--- name: "Tatsuya Nakadai" canonical: "https://film.one/person/tatsuya-nakadai" fi1m_id: "tatsuya-nakadai" imdb_id: "nm0619938" tmdb_id: 70131 wikidata_id: "Q449621" roles: ["Actor"] born: "13 December 1932" died: "8 November 2025" reviewed_on_fi1m: 5 average_fi1m_score: 89 average_as: "actor" average_over: 5 updated: "2026-09-17T14:56:39.107609+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Tatsuya Nakadai ## Identity Tatsuya Nakadai - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/tatsuya-nakadai - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** tatsuya-nakadai - **IMDb ID:** nm0619938 - **TMDB ID:** 70131 - **Wikidata ID:** Q449621 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatsuya_Nakadai, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q449621, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0619938/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/70131 Actor. Born 13 December 1932 in Meguro, Tokyo, Japan. Died 8 November 2025. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 13 December 1932, Meguro, Tokyo, Japan - **Died:** 8 November 2025 - **Active:** 1961–2013 - **Also known as:** Тацуя Накадай, Tatsuya Nakadaki, تاتسویا ناکادای, Motohisa Nakadai, 仲代 元久, 仲代元久, 仲代 達矢 - **Frequently works with:** [Akira Kurosawa](https://film.one/person/akira-kurosawa.md), [Hideo Oguni](https://film.one/person/hideo-oguni.md), [Ryuzo Kikushima](https://film.one/person/ryuzo-kikushima.md), [Toshirō Mifune](https://film.one/person/toshiro-mifune.md) - **Average Fi1m score:** 89, as actor, over 5 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 90 (3), 1980s 92 (1), 2010s 84 (1) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 89 to 83 across 5 titles - **Score spread:** 5 at 80+, 0 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 4 of 4 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 5, Action 2, History 2, Thriller 2, Animation 1, Crime 1 - **Screen time:** 11 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $859m across 5 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatsuya_Nakadai, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q449621, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0619938/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/70131 ## Streaming the US now - **HBO Max:** [*High and Low*](https://film.one/film/high-and-low.md) (90), [*Yojimbo*](https://film.one/film/yojimbo.md) (88) - **Apple TV:** [*Ran*](https://film.one/film/ran.md) (92) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Tatsuya Nakadai > Tatsuya Nakadai can make a measured exchange feel dangerous without letting his manner slip. We value him most in *Harakiri*, where his restraint keeps a demanding film urgent and makes its anger at cruelty harder to dismiss. In *Harakiri* (1962), Tatsuya Nakadai makes a formal conversation feel as though something might break. As the ronin Hanshiro Tsugumo, he gives measured exchanges a pressure that keeps us attending even when the story is slow to move. Masaki Kobayashi lets him hold those passages without hurrying past their ceremony. We found the film harrowing because his restraint makes the cruelty beneath all that talk of honour harder to bear. His breakthrough came as Kaji in Kobayashi's *The Human Condition* trilogy (1959–1961), a long, demanding lead that established him as a major star. Akira Kurosawa cast him as the gun-carrying Unosuke in *Yojimbo* (1961) and Chief Detective Tokura in *High and Low* (1963). Those parts make the samurai label look a little narrow. What interests us across them is how readily his intensity suits men who threaten order as well as those charged with keeping it. His theatrical training helps explain the heightened manner, and some reviews of his samurai work have found it exaggerated. We can see why