Tatsuya Nakadai

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

199

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

  • Seven Samurai

    Seven Samurai

  • Ran

    Ran

  • High and Low

    High and Low

  • Gun Woman

    Gun Woman

  • Oración

    Oración

  • Zatoichi: The Last

    Zatoichi: The Last

  • Yojimbo

    Yojimbo

  • Trinacria: Porsche 959

    Trinacria: Porsche 959

  • Kurosawa

    Kurosawa

  • Harakiri

    Harakiri

  • The Tale of The Princess Kaguya

    The Tale of The Princess Kaguya

  • Belladonna of Sadness

    Belladonna of Sadness

  • NORINTEN 稲塚権次郎物語

    NORINTEN 稲塚権次郎物語

  • Sanjuro

    Sanjuro

  • The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer

    The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer

  • The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity

    The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity

  • Hachiko

    Hachiko

  • Yamato

    Yamato

  • Kwaidan

    Kwaidan

  • Return from the River Kwai

    Return from the River Kwai

  • A. K.

    A. K.

  • Skin-Colored Moon

    Skin-Colored Moon

  • The Face of Another

    The Face of Another

  • Samurai Banners

    Samurai Banners

  • Shin Heike Monogatari

    Shin Heike Monogatari

  • Samurai Rebellion

    Samurai Rebellion

  • Today We Kill, Tomorrow We Die!

    Today We Kill, Tomorrow We Die!

  • The Human Condition I: No Greater Love

    The Human Condition I: No Greater Love

  • Fireflies in the North

    Fireflies in the North

  • When a Woman Ascends the Stairs

    When a Woman Ascends the Stairs

  • The Sword of Doom

    The Sword of Doom

  • Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather

    Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather

  • Immortal Love

    Immortal Love

  • Kagemusha

    Kagemusha

  • Until the Break of Dawn

    Until the Break of Dawn

  • Wicked City

    Wicked City

  • Odd Obsession

    Odd Obsession

  • The Pass: Last Days of the Samurai

    The Pass: Last Days of the Samurai

  • Admiral Yamamoto

    Admiral Yamamoto

  • Black River

    Black River

  • After the Rain

    After the Rain

  • A Duel Tale

    A Duel Tale

  • The Battle of Okinawa

    The Battle of Okinawa

  • Portrait of Hell

    Portrait of Hell

  • Illusion of Blood

    Illusion of Blood

  • Legacy of the 500,000

    Legacy of the 500,000

  • The Inheritance

    The Inheritance

  • Tenchu!

    Tenchu!

  • Queen Bee

    Queen Bee

  • Love Under the Crucifix

    Love Under the Crucifix

  • Fort Graveyard

    Fort Graveyard

  • Safari 5000

    Safari 5000

  • Japan's Longest Day

    Japan's Longest Day

  • Hunter in the Dark

    Hunter in the Dark

  • Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival

    Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival

  • The Gate of Youth

    The Gate of Youth

  • Murder of the Inugami Clan

    Murder of the Inugami Clan

  • Goyokin

    Goyokin

  • Pressure of Guilt

    Pressure of Guilt

  • Conflagration

    Conflagration

  • Battle of the Japan Sea

    Battle of the Japan Sea

  • Daughters, Wives and a Mother

    Daughters, Wives and a Mother

  • Untamed Woman

    Untamed Woman

  • The Other Woman

    The Other Woman

  • Cash Calls Hell

    Cash Calls Hell

  • Inn of Evil

    Inn of Evil

  • The Ambitious

    The Ambitious

  • Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron

    Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron

  • Port Arthur

    Port Arthur

  • The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan

    The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan

  • Journey

    Journey

  • Heat Wave

    Heat Wave

  • Yushu Heiya

    Yushu Heiya

  • Mr. Giant's Victory Flag

    Mr. Giant's Victory Flag

  • The Fir Trees Remain

    The Fir Trees Remain

  • Battle Anthem

    Battle Anthem

  • The Thick-Walled Room

    The Thick-Walled Room

  • Lone Wolf and Cub: The Final Conflict

    Lone Wolf and Cub: The Final Conflict

  • Blood End

    Blood End

  • Phoenix

    Phoenix

  • As the Clouds Scatter

    As the Clouds Scatter

  • Faraway Sunset

    Faraway Sunset

  • The Empty Table

    The Empty Table

  • The Beast Shall Die

    The Beast Shall Die

  • The Phoenix

    The Phoenix

  • Lear on the Shore

    Lear on the Shore

  • Like Asura

    Like Asura

  • The Shadow Daughter

    The Shadow Daughter

  • Sazae-san

    Sazae-san

  • Summer of the Moonlight Sonata

    Summer of the Moonlight Sonata

  • Giovanni's Island

    Giovanni's Island

  • Shadow Hunters

    Shadow Hunters

  • The Daphne

    The Daphne

  • Basara: The Princess Goh

    Basara: The Princess Goh

  • Three Yakuza

    Three Yakuza

  • Floating Weeds Diary

    Floating Weeds Diary

  • Haru's Journey

    Haru's Journey

  • The Naked Sun

    The Naked Sun

  • Listen to My Heart

    Listen to My Heart

  • I Am a Cat

    I Am a Cat

  • Kojiro

    Kojiro

  • Will to Conquer

    Will to Conquer

  • Kill!

    Kill!

