Tatsuya Nakadai

Tatsuya Nakadai
Тацуя Накадай, Tatsuya Nakadaki, تاتسویا ناکادای

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.

Biography

Birthday: 13/12/1932
Place of birth: Meguro, Tokyo, Japan
Date of death: 08/11/2025

Acting

Year Title Role Rating
2025
The Limit
Narrator (voice)
-
2022
The Pass: Last Days of the Samurai
Makino Tadayuki
7 / 10
2019
The Return
Unokichi
7.3 / 10
2019
A Town and a Tall Chimney
Hyoma Sekine
8 / 10
2019
Sleeping Village
Narrator (voice)
6.7 / 10
2018
Henkan kōshōjin: Itsuka, Okinawa o torimodosu
Narrator (voice)
-
2017
Lear on the Shore
Kuwahata Chokichi
6.4 / 10
2016
Cold Case: Door of Truth
Suzaki Kiyoshi
8.2 / 10
2016
Mifune: The Last Samurai
Self (archive footage)
7 / 10
2016
Great evil does not go to sleep: The counterattack of the special investigation unit prosecutor
Yohei Tachibana
7 / 10
2015
Before The Leaves Fall
Kenichiro Miya
-
2015
A Duel Tale
Sanosuke Shoji
8 / 10
2015
NORIN TEN inadzukagonjirō monogatari
Gonjiro Inazuka
-
2015
Futari no shikeishû - saishin imada hirakarezu
Narrator (voice)
-
2014
A Sinner's Lie
Kenzo Haneda
8.4 / 10
2014
Gun Woman
Hamazaki
5 / 10
2014
Giovanni's Island
Older Junpei Senou (voice)
7.5 / 10
2013
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
Charcoal-maker Old Man (voice)
8.087 / 10
2013
The Human Trust
Nobuhiro Sasakura
4 / 10
2013
Promise: The Nabari Poisoned Wine Case, The Life of a Death-row Inmate
Masaru Okunishi
-
2012
Until the Break of Dawn
Sadayuki Akiyama
6.6 / 10
2012
Gaku
Kazama Shin-ichi
-
2012
Japan's Tragedy
Fujio Murai
6.5 / 10
2010
Zatoichi: The Last
Tendo
5.4 / 10
2010
Haru's Journey
Tadao Nakai
6.6 / 10
2009
Through the Mist
(archive footage)
6.3 / 10
2009
Listen to My Heart
Kyozo Hayami
-
2007
Samurai Banners
-
7.6 / 10
2006
Murder of the Inugami Clan
Sahei Inugami
6.9 / 10
2005
Yamato
-
5.5 / 10
2005
Wish Upon a Star
Takanori Wakamiya
-
2005
The Taika Reforms
Minabuchi no Syôan
-
2004
Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World
Matsumoto Kentaro
8.4 / 10
2003
Like Asura
Kotaro Takezawa
6.6 / 10
2002
Dawn of a New Day: The Man Behind VHS
Matsushita (Matsushita Denki Co.)
8 / 10
2002
Vengeance for Sale
Umetaro Katakura
6.8 / 10
2002
To Dance with the White Dog
Eisuke Nakamoto
9 / 10
2001
嘱託刑事・小山田昭平 旅路の果て
-
-
2000
After the Rain
Tsuji Gettan
7.336 / 10
1999
Jubaku: Spellbound
Hideaki Sasaki
6.2 / 10
1996
The Life and Love of Kenji Miyazawa
Seijiro Miyazawa
8 / 10
1995
A Son of the Good Earth
-
10 / 10
1995
East Meets West
Kaishu Katsu
5.7 / 10
1993
Kin chan no Cinema Jack
-
-
1993
Lone Wolf and Cub: The Final Conflict
Yagyu Retsudo
7.5 / 10
1993
Summer of the Moonlight Sonata
-
9 / 10
1992
Wicked City
Daishu
5.8 / 10
1992
Pinwheel Hamakichi's Spell
-
-
1992
Basara: The Princess Goh
Oribe Furuta
7 / 10
1992
Faraway Sunset
Kobayashi
10 / 10
1992
Pinwheel Hamakichi's Spell
Hamakichi
-
1991
Heat Wave
Tsunejiro Murai
5.9 / 10
1991
Florence My Love
-
-
1990
Battleship Yamato
Vice Admiral Seiichi Itō
-
1990
13 Assassins
Shinzaemon Shimada
7 / 10
1989