the formality might keep a viewer at a distance, though in *Harakiri* it gives us a reason to look closer. Kobayashi trusts Nakadai to keep the feeling legible beneath Tsugumo's controlled manner, even through passages that risk becoming forbidding. The storytelling sometimes tests our patience; the performance keeps rewarding it. He was often cast as men older than himself, using make-up and physical presence to convey their authority. Kurosawa later gave him the double lead in *Kagemusha* (1980) and the role of Lord Hidetora Ichimonji in *Ran* (1985). His expressive eyes and physical transformation make the warlord's decline convincing. For an introduction, though, we would choose the controlled performance in *Harakiri*. Give its conversations time, and do not expect Nakadai to tell us everything at once. ## Biography Tatsuya Nakadai (born Motohisa Nakadai) was a Japanese actor. He was born on 13 December 1932 in Meguro, Tokyo, and died on 8 November 2025. He appeared in numerous films directed by Masaki Kobayashi, including the lead role of Hanshiro Tsugumo in *Harakiri* (1962) and Chief Detective Tokura in *High and Low* (1963). He also worked with Akira Kurosawa, playing Unosuke in *Yojimbo* (1961) and Lord Hidetora Ichimonji in *Ran* (1985). Other credits include *Seven Samurai* (1954), *Sanjuro* (1962), *Kagemusha* (1980) and *The Tale of the Princess Kaguya* (2013). Nakadai was a stage actor who founded the Mumeijuku acting school in 1975. He received the Order of Culture in 2015. *Sources: variety.com, en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (5) - *The Tale of The Princess Kaguya* (2013), Fi1m 84, as Charcoal-maker Old Man (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-tale-of-the-princess-kaguya.md) - *Ran* (1985), Fi1m 92, as Lord Hidetora Ichimonji — [page](https://film.one/film/ran.md) - *High and Low* (1963), Fi1m 90, as Chief Detective Tokura — [page](https://film.one/film/high-and-low.md) - *Harakiri* (1962), Fi1m 91, as Hanshiro Tsugumo — [page](https://film.one/film/harakiri.md) - *Yojimbo* (1961), Fi1m 88, as Unosuke, gunfighter — [page](https://film.one/film/yojimbo.md) ## Complete filmography (192) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *The Limit* (2025), as Narrator (voice) - *The Pass: Last Days of the Samurai* (2022), as Makino Tadayuki - *The Return* (2019), as Unokichi - *A Town and a Tall Chimney* (2019), as Hyoma Sekine - *Sleeping Village* (2019), as Narrator (voice) - *Henkan kōshōjin: Itsuka, Okinawa o torimodosu* (2018), as Narrator (voice) - *Lear on the Shore* (2017), as Kuwahata Chokichi - *Cold Case: Door of Truth* (2016), series, as Suzaki Kiyoshi - *Great evil does not go to sleep: The counterattack of the special investigation unit prosecutor* (2016), as Yohei Tachibana - *A Duel Tale* (2015), as Sanosuke Shoji - *NORIN TEN inadzukagonjirō monogatari* (2015), as Gonjiro Inazuka - *Futari no shikeishû - saishin imada hirakarezu* (2015), as Narrator (voice) - *Before The Leaves Fall* (2015), as Kenichiro Miya - *A Sinner's Lie* (2014), series, as Kenzo Haneda - *Gun Woman* (2014), as Hamazaki - *Giovanni's Island* (2014), as Older Junpei Senou (voice) - *The Tale of The Princess Kaguya* (2013), as Charcoal-maker Old Man (voice) — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-tale-of-the-princess-kaguya.md) - *The Human Trust* (2013), as Nobuhiro Sasakura - *Promise: The Nabari Poisoned Wine Case, The Life of a Death-row Inmate* (2013), as Masaru Okunishi - *Until the Break of Dawn* (2012), as Sadayuki Akiyama - *Japan's Tragedy* (2012), as Fujio Murai - *Gaku* (2012), as Kazama Shin-ichi - *Zatoichi: The Last* (2010), as Tendo - *Haru's Journey* (2010), as Tadao Nakai - *Listen to My Heart* (2009), as Kyozo Hayami - *Through the Mist* (2009), as (archive