the special investigation unit prosecutor
2016 ★ 7.0
Yohei Tachibana
A Duel Tale
A Duel Tale
2015 ★ 8.0
NORINTEN 稲塚権次郎物語
NORINTEN 稲塚権次郎物語
2015
ふたりの死刑囚
ふたりの死刑囚
2015
Narrator
Before The Leaves Fall
Before The Leaves Fall
2015
Kenichiro Miya
Gun Woman
Gun Woman
2014 ★ 5.0
Hamazaki
Giovanni's Island
Giovanni's Island
2014 ★ 7.5
Older Junpei Senou (voice)
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
2013 ★ 8.1
Charcoal-maker Old Man (voice)
The Human Trust
The Human Trust
2013 ★ 4.0
Nobuhiro Sasakura
Promise: The Nabari Poisoned Wine Case, The Life of a Death-row Inmate
Promise: The Nabari Poisoned Wine Case, The Life of a Death-row Inmate
2013
Until the Break of Dawn
Until the Break of Dawn
2012 ★ 6.7
Sadayuki Akiyama
Japan's Tragedy
Japan's Tragedy
2012 ★ 6.5
Fujio Murai
Gaku
Gaku
2012
Kazama Shin-ichi
Zatoichi: The Last
Zatoichi: The Last
2010 ★ 5.6
Tendo
Haru's Journey
Haru's Journey
2010 ★ 6.5
Tadao Nakai
Listen to My Heart
Listen to My Heart
2009
Kyozo Hayami
Through the Mist
Through the Mist
2009 ★ 6.1
(Archive Footage)
Murder of the Inugami Clan
Murder of the Inugami Clan
2006 ★ 6.9
Sahei Inugami
Yamato
Yamato
2005 ★ 5.5
Wish Upon a Star
Wish Upon a Star
2005
Takanori Wakamiya
The Taika Reforms
The Taika Reforms
2005
Minabuchi no Syôan
Like Asura
Like Asura
2003 ★ 6.5
Kotaro Takezawa
Dawn of a New Day: The Man Behind VHS
Dawn of a New Day: The Man Behind VHS
2002 ★ 7.0
Matsushita (Matsushita Denki Co.)
To Dance with the White Dog
To Dance with the White Dog
2002
Eisuke Nakamoto
Vengeance for Sale
Vengeance for Sale
2002 ★ 6.4
Umetaro Katakura
After the Rain
After the Rain
2000 ★ 7.3
Tsuji Gettan
Jubaku: Spellbound
Jubaku: Spellbound
1999 ★ 6.0
Hideaki Sasaki
The Life and Love of Kenji Miyazawa
The Life and Love of Kenji Miyazawa
1996
Seijiro Miyazawa
East Meets West
East Meets West
1995 ★ 5.4
Kaishu Katsu
Summer of the Moonlight Sonata
Summer of the Moonlight Sonata
1993
Kin chan no Cinema Jack
Kin chan no Cinema Jack
1993
Lone Wolf and Cub: The Final Conflict
Lone Wolf and Cub: The Final Conflict
1993 ★ 7.6
Yagyu Retsudo
Wicked City
Wicked City
1992 ★ 5.7
Daishu
Faraway Sunset
Faraway Sunset
1992
Kobayashi
Basara: The Princess Goh
Basara: The Princess Goh
1992 ★ 6.9
Oribe Furuta
Pinwheel Hamakichi's Spell
Pinwheel Hamakichi's Spell
1992
Heat Wave
Heat Wave
1991 ★ 5.6
Tsunejiro Murai
Florence My Love
Florence My Love
1991
13 Assassins
13 Assassins
1990 ★ 7.0
Let Him Rest in Peace
Let Him Rest in Peace
1989
Four Days of Snow and Blood
Four Days of Snow and Blood
1989 ★ 6.8
Sugiyama
Return from the River Kwai
Return from the River Kwai
1989 ★ 5.0
Major Harada
Another Way: D-Kikan-Joho
Another Way: D-Kikan-Joho
1988 ★ 1.0
Oración
Oración
1988 ★ 6.0
Heihachiro Wagu
Trinacria: Porsche 959
Trinacria: Porsche 959
1987
Hachiko
Hachiko
1987 ★ 7.8
Shujiro Ueno
Taikoki
Taikoki
1987 ★ 8.0
(Narrator)
Michi
Michi
1986 ★ 1.0
Seiji Tajima
Atami Murder Case
Atami Murder Case
1986
Denbei Nikaido
The Empty Table
The Empty Table
1985 ★ 5.3
Nobuyuki Kidoji
Ran
Ran
1985 ★ 8.0