  • Challenge at Dawn

    Challenge at Dawn

  • Four Days of Snow and Blood

    Four Days of Snow and Blood

  • A Boy and Three Mothers

    A Boy and Three Mothers

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

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

  • Diary of an Elegant Hot Spring

    Diary of an Elegant Hot Spring

  • Oban kanketsu hen

    Oban kanketsu hen

  • The Human Trust

    The Human Trust

  • Solar Eclipse

    Solar Eclipse

  • The Human Bullet

    The Human Bullet

  • A Town and a Tall Chimney

    A Town and a Tall Chimney

  • Wish Upon a Star

    Wish Upon a Star

  • Human Revolution II

    Human Revolution II

  • Blood Type: Blue

    Blood Type: Blue

  • Pinwheel Hamakichi's Spell

    Pinwheel Hamakichi's Spell

  • The Age of Assassins

    The Age of Assassins

  • A Dangerous Hero

    A Dangerous Hero

  • The Last Judgment

    The Last Judgment

  • Chibusa o daku musume tachi

    Chibusa o daku musume tachi

  • The Family

    The Family

  • The Corporation

    The Corporation

  • Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World

    Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World

  • The Law of Hell

    The Law of Hell

  • The Taika Reforms

    The Taika Reforms

  • Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya

    Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya

  • The Life and Love of Kenji Miyazawa

    The Life and Love of Kenji Miyazawa

  • Zoku Ôban: Fûun hen

    Zoku Ôban: Fûun hen

  • Taikoki

    Taikoki

  • The Wolves

    The Wolves

  • Tange Sazen: The Million Ryo Pot

    Tange Sazen: The Million Ryo Pot

  • A Woman's Life

    A Woman's Life

  • Ôban

    Ôban

  • Ant Hell War

    Ant Hell War

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

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

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

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

  • 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

  • Kampai! Miai Kekkon

    Kampai! Miai Kekkon

  • Battle Cry

    Battle Cry

  • Henkan kōshōjin: Itsuka, Okinawa o torimodosu

    Henkan kōshōjin: Itsuka, Okinawa o torimodosu

  • Before The Leaves Fall

    Before The Leaves Fall

  • The King

    The King

  • Miren

    Miren

  • Gomez's Name is Gomez

    Gomez's Name is Gomez

  • Zokuzoku Ôban: Dotô hen

    Zokuzoku Ôban: Dotô hen

  • Vengeance for Sale

    Vengeance for Sale

  • All About Marriage

    All About Marriage

  • Dawn of a New Day: The Man Behind VHS

    Dawn of a New Day: The Man Behind VHS

  • Willful Murder

    Willful Murder

  • To Dance with the White Dog

    To Dance with the White Dog

  • Love on Rainbow Island

    Love on Rainbow Island

  • Get 'em All

    Get 'em All

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

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

  • Jubaku: Spellbound

    Jubaku: Spellbound

  • Michi

    Michi

  • Final Yamato

    Final Yamato

  • Through the Mist

    Through the Mist

  • Kin chan no Cinema Jack

    Kin chan no Cinema Jack

  • Teenage Sazae

    Teenage Sazae

  • East Meets West

    East Meets West

  • Japan's Tragedy

    Japan's Tragedy

  • 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

  • Duel at Fort Ezo

    Duel at Fort Ezo

  • Atami Murder Case

    Atami Murder Case

  • The Human Revolution

    The Human Revolution

  • Pilgrimage at Night

    Pilgrimage at Night

  • Rise, Fair Sun

    Rise, Fair Sun

  • A Son Of The Good Earth

    A Son Of The Good Earth

  • The Blue Beast

    The Blue Beast

  • The Legend of Sayo

    The Legend of Sayo

  • Sugata Sanshiro

    Sugata Sanshiro

  • Magistrate of the Floating World

    Magistrate of the Floating World

  • Suna no Utsuwa

    Suna no Utsuwa

  • Gaku

    Gaku

  • The Mandarin Room

    The Mandarin Room

  • A Sinner's Lie

    A Sinner's Lie

  • Kurosawa: The Last Emperor

    Kurosawa: The Last Emperor

  • ゴメスの名はゴメス

    ゴメスの名はゴメス

  • Pinwheel Hamakichi's Spell

    Pinwheel Hamakichi's Spell

  • Kinagashi Bugyō

    Kinagashi Bugyō

  • The Return

    The Return

  • Go and Get It

    Go and Get It

  • Momi no Ki wa Nokotta: Ranshin

    Momi no Ki wa Nokotta: Ranshin

  • The Limit

    The Limit

  • 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

  • Sleeping Village

    Sleeping Village

  • Three Dolls in Ginza

    Three Dolls in Ginza

  • Black Baby

    Black Baby

  • Life Work of Akira Kurosawa

    Life Work of Akira Kurosawa

  • 13 Assassins

    13 Assassins

  • The Gion Tempest

    The Gion Tempest

  • Another Way: D-Kikan-Joho

    Another Way: D-Kikan-Joho

  • Florence My Love

    Florence My Love

  • Let Him Rest in Peace

    Let Him Rest in Peace

  • Making of Ran

    Making of Ran

  • Tatsuya Nakadai on 'The Human Condition'

    Tatsuya Nakadai on 'The Human Condition'

  • Elegy

    Elegy

  • ふたりの死刑囚

    ふたりの死刑囚