Takeshi
Kitano

Biography

A Japanese filmmaker, comedian, singer, actor, film editor, presenter, screenwriter, author, poet, painter, and one-time video game designer, Takeshi Kitano has had a distinguished career with over 45 awards for his acting and directing.

Having over 50 screen credits to his name as an actor as well as having directed over 15 feature films, Kitano has earned a great amount of respect in his native Japan as well as internationally. Apart from his film work, he is known internationally for his Japanese game show Takeshi's Castle (1986–1989), a show that has been repackaged all over the world and is still watched today for it's comic nature.

Some of his more recognised film roles include Yoshitaka Nishi in Hana-bi (1997), Kikujiro in the film Kikujiro (1999), Aniki Yamamoto in Brother (2000), Zatôichi / Ichi in the film Zatoichi (2003), and Beat Takeshi in the film Takeshis' (2005).

Most of the films he is best recognised for acting in also happen to be films he has directed.