footage) - *Samurai Banners* (2007), series, Actor - *Murder of the Inugami Clan* (2006), as Sahei Inugami - *Yamato* (2005), Actor - *Wish Upon a Star* (2005), as Takanori Wakamiya - *The Taika Reforms* (2005), as Minabuchi no Syôan - *Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World* (2004), series, as Matsumoto Kentaro - *Like Asura* (2003), as Kotaro Takezawa - *Dawn of a New Day: The Man Behind VHS* (2002), as Matsushita (Matsushita Denki Co.) - *To Dance with the White Dog* (2002), as Eisuke Nakamoto - *Vengeance for Sale* (2002), as Umetaro Katakura - *嘱託刑事･小山田昭平　旅路の果て* (2001), series, Actor - *After the Rain* (2000), as Tsuji Gettan - *Jubaku: Spellbound* (1999), as Hideaki Sasaki - *The Life and Love of Kenji Miyazawa* (1996), as Seijiro Miyazawa - *A Son of the Good Earth* (1995), series, Actor - *East Meets West* (1995), as Kaishu Katsu - *Summer of the Moonlight Sonata* (1993), Actor - *Kin chan no Cinema Jack* (1993), Actor - *Lone Wolf and Cub: The Final Conflict* (1993), as Yagyu Retsudo - *Wicked City* (1992), as Daishu - *Faraway Sunset* (1992), as Kobayashi - *Pinwheel Hamakichi's Spell* (1992), series, Actor - *Basara: The Princess Goh* (1992), as Oribe Furuta - *Pinwheel Hamakichi's Spell* (1992), Actor - *Heat Wave* (1991), as Tsunejiro Murai - *Florence My Love* (1991), Actor - *Battleship Yamato* (1990), as Vice Admiral Seiichi Itō - *13 Assassins* (1990), Actor - *Let Him Rest in Peace* (1989), Actor - *Four Days of Snow and Blood* (1989), as Sugiyama - *Return from the River Kwai* (1989), as Major Harada - *Another Way: D-Kikan-Joho* (1988), as Shimamura - *Oración* (1988), as Heihachiro Wagu - *Trinacria: Porsche 959* (1987), Actor - *Hachiko* (1987), as Shujiro Ueno - *Taikoki* (1987), as Narrator (voice) - *Michi* (1986), as Seiji Tajima - *Atami Murder Case* (1986), as Denbei Nikaido - *The Empty Table* (1985), as Nobuyuki Kidoji - *Ran* (1985), as Lord Hidetora Ichimonji — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/ran.md) - *Fireflies in the North* (1984), as Takeshi Tsukigata - *The Fox Dancing in the Dusk* (1984), Actor - *The Fir Trees Remain* (1983), Actor - *Momi no Ki wa Nokotta: Ranshin* (1983), series, Actor - *Shadow Hunters* (1983), Actor - *Battle Anthem* (1983), Actor - *Final Yamato* (1983), as Narrator - *The Legend of Sayo* (1982), as Otozo - *Tange Sazen: The Million Ryo Pot* (1982), as Sazen Tange - *The Law of Hell* (1982), as Ikuzô - *Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather* (1982), as Masagoro Kiryuin - Onimasa - *Willful Murder* (1981), as Yashiro - *Magistrate of the Floating World* (1981), Actor - *Kinagashi Bugyō* (1981), series, Actor - *Aoki Ookami Narukichiomoase no Shougai* (1980), series, as ナレーション - *Port Arthur* (1980), as Maresuke Nogi - *Kagemusha* (1980), as Shingen Takeda / Kagemusha - *Hunter in the Dark* (1979), as Gomyo Kiyoemon - *Blood Type: Blue* (1978), as Minami - *The Phoenix* (1978), as Jingi the Conqueror, leader of the Takamagahara - *Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron* (1978), as Kumokiri Nizaemon - *Queen Bee* (1978), as Ginzo Daidoji - *Sugata Sanshiro* (1977), as Yano - *Suna no Utsuwa* (1977), series, as 今西栄太郎 - *The Corporation* (1976), as Tadashi Iki - *Human Revolution II* (1976), Actor - *Elegy* (1976), as Setsuo Katsuragi - *Solar Eclipse* (1975), as Yasuo Hoshino, the Chief Cabinet Secretary - *I Am a Cat* (1975), as Kushami - *Battle Cry* (1975), as Hijikata Toshizo - *The Gate of Youth* (1975), Actor - *The Family* (1974), as Teppei Manpyo - *Rise, Fair Sun* (1973), as Sakuzo - *The Human Revolution* (1973), Actor - *Belladonna of Sadness* (1973), as The Devil (voice) - *The King* (1973), as Kinjiro Sekine - *Shin Heike Monogatari* (1972), series, as Taira no Kiyomori - *The Wolves* (1971), as Seji Iwahashi - *Inn of Evil* (1971), as Sadashichi - *The Battle of Okinawa* (1971), as Colonel Hiromichi Yahara - *Challenge at Dawn* (1971), as Tsukagoshi - *Will to Conquer* (1970), as Yoshida Tōyō - *Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival* (1970), as Ronin - *The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan* (1970), as Naojiro Kataoka - *The Ambitious* (1970), as Shintaro Nakaoka - *Duel at Fort Ezo* (1970), as Daizennokami Honjo - *Blood End* (1969), as Sentaro - *Portrait of Hell* (1969), as Yoshihide - *Tenchu!