Four Days of Snow and Blood
Sugiyama
7.3 / 10
1989
Return from the River Kwai
Major Harada
5 / 10
1989
Let Him Rest in Peace
-
-
1988
Oración
Heihachiro Wagu
6.7 / 10
1988
Another Way: D-Kikan-Joho
Shimamura
1 / 10
1987
Hachiko
Shujiro Ueno
7.823 / 10
1987
Taikoki
Narrator (voice)
8 / 10
1987
Trinacria: Porsche 959
-
-
1986
Atami Murder Case
Denbei Nikaido
10 / 10
1986
Michi
Seiji Tajima
1 / 10
1985
Ran
Lord Hidetora Ichimonji
8.03 / 10
1985
The Empty Table
Nobuyuki Kidoji
6.9 / 10
1984
Fireflies in the North
Takeshi Tsukigata
5.6 / 10
1984
The Fox Dancing in the Dusk
-
-
1983
Final Yamato
Narrator
6.8 / 10
1983
Battle Anthem
Narrator (voice)
7.7 / 10
1983
Momi no Ki wa Nokotta: Ranshin
-
-
1983
Shadow Hunters
-
8 / 10
1983
The Fir Trees Remain
-
-
1982
Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather
Masagoro Kiryuin - Onimasa
6.2 / 10
1982
The Legend of Sayo
Otozo
7 / 10
1982
The Law of Hell
Ikuzô
-
1982
Tange Sazen: The Million Ryo Pot
Sazen Tange
9 / 10
1981
Kinagashi Bugyō
-
-
1981
Willful Murder
Yashiro
8 / 10
1981
Magistrate of the Floating World
-
6 / 10
1980
Kagemusha
Shingen Takeda / Kagemusha
7.815 / 10
1980
Port Arthur
Maresuke Nogi
7.4 / 10
1980
Aoki Ookami Narukichiomoase no Shougai
ナレーション
-
1979
Hunter in the Dark
Gomyo Kiyoemon
6.3 / 10
1978
The Phoenix
Jingi the Conqueror, leader of the Takamagahara
6.1 / 10
1978
Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron
Kumokiri Nizaemon
6.1 / 10
1978
Queen Bee
Ginzo Daidoji
7.6 / 10
1978
Blood Type: Blue
Minami
6.1 / 10
1977
Suna no Utsuwa
今西栄太郎
-
1977
Sugata Sanshiro
Yano
10 / 10
1976
The Corporation
Tadashi Iki
4.8 / 10
1976
Human Revolution II
-
8 / 10
1976
Elegy
Setsuo Katsuragi
10 / 10
1975
Solar Eclipse
Yasuo Hoshino, the Chief Cabinet Secretary
6.9 / 10
1975
The Gate of Youth
-
8.3 / 10
1975
I Am a Cat
Kushami
4.5 / 10
1975
Battle Cry
Hijikata Toshizo
5.9 / 10
1974
The Family
Teppei Manpyo / Keisuke Manpyo
9.2 / 10
1973
Belladonna of Sadness
The Devil (voice)
7.37 / 10
1973
Rise, Fair Sun
Sakuzo
10 / 10
1973
The Human Revolution
Nichiren
7 / 10
1973
The King
Kinjiro Sekine
-
1972
Shin Heike Monogatari
Taira no Kiyomori
7.3 / 10
1971
The Battle of Okinawa
Colonel Hiromichi Yahara
7.8 / 10
1971
Inn of Evil
Sadashichi
6.3 / 10
1971
The Wolves
Seji Iwahashi
7.4 / 10
1971
Challenge at Dawn
Tsukagoshi
-
1970
Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival
Ronin
6.8 / 10
1970
The Ambitious
Shintaro Nakaoka
7.3 / 10
1970
Will to Conquer
Yoshida Tōyō
-
1970
Duel at Fort Ezo
Daizennokami Honjo
5.8 / 10
1970
The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan
Naojiro Kataoka
7.1 / 10
1969
Goyokin
Magobei Wakizaka
7.466 / 10
1969
Tenchu!
Hanpeita Takechi
7 / 10
1969
Battle of the Japan Sea
Major Genjiro Akashi
6.4 / 10
1969
Blood End
Sentaro
6.3 / 10
1969
Safari 5000
Masaomi Takeuchi
7.2 / 10
1969
Portrait of Hell
Yoshihide
7.9 / 10
1968
Today We Kill, Tomorrow We Die!
James Elfego
6.054 / 10
1968
Admiral Yamamoto
Narrator (voice)
8.5 / 10
1968
The Human Bullet
Narrator (voice)
6 / 10
