Takeshi Kitano
Known for Directing · 114 credits
- Born
- 1947-01-18 (age 79)
- Place of birth
- Tokyo, Japan
- Also known as
- Такэси Китано · Beat Takeshi · 기타노 타케시 · 비트 타케시 · "Beat" Takeshi Kitano · บีท ทาเกชิ
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).
Known For
TV Shows (20)
Golden Horse Awards
1962
as Self
Idaten: Tokyo Olympics Story
2019
as 古今亭志生
Takeshi's Castle
2002
Musashi
2003
as Munisai Shinmen
MXC
2003
Takeshi's Castle
1986
as Count Takeshi
Today's Close-Up
1993
as 出演
The Story of One Century
2000
Takeshi's Castle Japan
2023
Beat Takeshi Presents TV Tackle
1989
Kiseki taiken! Unbelievable
2018
as Storyteller
オモクリ監督～O－Creator's TV Show～
2014
北野ファンクラブ
1992
加ト・けん・たけしの世紀末スペシャル!!
1998
Kodai bunmei Misuterī Takeshi no shin sekai nana fushigi dai hyakka
Dots and Lines
2007
as Jutaro Torikai
たけしのこれがホントのニッポン芸能史
2015
日曜ゴールデンで何やってんだテレビ
2012
たけしのその時カメラは回っていた
2020
Kitano fan kurabu
1992
as Self
Movies (94)
Zatoichi
2003
as Zatoichi / Ichi
Ghost in the Shell
2017
as Aramaki
Battle Royale
2000
as Kitano
Brother
2000
as Aniki Yamamoto
Outrage
2010
as Otomo
Kikujiro
1999
as Kikujiro
Fireworks
1997
as Yoshitaka Nishi
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
1983
as Hara
Sonatine
1993
as Aniki Murakawa
Johnny Mnemonic
1995
as Takahashi
Beyond Outrage
2012
as Otomo
Taboo
1999
as Toshizo Hijikata
Outrage Coda
2017
as Otomo
Izo
2004
as Chancellor
Violent Cop
1989
as Azuma Ryosuke
Blood and Bones
2004
as Joon-pyong Kim
Kubi
2023
as Hashiba Hideyoshi
Battle Royale II: Requiem
2003
as Kitano
To Each His Own Cinema
2007
as The projectionist (segment "Rencontre unique")
The Mosquito on the Tenth Floor
1983
as Man at Racetrack
The Boss' Wife
1988
as Shoji Sugimoto, Hitman
Getting Any?
1995
as Scientist
Aka Medaka
2015
as Tatekawa Danshi
Achilles and the Tortoise
2008
as Machisu
Gonin
1995
as Ichiro Kyoya
Boiling Point
1990
as Uehara
No More Comics!
1986
as Police
While the Women Are Sleeping
2016
as Sahara
Glory to the Filmmaker!
2007
as Takeshi / Yakuza / Father / Ninja / Detective / Astronomer
Erotic Liaisons
1992
as Okuyama
Takeshis'
2005
as Beat Takeshi / Mr. Kitano
A Living Promise
2016
as Detective Koichiro Iwase
Doctor X: Gekai Daimon Michiko Special
2016
A Legend of Turmoil
1992
as Kiichirou Yashiro
Dearest
2012
as Teruo Sugino
Go, Go Second Time Virgin
1969
as Gang Member
Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen
2015
as Detective Murakami
Trespassing Bergman
2013
as Self
Mozu The Movie
2015
as Daruma
Plankton Salesmen
2017
as Self (archive footage)
Manon
1981
as Shinobu
Seicho Matsumoto's Black Gospel
2014
as Rokuro Fujisawa
Kichiku
2002
Demon
1985
as Yajima
Makoto-chan
1980
Kogoro Akechi vs Kaijin Nijyuu Menso
2002
as Niju Menso
Broken Rage
2024
as Nezumi
The Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit
2008
as Take-Majin (voice)
Tokyo Eyes
1998
as Yakusa
Summer Secrets
1982
as Ramen shop owner
Dioxin from Fish!
1992
as Azuma
Many Happy Returns
1993
as Daisuke Shiba
Prison Break
2017
as Urata
Miwa: A Japanese Icon
2013
as Himself
Shooting Film is Battleground: Making of BATTLE ROYALE
2001
as Self
Why Are We Creative?
2018
as Self
Hoshi wo tsugu mono
1990
as Yama no hito
The Crimes of Kiyoshi Ōkubo
1983
as Kiyoshi Ôkubo
KILL THEM ALL
1990
Kikoku
2010
as Private First Class Oomiya
A Special Day
2012
as Self
The 300 million yen robbery
2000
Scenes by the Sea: Takeshi Kitano
2000
as Self
Ghost in the Shell: Hard-Wired Humanity - Making Ghost in the Shell
2017
as self
Electric Yakuza, Go to Hell!
2004
as Self
What the War Meant
2008
as Hideki Tojo
Tokyo Melody: A Film About Ryuichi Sakamoto
1985
as Hara (archive footage)
Kim's War
1991
as Kim Hyi-ro
Morning
2014
Citizen Kitano
2020
as Self
In Between Mountains and Oceans
2014
as Himself
Joke with a Sorrowful Heart
1985
as Hiroshi Igarashi
Making of 'Battle Royale'
2000
as Self
AUM: The Cult at the End of the World
2025
as Self (archive footage)
The 8th Floor
2014
as Self
Arakimentari
2004
as Self
Jam Session (The Official Bootleg of Kikujiro)
1999
Takeshi's Castle Vol. 1
2009
The Yagyu Code: Secret Scrolls
1990
Jesus' Ark
1985
as Takeyoshi Sengoku
In Your Blood: Hoki Naiden
Zankyo
1999
The Dump Truck Rascal
1981
The Golden Cups: One More Time
2004
as Himself
The Final Battleground — Making of Battle Royale II
2003
as Self
雨の降る駅
1986
as 演员
The Unpredictable Takeshi Kitano
1999
as Self
Completely... With That Air!
1981
Kiseki Taiken! Anbiribabō: 1999 Nostradamus Senritsu no Daiyogen Mysterious Unbelievable
1999
Yayoi Kusama: I Love Me
2008
Kiseki Taiken! Anbiribabō: Kyōfu Eizō Kaiki Shashin Korekushon
1999
Making-of Kids Return
1996
as Himself
Shoko Asahara with Takeshi
1991
as Self
Hana-bi (1997) – Behind-the-scenes Footage
1997
as Self - Himself
About Takeshi Kitano
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 deb… With 114 credits spanning from 1962 to 2025, Takeshi Kitano has appeared in 94 films and 20 TV shows.
Fans searching for Takeshi Kitano movies, Takeshi Kitano filmography, or the latest projects starring Takeshi Kitano can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Takeshi Kitano Movies
- Zatoichi (2003) — as Zatoichi / Ichi
- Ghost in the Shell (2017) — as Aramaki
- Battle Royale (2000) — as Kitano
- Brother (2000) — as Aniki Yamamoto
- Outrage (2010) — as Otomo
Where to Watch Takeshi Kitano Films
Most Takeshi Kitano movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Takeshi Kitano, check our movies catalogue and browse page.