* (1969), as Hanpeita Takechi - *Battle of the Japan Sea* (1969), as Major Genjiro Akashi - *Safari 5000* (1969), Actor - *Goyokin* (1969), as Magobei Wakizaka - *The Human Bullet* (1968), as Narrator (voice) - *Admiral Yamamoto* (1968), as Narrator (voice) - *Kill!* (1968), as Genta - *Today We Kill, Tomorrow We Die!* (1968), as James Elfego - *The Journey* (1967), as Yuichiro - *Japan's Longest Day* (1967), as Narrator (voice) - *Samurai Rebellion* (1967), as Tatewaki Asano - *Who Is Gomez?* (1967), as Sakamoto - *ゴメスの名はゴメス* (1967), series, Actor - *Kojiro* (1967), as Musashi Miyamoto - *The Age of Assassins* (1967), as Shinji Kikyo - *The Daphne* (1966), Actor - *The Face of Another* (1966), as Mr. Okuyama - *The Sword of Doom* (1966), as Ryunosuke Tsukue - *Cash Calls Hell* (1966), as Oida - *Fort Graveyard* (1965), as Sakuma - *Illusion of Blood* (1965), as Iyemon Tamiya - *Three Yakuza* (1965), Actor - *The Last Judgment* (1965), Actor - *Kwaidan* (1965), as Minokichi (segment "The Woman of the Snow") - *Ant Hell War* (1964), Actor - *Mr. Giant's Victory Flag* (1964), Actor - *A Woman's Life* (1963), as Takashi Akimoto - *Miren* (1963), as Ryôta Kinoshita - *Legacy of the 500,000* (1963), as Mitsura Gunji - *High and Low* (1963), as Chief Detective Tokura — Fi1m 90, [page](https://film.one/film/high-and-low.md) - *Pressure of Guilt* (1963), Actor - *Madame Aki* (1963), as Tatsumi - *Farm Girls* (1962), as Kenichi - *Harakiri* (1962), as Hanshiro Tsugumo — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/harakiri.md) - *Love Under the Crucifix* (1962), as Ukon Takayama - *The Inheritance* (1962), as Kikuo Furukawa - *Sanjuro* (1962), as Hanbei Muroto - *Immortal Love* (1961), as Heibei - *As the Clouds Scatter* (1961), as James Kimura - *The Other Woman* (1961), as Minami - *Yojimbo* (1961), as Unosuke, gunfighter — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/yojimbo.md) - *The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer* (1961), as Kaji - *Get 'em All* (1960), as Tsubota - *The Blue Beast* (1960), as Yasuhiko Kuroki - *Daughters, Wives and a Mother* (1960), as Kuroki Shingo - *When a Woman Ascends the Stairs* (1960), as Kenichi Komatsu - *The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity* (1959), as Kaji - *Pilgrimage at Night* (1959), as Kaname - *Three Dolls in Ginza* (1959), as Kyosuke Tamura - *Odd Obsession* (1959), as Kimura - *The Beast Shall Die* (1959), as Kunihiko Date - *The Human Condition I: No Greater Love* (1959), as Kaji - *The Naked Sun* (1958), as Jiro Maeda - *Conflagration* (1958), as Tokari - *Diary of an Elegant Hot Spring* (1958), as Kazuo Shimada - *Oban kanketsu hen* (1958), as Shin Don - *Go and Get It* (1958), as Hara - *All About Marriage* (1958), as Akira Nakayama - *The Gion Tempest* (1958), as Masaki - *A Boy and Three Mothers* (1958), as Kensaku, the Engineer - *Kampai! Miai Kekkon* (1958), as Kunihiko Sasada - *Teenage Sazae* (1957), as Norisuke - *Zokuzoku Ôban: Dotô hen* (1957), as Shindon - *Black River* (1957), as Jo - *Skin-Colored Moon* (1957), as Jirô Taki - *A Dangerous Hero* (1957), as Reporter Imamura - *Zoku Ôban: Fûun hen* (1957), as Shin don - *The Shadow Daughter* (1957), as Motohashi - *Untamed Woman* (1957), as