1968
Kill!
Genta
7 / 10
1967
Samurai Rebellion
Tatewaki Asano
8.249 / 10
1967
Japan's Longest Day
Narrator (voice)
7.3 / 10
1967
ゴメスの名はゴメス
-
-
1967
The Age of Assassins
Shinji Kikyo
7.6 / 10
1967
The Journey
Yuichiro
7 / 10
1967
Kojiro
Musashi Miyamoto
8 / 10
1967
Who Is Gomez?
Sakamoto
-
1966
The Face of Another
Mr. Okuyama
7.767 / 10
1966
The Sword of Doom
Ryunosuke Tsukue
7.772 / 10
1966
Cash Calls Hell
Oida
7.5 / 10
1966
The Daphne
-
10 / 10
1965
Kwaidan
Minokichi (segment "The Woman of the Snow")
7.733 / 10
1965
Three Yakuza
-
7.8 / 10
1965
Illusion of Blood
Iyemon Tamiya
6.4 / 10
1965
The Last Judgment
Jiro
8 / 10
1965
Fort Graveyard
Sakuma
6.1 / 10
1964
Mr. Giant's Victory Flag
-
8 / 10
1964
Ant Hell War
-
9 / 10
1963
High and Low
Chief Detective Tokura
8.386 / 10
1963
A Woman's Life
Takashi Akimoto
7.1 / 10
1963
Legacy of the 500,000
Mitsura Gunji
6.9 / 10
1963
Pressure of Guilt
Ichiro Hamano
7.5 / 10
1963
Miren
Ryôta Kinoshita
-
1963
Madame Aki
Tatsumi
7 / 10
1962
Harakiri
Hanshiro Tsugumo
8.476 / 10
1962
Sanjuro
Hanbei Muroto
7.9 / 10
1962
Love Under the Crucifix
Ukon Takayama
7.5 / 10
1962
The Inheritance
Kikuo Furukawa
7.3 / 10
1962
Farm Girls
Kenichi
10 / 10
1961
Yojimbo
Unosuke, gunfighter
8.076 / 10
1961
The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer
Kaji
8.4 / 10
1961
Immortal Love
Heibei
7.4 / 10
1961
The Other Woman
Minami
6.3 / 10
1961
As the Clouds Scatter
James Kimura
6 / 10
1960
When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
Kenichi Komatsu
8 / 10
1960
Daughters, Wives and a Mother
Kuroki Shingo
7.3 / 10
1960
The Blue Beast
Yasuhiko Kuroki
8 / 10
1960
Get 'em All
Tsubota
7 / 10
1959
The Human Condition I: No Greater Love
Kaji
8.2 / 10
1959
The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity
Kaji
8.2 / 10
1959
Odd Obsession
Kimura
6.2 / 10
1959
The Beast Shall Die
Kunihiko Date
6.2 / 10
1959
Pilgrimage at Night
Kaname
-
1959
Three Dolls in Ginza
Kyosuke Tamura
-
1958
Conflagration
Tokari
7.1 / 10
1958
All About Marriage
Akira Nakayama
10 / 10
1958
Diary of an Elegant Hot Spring
Kazuo Shimada
-
1958
The Naked Sun
Jiro Maeda
7 / 10
1958
Oban kanketsu hen
Shin Don
-
1958
A Boy and Three Mothers
Kensaku, the Engineer
7 / 10
1958
Kampai! Miai Kekkon
Kunihiko Sasada
-
1958
The Gion Tempest
Masaki
-
1958
Go and Get It
Hara
8 / 10
1957
Untamed Woman
Kimura
7.5 / 10
1957
A Dangerous Hero
Reporter Imamura
9 / 10
1957
Black River
Joe
7 / 10
1957
Teenage Sazae
Norisuke
10 / 10
1957
Ôban
Shin Don
9 / 10
1957
Zoku Ôban: Fûun hen
Shin don
9 / 10
1957
The Shadow Daughter
Motohashi
8 / 10
1957
Skin-Colored Moon
Jirô Taki
-
1957
Zokuzoku Ôban: Dotô hen
Shindon
8 / 10
1956
The Thick-Walled Room
Prisoner (uncredited)
7.2 / 10
1956
Phoenix
Keiichi Naganuma
6.5 / 10
1956
Sazae-san
Norisuke
7.5 / 10
1956
Love on Rainbow Island
Yûji Wada
8 / 10
1956
The Mandarin Room
Ando
8 / 10
1955
Floating Weeds Diary
Union Member
4.3 / 10
1954
Seven Samurai
Samurai Wandering through Town (uncredited)
8.452 / 10
1954
How the Bell of Liberty Rings
(uncredited)
-