Tatsuya Nakadai

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

200

Gender

Male

Birthday

1932-12-13

Day of death

2025-11-08 (92 years old)

Place of Birth

Meguro, Tokyo, Japan

Tatsuya Nakadai

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

  • A. K.

    A. K.

  • Seven Samurai

    Seven Samurai

  • The Empty Table

    The Empty Table

  • Kurosawa

    Kurosawa

  • Ran

    Ran

  • Gun Woman

    Gun Woman

  • Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World

    Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World

  • High and Low

    High and Low

  • Sazae-san

    Sazae-san

  • Harakiri

    Harakiri

  • Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya

    Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya

  • NORINTEN 稲塚権次郎物語

    NORINTEN 稲塚権次郎物語

  • Yojimbo

    Yojimbo

  • Oración

    Oración

  • Kin chan no Cinema Jack

    Kin chan no Cinema Jack

  • Samurai Banners

    Samurai Banners

  • Wish Upon a Star

    Wish Upon a Star

  • The Tale of The Princess Kaguya

    The Tale of The Princess Kaguya

  • Trinacria: Porsche 959

    Trinacria: Porsche 959

  • Solar Eclipse

    Solar Eclipse

  • Human Revolution II

    Human Revolution II

  • Four Days of Snow and Blood

    Four Days of Snow and Blood

  • Kwaidan

    Kwaidan

  • Kagemusha

    Kagemusha

  • Belladonna of Sadness

    Belladonna of Sadness

  • Hachiko

    Hachiko

  • The Daphne

    The Daphne

  • The Human Condition I: No Greater Love

    The Human Condition I: No Greater Love

  • The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity

    The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity

  • The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer

    The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer

  • Samurai Rebellion

    Samurai Rebellion

  • The Face of Another

    The Face of Another

  • Sanjuro

    Sanjuro

  • Shin Heike Monogatari

    Shin Heike Monogatari

  • Yamato

    Yamato

  • A Sinner's Lie

    A Sinner's Lie

  • The Sword of Doom

    The Sword of Doom

  • Japan's Longest Day

    Japan's Longest Day

  • Final Yamato

    Final Yamato

  • Giovanni's Island

    Giovanni's Island

  • Wicked City

    Wicked City

  • Admiral Yamamoto

    Admiral Yamamoto

  • Suna no Utsuwa

    Suna no Utsuwa

  • Daughters, Wives and a Mother

    Daughters, Wives and a Mother

  • Hunter in the Dark

    Hunter in the Dark

  • Kinagashi Bugyō

    Kinagashi Bugyō

  • Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron

    Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron

  • When a Woman Ascends the Stairs

    When a Woman Ascends the Stairs

  • A Son Of The Good Earth

    A Son Of The Good Earth

  • Tenchu!

    Tenchu!

  • Murder of the Inugami Clan

    Murder of the Inugami Clan

  • 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

  • Willful Murder

    Willful Murder

  • After the Rain

    After the Rain

  • Before The Leaves Fall

    Before The Leaves Fall

  • Conflagration

    Conflagration

  • Fireflies in the North

    Fireflies in the North

  • Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather

    Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather

  • Untamed Woman

    Untamed Woman

  • Inn of Evil

    Inn of Evil

  • Odd Obsession

    Odd Obsession

  • Battle Anthem

    Battle Anthem

  • Today We Kill, Tomorrow We Die!

    Today We Kill, Tomorrow We Die!

  • The Pass: Last Days of the Samurai

    The Pass: Last Days of the Samurai

  • The Battle of Okinawa

    The Battle of Okinawa

  • Goyokin

    Goyokin

  • Heat Wave

    Heat Wave

  • The Legend of Sayo

    The Legend of Sayo

  • A Woman's Life

    A Woman's Life

  • Legacy of the 500,000

    Legacy of the 500,000

  • 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

  • Port Arthur

    Port Arthur

  • Shadow Hunters

    Shadow Hunters

  • Haru's Journey

    Haru's Journey

  • Portrait of Hell

    Portrait of Hell

  • The Taika Reforms

    The Taika Reforms

  • Sugata Sanshiro

    Sugata Sanshiro

  • Vengeance for Sale

    Vengeance for Sale

  • Battle of the Japan Sea

    Battle of the Japan Sea

  • Like Asura

    Like Asura

  • Kill!

    Kill!

  • The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan

    The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan

  • 13 Assassins

    13 Assassins

  • Love Under the Crucifix

    Love Under the Crucifix

  • ゴメスの名はゴメス

    ゴメスの名はゴメス

  • The Corporation

    The Corporation

  • Basara: The Princess Goh

    Basara: The Princess Goh

  • Until the Break of Dawn

    Until the Break of Dawn

  • The Wolves

    The Wolves

  • Dawn of a New Day: The Man Behind VHS

    Dawn of a New Day: The Man Behind VHS

  • The Gate of Youth

    The Gate of Youth

  • Pinwheel Hamakichi's Spell

    Pinwheel Hamakichi's Spell

  • Zoku Ôban: Fûun hen

    Zoku Ôban: Fûun hen

  • Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Sanjuro'

    Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Sanjuro'