Lord Hidetora Ichimonji
Fireflies in the North
Fireflies in the North
1984 ★ 5.3
Takeshi Tsukigata
The Fir Trees Remain
The Fir Trees Remain
1983
Shadow Hunters
Shadow Hunters
1983 ★ 8.0
Battle Anthem
Battle Anthem
1983 ★ 7.0
Final Yamato
Final Yamato
1983 ★ 7.0
Narrator
The Legend of Sayo
The Legend of Sayo
1982 ★ 6.3
Tange Sazen: The Million Ryo Pot
Tange Sazen: The Million Ryo Pot
1982 ★ 10.0
Sazen Tange
The Law of Hell
The Law of Hell
1982
Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather
Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather
1982 ★ 6.0
Masagoro Kiryuin - Onimasa
Willful Murder
Willful Murder
1981 ★ 7.3
Yashiro
Magistrate of the Floating World
Magistrate of the Floating World
1981 ★ 6.0
Port Arthur
Port Arthur
1980 ★ 7.3
Maresuke Nogi
Kagemusha
Kagemusha
1980 ★ 7.8
Shingen Takeda / Kagemusha
Hunter in the Dark
Hunter in the Dark
1979 ★ 6.3
Gomyo Kiyoemon
Blood Type: Blue
Blood Type: Blue
1978 ★ 5.5
Minami
The Phoenix
The Phoenix
1978 ★ 5.6
Jingi the Conqueror, leader of the Takamagahara
Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron
Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron
1978 ★ 5.9
Kumokiri Nizaemon
Queen Bee
Queen Bee
1978 ★ 7.3
Ginzo Daidoji
Sugata Sanshiro
Sugata Sanshiro
1977
Yano
The Corporation
The Corporation
1976 ★ 1.0
Human Revolution II
Human Revolution II
1976
Elegy
Elegy
1976
Setsuo Katsuragi
Solar Eclipse
Solar Eclipse
1975 ★ 6.8
Yasuo Hoshino, the Chief Cabinet Secretary
I Am a Cat
I Am a Cat
1975 ★ 2.8
Kushami
Battle Cry
Battle Cry
1975 ★ 6.0
Hijikata Toshizo
The Gate of Youth
The Gate of Youth
1975 ★ 9.0
The Family
The Family
1974 ★ 10.0
Teppei Manpyo
Rise, Fair Sun
Rise, Fair Sun
1973
The Human Revolution
The Human Revolution
1973
Belladonna of Sadness
Belladonna of Sadness
1973 ★ 7.3
The Devil (voice)
The King
The King
1973
Kinjiro Sekine
The Wolves
The Wolves
1971 ★ 7.4
Seji Iwahashi
Inn of Evil
Inn of Evil
1971 ★ 6.0
Sadashichi
The Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa
1971 ★ 7.5
Colonel Hiromichi Yahara
Challenge at Dawn
Challenge at Dawn
1971
Tsukagoshi
Will to Conquer
Will to Conquer
1970
Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival
Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival
1970 ★ 6.6
Ronin
The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan
The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan
1970 ★ 6.8
Naojiro Kataoka
The Ambitious
The Ambitious
1970 ★ 7.2
Shintaro Nakaoka
Duel at Fort Ezo
Duel at Fort Ezo
1970 ★ 5.4
Daizennokami Honjo
Portrait of Hell
Portrait of Hell
1969 ★ 8.1
Yoshihide
Blood End
Blood End
1969 ★ 6.2
Sentaro
Tenchu!
Tenchu!
1969 ★ 6.9
Hanpeita Takechi
Battle of the Japan Sea
Battle of the Japan Sea
1969 ★ 6.0
Major Genjiro Akashi
Safari 5000
Safari 5000
1969 ★ 7.3
Goyokin
Goyokin
1969 ★ 7.5
Magobei Wakizaka
The Human Bullet
The Human Bullet
1968 ★ 5.8
Narrator
Admiral Yamamoto
Admiral Yamamoto
1968 ★ 8.3
Narrator (voice)
Kill!
Kill!
1968 ★ 6.9
Genta
Today We Kill, Tomorrow We Die!
Today We Kill, Tomorrow We Die!