Kimura - *Ôban* (1957), as Shin Don - *The Mandarin Room* (1956), as Ando - *Sazae-san* (1956), as Norisuke - *The Thick-Walled Room* (1956), as Prisoner (uncredited) - *Love on Rainbow Island* (1956), as Yûji Wada - *Phoenix* (1956), as Keiichi Naganuma - *Floating Weeds Diary* (1955), as Union Member - *How the Bell of Liberty Rings* (1954), as (uncredited) - *Seven Samurai* (1954), as Samurai Wandering through Town (uncredited) — Fi1m 95, [page](https://film.one/film/seven-samurai.md) ## Gallery - ![1955年9月16日から28日にかけて、劇団俳優座の『幽霊』（原作：ヘンリック・イプセン、演出：大木靖）が六本木の俳優座劇場で上演された。左から秋好光果、東山千栄子、仲代達也。](https://film.one/media/person/102960/gallery-407074139f89.jpg) 1955年9月16日から28日にかけて、劇団俳優座の『幽霊』（原作：ヘンリック・イプセン、演出：大木靖）が六本木の俳優座劇場で上演された。左から秋好光果、東山千栄子、仲代達也。 — 朝日新聞社, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Asahigraph-1955-10-05-1.jpg/1280px-Asahigraph-1955-10-05-1.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![『殺人狂時代』と『インディレース 爆走』の新聞広告。 (1967)](https://film.one/media/person/102960/gallery-3bf78d36fee7.jpg) 『殺人狂時代』と『インディレース 爆走』の新聞広告。 (1967) — 中日新聞社, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Chunichi1967-02-03-1.jpg/1280px-Chunichi1967-02-03-1.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![『人間の條件』。仲代達也、新珠三千代。 (1959)](https://film.one/media/person/102960/gallery-1003296cf76b.jpg) 『人間の條件』。仲代達也、新珠三千代。 (1959) — キネマ旬報社, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/Kinema-Junpo-1960-February-Special-3.jpg/1280px-Kinema-Junpo-1960-February-Special-3.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Tatsuya Nakadai (1959)](https://film.one/media/person/102960/gallery-d409b19d5698.jpg) Tatsuya Nakadai (1959) — キネマ旬報社, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Kinema-Junpo-1960-January-late-1.jpg/1280px-Kinema-Junpo-1960-January-late-1.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Tatsuya Nakadai](https://film.one/media/person/102960/gallery-6ee386b07cae.jpg) Tatsuya Nakadai — Image via TMDB - ![Tatsuya Nakadai](https://film.one/media/person/102960/gallery-ebb45aea27b8.jpg) Tatsuya Nakadai — Image via TMDB - ![Tatsuya Nakadai](https://film.one/media/person/102960/gallery-4e07574da509.jpg) Tatsuya Nakadai — Image via TMDB - ![『用心棒』 (1961)](https://film.one/media/person/102960/gallery-0140ff560dd8.jpg) 『用心棒』 (1961) — キネマ旬報社, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/Kinema-Junpo-1961-April-special-1.jpg/1280px-Kinema-Junpo-1961-April-special-1.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![​『用心棒』 (1961)](https://film.one/media/person/102960/gallery-3b36853aeb21.jpg) ​『用心棒』 (1961) — キネマ旬報社, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/Kinema-Junpo-1962-February-special-2.jpg/1280px-Kinema-Junpo-1962-February-special-2.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Tatsuya Nakadai](https://film.one/media/person/102960/gallery-204b0f4d05d9.jpg) Tatsuya Nakadai — Image via TMDB - ![Tatsuya Nakadai](https://film.one/media/person/102960/gallery-aac5dbc21bb3.jpg) Tatsuya Nakadai — Image via TMDB - ![Tatsuya Nakadai](https://film.one/media/person/102960/gallery-5b8686ba3f57.jpg) Tatsuya Nakadai — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Other awards — 8 won - Order of Culture 2015: Order of Culture (won) - Asahi Prize 2013: Asahi Prize (won) - Person of Cultural Merit 2007: Person of Cultural Merit (won) - Order of the Rising Sun, 4th class 2003: Order of the Rising Sun, 4th class (won) - Medal with Purple Ribbon 1996: Medal with Purple Ribbon (won) - Blue Ribbon Awards for Best Actor 1981: Blue Ribbon Awards for Best Actor (won) - Blue Ribbon Awards for Best Actor 1963: Blue Ribbon Awards for Best Actor (won) - Elan d'or Award for Newcomer of the Year 1957: Elan d'or Award for Newcomer of the Year (won) *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/tatsuya-nakadai