  • Queen Bee

    Queen Bee

  • Momi no Ki wa Nokotta: Ranshin

    Momi no Ki wa Nokotta: Ranshin

  • Get 'em All

    Get 'em All

  • The Beast Shall Die

    The Beast Shall Die

  • The Inheritance

    The Inheritance

  • Black River

    Black River

  • The Fir Trees Remain

    The Fir Trees Remain

  • The Human Trust

    The Human Trust

  • Zokuzoku Ôban: Dotô hen

    Zokuzoku Ôban: Dotô hen

  • Ant Hell War

    Ant Hell War

  • The Human Revolution

    The Human Revolution

  • Ôban

    Ôban

  • Blood Type: Blue

    Blood Type: Blue

  • The Human Bullet

    The Human Bullet

  • The Phoenix

    The Phoenix

  • Jubaku: Spellbound

    Jubaku: Spellbound

  • Listen to My Heart

    Listen to My Heart

  • Taikoki

    Taikoki

  • Cash Calls Hell

    Cash Calls Hell

  • Pressure of Guilt

    Pressure of Guilt

  • Journey

    Journey

  • All About Marriage

    All About Marriage

  • Fort Graveyard

    Fort Graveyard

  • Immortal Love

    Immortal Love

  • Lear on the Shore

    Lear on the Shore

  • Sleeping Village

    Sleeping Village

  • The Thick-Walled Room

    The Thick-Walled Room

  • Safari 5000

    Safari 5000

  • Duel at Fort Ezo

    Duel at Fort Ezo

  • Chibusa o daku musume tachi

    Chibusa o daku musume tachi

  • Three Yakuza

    Three Yakuza

  • The Life and Love of Kenji Miyazawa

    The Life and Love of Kenji Miyazawa

  • Atami Murder Case

    Atami Murder Case

  • Teenage Sazae

    Teenage Sazae

  • Tange Sazen: The Million Ryo Pot

    Tange Sazen: The Million Ryo Pot

  • Diary of an Elegant Hot Spring

    Diary of an Elegant Hot Spring

  • Zatoichi: The Last

    Zatoichi: The Last

  • The Other Woman

    The Other Woman

  • The Age of Assassins

    The Age of Assassins

  • Gaku

    Gaku

  • Mr. Giant's Victory Flag

    Mr. Giant's Victory Flag

  • Faraway Sunset

    Faraway Sunset

  • A Duel Tale

    A Duel Tale

  • Another Way: D-Kikan-Joho

    Another Way: D-Kikan-Joho

  • The Ambitious

    The Ambitious

  • I Am a Cat

    I Am a Cat

  • Life Work of Akira Kurosawa

    Life Work of Akira Kurosawa

  • Three Dolls in Ginza

    Three Dolls in Ginza

  • Battle Cry

    Battle Cry

  • Phoenix

    Phoenix

  • The Family

    The Family

  • Floating Weeds Diary

    Floating Weeds Diary

  • Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival

    Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival

  • The Naked Sun

    The Naked Sun

  • Michi

    Michi

  • Love on Rainbow Island

    Love on Rainbow Island

  • To Dance with the White Dog

    To Dance with the White Dog

  • The Law of Hell

    The Law of Hell

  • Oban kanketsu hen

    Oban kanketsu hen

  • Japan's Tragedy

    Japan's Tragedy

  • Lone Wolf and Cub: The Final Conflict

    Lone Wolf and Cub: The Final Conflict

  • The Blue Beast

    The Blue Beast

  • Pinwheel Hamakichi's Spell

    Pinwheel Hamakichi's Spell

  • East Meets West

    East Meets West

  • Rise, Fair Sun

    Rise, Fair Sun

  • Return from the River Kwai

    Return from the River Kwai

  • Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Yojimbo'

    Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Yojimbo'

  • How the Bell of Liberty Rings

    How the Bell of Liberty Rings

  • A Town and a Tall Chimney

    A Town and a Tall Chimney

  • A Dangerous Hero

    A Dangerous Hero

  • Blood End

    Blood End

  • Miren

    Miren

  • As the Clouds Scatter

    As the Clouds Scatter

  • Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'High and Low'

    Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'High and Low'

  • Henkan kōshōjin: Itsuka, Okinawa o torimodosu

    Henkan kōshōjin: Itsuka, Okinawa o torimodosu

  • Summer of the Moonlight Sonata

    Summer of the Moonlight Sonata

  • Magistrate of the Floating World

    Magistrate of the Floating World

  • Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Kagemusha'

    Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Kagemusha'

  • A Boy and Three Mothers

    A Boy and Three Mothers

  • Kojiro

    Kojiro

  • Illusion of Blood

    Illusion of Blood

  • Kurosawa: The Last Emperor

    Kurosawa: The Last Emperor

  • The Return

    The Return

  • Pilgrimage at Night

    Pilgrimage at Night

  • 嘱託刑事･小山田昭平　旅路の果て

    嘱託刑事･小山田昭平　旅路の果て

  • Let Him Rest in Peace

    Let Him Rest in Peace

  • Through the Mist

    Through the Mist

  • Gomez's Name is Gomez

    Gomez's Name is Gomez

  • Go and Get It

    Go and Get It

  • ふたりの死刑囚

    ふたりの死刑囚

  • Skin-Colored Moon

    Skin-Colored Moon

  • The Last Judgment

    The Last Judgment

  • Elegy

    Elegy

  • The Mandarin Room

    The Mandarin Room

  • The Shadow Daughter

    The Shadow Daughter

  • Will to Conquer

    Will to Conquer

  • Challenge at Dawn

    Challenge at Dawn

  • Yushu Heiya

    Yushu Heiya

  • The King

    The King

  • Florence My Love

    Florence My Love

  • Kampai! Miai Kekkon

    Kampai! Miai Kekkon

  • The Gion Tempest

    The Gion Tempest

  • Making of Ran

    Making of Ran

  • Aoki Ookami Narukichiomoase no Shougai

    Aoki Ookami Narukichiomoase no Shougai

  • Tatsuya Nakadai on 'The Human Condition'

    Tatsuya Nakadai on 'The Human Condition'

  • The Limit

    The Limit