1968 ★ 6.0
James Elfego
Journey
Journey
1967
Japan's Longest Day
Japan's Longest Day
1967 ★ 7.2
Narrator (voice)
Samurai Rebellion
Samurai Rebellion
1967 ★ 8.2
Tatewaki Asano
Gomez's Name is Gomez
Gomez's Name is Gomez
1967
Sakamoto
Kojiro
Kojiro
1967 ★ 7.5
Musashi Miyamoto
The Age of Assassins
The Age of Assassins
1967 ★ 7.5
Shinji Kikyo
The Daphne
The Daphne
1966
The Face of Another
The Face of Another
1966 ★ 7.8
Mr. Okuyama
The Sword of Doom
The Sword of Doom
1966 ★ 7.7
Ryunosuke Tsukue
Cash Calls Hell
Cash Calls Hell
1966 ★ 7.6
Oida
Fort Graveyard
Fort Graveyard
1965 ★ 6.0
Sakuma
Illusion of Blood
Illusion of Blood
1965 ★ 6.2
Iyemon Tamiya
Three Yakuza
Three Yakuza
1965 ★ 7.8
The Last Judgment
The Last Judgment
1965
Kwaidan
Kwaidan
1965 ★ 7.7
Minokichi (segment "The Woman of the Snow")
Ant Hell War
Ant Hell War
1964
Mr. Giant's Victory Flag
Mr. Giant's Victory Flag
1964
A Woman's Life
A Woman's Life
1963 ★ 7.0
Miren
Miren
1963
Ryôta Kinoshita
Legacy of the 500,000
Legacy of the 500,000
1963 ★ 7.1
Mitsura Gunji
High and Low
High and Low
1963 ★ 8.4
Chief Detective Tokura
Pressure of Guilt
Pressure of Guilt
1963 ★ 7.0
Yushu Heiya
Yushu Heiya
1963
Tatsumi
Chibusa o daku musume tachi
Chibusa o daku musume tachi
1962
Harakiri
Harakiri
1962 ★ 8.4
Hanshiro Tsugumo
Love Under the Crucifix
Love Under the Crucifix
1962 ★ 6.9
Ukon Takayama
The Inheritance
The Inheritance
1962 ★ 7.2
Kikuo Furukawa
Sanjuro
Sanjuro
1962 ★ 8.0
Hanbei Muroto
Immortal Love
Immortal Love
1961 ★ 7.5
Heibei
As the Clouds Scatter
As the Clouds Scatter
1961 ★ 5.2
The Other Woman
The Other Woman
1961 ★ 6.3
Minami
Yojimbo
Yojimbo
1961 ★ 8.1
Unosuke, gunfighter
The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer
The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer
1961 ★ 8.4
Kaji
Get 'em All
Get 'em All
1960 ★ 6.0
Tsubota
The Blue Beast
The Blue Beast
1960 ★ 7.0
Daughters, Wives and a Mother
Daughters, Wives and a Mother
1960 ★ 7.1
Kuroki Shingo
When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
1960 ★ 7.9
Kenichi Komatsu
The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity
The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity
1959 ★ 8.2
Kaji
Pilgrimage at Night
Pilgrimage at Night
1959
Three Dolls in Ginza
Three Dolls in Ginza
1959
Kyosuke Tamura
Odd Obsession
Odd Obsession
1959 ★ 6.2
Kimura
The Beast Shall Die
The Beast Shall Die
1959 ★ 5.6
Kunihiko Date
The Human Condition I: No Greater Love
The Human Condition I: No Greater Love
1959 ★ 8.1
Kaji
The Naked Sun
The Naked Sun
1958
Conflagration
Conflagration
1958 ★ 7.1
Tokari
Diary of an Elegant Hot Spring
Diary of an Elegant Hot Spring
1958
Kazuo Shimada
Oban kanketsu hen
Oban kanketsu hen
1958
Shin Don
Go and Get It
Go and Get It
1958
His assistant
All About Marriage
All About Marriage
1958
Akira Nakayama
A Boy and Three Mothers
A Boy and Three Mothers
1958
The Engineer
Kampai! Miai Kekkon
Kampai! Miai Kekkon
1958
Kunihiko Sasada
Teenage Sazae
Teenage Sazae
1957
Zokuzoku Ôban: Dotô hen
Zokuzoku Ôban: Dotô hen
1957
Shindon
Black River
Black River
1957 ★ 6.8
Jo
Skin-Colored Moon
Skin-Colored Moon
1957
Jirô Taki
A Dangerous Hero
A Dangerous Hero
1957
Zoku Ôban: Fûun hen
Zoku Ôban: Fûun hen
1957
Shin don
The Shadow Daughter
The Shadow Daughter
1957
Untamed Woman
Untamed Woman
1957 ★ 7.4
Kimura
Ôban
Ôban
1957
Shin Don
The Mandarin Room
The Mandarin Room
1956
Sazae-san
Sazae-san
1956 ★ 8.0
Norisuke
The Thick-Walled Room
The Thick-Walled Room
1956 ★ 7.1
(Uncredited)
Love on Rainbow Island
Love on Rainbow Island
1956
Yûji Wada
Phoenix
Phoenix
1956 ★ 6.0
Floating Weeds Diary
Floating Weeds Diary
1955 ★ 4.3
Seven Samurai
Seven Samurai
1954 ★ 8.5
Samurai Wandering through Town (uncredited)
The Gion Tempest
The Gion Tempest
Masaki

TV Series