Tatsuya Nakadai
Known for Acting · 203 credits
- Born
- 1932-12-13
- Died
- 2025-11-08
- Place of birth
- Meguro, Tokyo, Japan
- Also known as
- Тацуя Накадай · Tatsuya Nakadaki · تاتسویا ناکادای · Motohisa Nakadai · 仲代 元久 · 仲代元久
Biography
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
TV Shows (13)
Samurai Banners
2007
A Sinner's Lie
2014
as Kenzo Haneda
Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World
2004
as Matsumoto Kentaro
Shin Heike Monogatari
1972
as Taira no Kiyomori
Kinagashi Bugyō
1981
A Son of the Good Earth
1995
Momi no Ki wa Nokotta: Ranshin
1983
Suna no Utsuwa
1977
as 今西栄太郎
ゴメスの名はゴメス
1967
Pinwheel Hamakichi's Spell
1992
The Human Condition
1959
as Kaji
嘱託刑事･小山田昭平 旅路の果て
2001
Aoki Ookami Narukichiomoase no Shougai
1980
as ナレーション
Movies (190)
Seven Samurai
1954
as Samurai Wandering through Town (uncredited)
Harakiri
1962
as Hanshiro Tsugumo
High and Low
1963
as Chief Detective Tokura
Ran
1985
as Lord Hidetora Ichimonji
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
2013
as Charcoal-maker Old Man (voice)
Yojimbo
1961
as Unosuke, gunfighter
Kwaidan
1965
as Minokichi (segment "The Woman of the Snow")
The Human Condition I: No Greater Love
1959
as Kaji
Kagemusha
1980
as Shingen Takeda / Kagemusha
Sanjuro
1962
as Hanbei Muroto
Belladonna of Sadness
1973
as The Devil (voice)
The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer
1961
as Kaji
Yamato
2005
The Face of Another
1966
as Mr. Okuyama
Wicked City
1992
as Daishu
Today We Kill, Tomorrow We Die!
1968
as James Elfego
The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity
1959
as Kaji
Hachiko
1987
as Shujiro Ueno
Fireflies in the North
1984
as Takeshi Tsukigata
The Sword of Doom
1966
as Ryunosuke Tsukue
Tenchu!
1969
as Hanpeita Takechi
Admiral Yamamoto
1968
as Narrator (voice)
Samurai Rebellion
1967
as Tatewaki Asano
Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather
1982
as Masagoro Kiryuin - Onimasa
Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron
1978
as Kumokiri Nizaemon
The Pass: Last Days of the Samurai
2022
as Makino Tadayuki
The Battle of Okinawa
1971
as Colonel Hiromichi Yahara
Port Arthur
1980
as Maresuke Nogi
When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
1960
as Kenichi Komatsu
Giovanni's Island
2014
as Older Junpei Senou (voice)
Heat Wave
1991
as Tsunejiro Murai
Four Days of Snow and Blood
1989
as Sugiyama
Queen Bee
1978
as Ginzo Daidoji
Willful Murder
1981
as Yashiro
Japan's Longest Day
1967
as Narrator (voice)
Daughters, Wives and a Mother
1960
as Kuroki Shingo
Final Yamato
1983
as Narrator
Untamed Woman
1957
as Kimura
Battle of the Japan Sea
1969
as Major Genjiro Akashi
Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival
1970
as Ronin
Hunter in the Dark
1979
as Gomyo Kiyoemon
The Ambitious
1970
as Shintaro Nakaoka
Odd Obsession
1959
as Kimura
Three Yakuza
1965
The Blue Beast
1960
as Yasuhiko Kuroki
Murder of the Inugami Clan
2006
as Sahei Inugami
Inn of Evil
1971
as Sadashichi
Kurosawa
2000
as Self
Fort Graveyard
1965
as Sakuma
Goyokin
1969
as Magobei Wakizaka
The Phoenix
1978
as Jingi the Conqueror, leader of the Takamagahara
The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan
1970
as Naojiro Kataoka
East Meets West
1995
as Kaishu Katsu
The Family
1974
as Teppei Manpyo
Battle Anthem
1983
Gun Woman
2014
as Hamazaki
Until the Break of Dawn
2012
as Sadayuki Akiyama
After the Rain
2000
as Tsuji Gettan
The Inheritance
1962
as Kikuo Furukawa
Black River
1957
as Jo
A. K.
1985
as Self
Vengeance for Sale
2002
as Umetaro Katakura
Basara: The Princess Goh
1992
as Oribe Furuta
Immortal Love
1961
as Heibei
The Thick-Walled Room
1956
as (Uncredited)
Conflagration
1958
as Tokari
The Gate of Youth
1975
Kill!
1968
as Genta
Get 'em All
1960
as Tsubota
The Human Trust
2013
as Nobuhiro Sasakura
Love on Rainbow Island
1956
as Yûji Wada
Like Asura
2003
as Kotaro Takezawa
The Return
2019
A Woman's Life
1963
Before The Leaves Fall
2015
as Kenichiro Miya
Return from the River Kwai
1989
as Major Harada
The Human Bullet
1968
as Narrator
Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya
2014
as Self
Dawn of a New Day: The Man Behind VHS
2002
as Matsushita (Matsushita Denki Co.)
Blood End
1969
as Sentaro
Zoku Ôban: Fûun hen
1957
as Shin don
Zatoichi: The Last
2010
as Tendo
Blood Type: Blue
1978
as Minami
The Beast Shall Die
1959
as Kunihiko Date
Skin-Colored Moon
1957
as Jirô Taki
Great evil does not go to sleep: The counterattack of the special investigation unit prosecutor
2016
as Yohei Tachibana
Taikoki
1987
as (Narrator)
Oración
1988
as Heihachiro Wagu
The Wolves
1971
as Seji Iwahashi
Solar Eclipse
1975
as Yasuo Hoshino, the Chief Cabinet Secretary
Cash Calls Hell
1966
as Oida
Henkan kōshōjin: Itsuka, Okinawa o torimodosu
2018
as Narrator
The Age of Assassins
1967
as Shinji Kikyo
A Duel Tale
2015
Rise, Fair Sun
1973
Ant Hell War
1964
Farm Girls
1962
Through the Mist
2009
as (archive footage)
Love Under the Crucifix
1962
as Ukon Takayama
Jubaku: Spellbound
1999
as Hideaki Sasaki
The Corporation
1976
Teenage Sazae
1957
The Other Woman
1961
as Minami
Journey
1967
Ôban
1957
as Shin Don
13 Assassins
1990
Illusion of Blood
1965
as Iyemon Tamiya
Safari 5000
1969
Listen to My Heart
2009
as Kyozo Hayami
The Human Revolution
1973
I Am a Cat
1975
as Kushami
Duel at Fort Ezo
1970
as Daizennokami Honjo
Kin chan no Cinema Jack
1993
Portrait of Hell
1969
as Yoshihide
The Legend of Sayo
1982
The Naked Sun
1958
The Fir Trees Remain
1983
All About Marriage
1958
as Akira Nakayama
Sugata Sanshiro
1977
as Yano
Haru's Journey
2010
as Tadao Nakai
About 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,… With 203 credits spanning from 1954 to 2025, Tatsuya Nakadai has appeared in 190 films and 13 TV shows.
Fans searching for Tatsuya Nakadai movies, Tatsuya Nakadai filmography, or the latest projects starring Tatsuya Nakadai can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Tatsuya Nakadai Movies
- Seven Samurai (1954) — as Samurai Wandering through Town (uncredited)
- Harakiri (1962) — as Hanshiro Tsugumo
- High and Low (1963) — as Chief Detective Tokura
- Ran (1985) — as Lord Hidetora Ichimonji
- The Tale of The Princess Kaguya (2013) — as Charcoal-maker Old Man (voice)
Where to Watch Tatsuya Nakadai Films
Most Tatsuya Nakadai 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 Tatsuya Nakadai, check our movies catalogue and browse page.