Tatsuya Nakadai obit

Tatsuya Nakadai Dies: Japanese ‘Ran’ Actor Was 92

 

He was not on the list.

Japanese actor Tatsuya Nakadai, who was best known internationally for his role in Akiro Kurosawa’s 1985 epic drama Ran, has died in Tokyo at the age of 92.

Local media reported that the actor died on November 8, while being treated for pneumonia in hospital.

Nakadai, who born in Tokyo in 1932, was one of the best-known actors of his generation with his early career particularly associated with directors Masaki Kobayashi and Akira Kurosawa.

Kobayashi gave Nakadai his big screen break after spotting him at a Tokyo department store in the 1950s where he was working as a sales assistant.

The young man, without any formal acting train, would become the face of a nation grappling with its World War Two legacy in early roles.

Kobayashi first cast Nakadai in a minor role in the 1956 war drama The Thick-Walled Room about a group of Japanese soldiers accused of war crimes.

They would collaborate on 11 films in total Nakadai next starring in the director’s The Human Condition trilogy (1959-61) as pacifist trying to stay true to his ideals in wartime Japan, and then in ronin drama Harakiri (1962).

It was Nakadai’s work with Kurosawa that won him the most international fame.

The pair worked on five films together, topped by the Oscar-winning King Lear-inspired 1985 epic Ran, in which Nakadai played a feudal tragic warlord, and prior to that, Samurai drama Kagemusha, which won the Cannes Palme d’Or in 1980.

Nakadai’s varied 184 credits also included Yakuza melodrama Onimasa (1982); English-language picture Return from the River Kwai (1989); Japan’s Tragedy (2012), a family drama set in the aftermath of the deadly 2011 earthquake and tsunami; animated feature The Tale Of Princess Kaguya (2012) and his last film, The Pass: Last Days of the Samurai (2020).

Alongside his prolific career, Nakadai founded the Mumeijuku acting school in 1975, the alumni of which included Koji Yakusho, who won best actor in Cannes in 2023 for his performance in Wim Wenders’ Perfect Days.

One of Japan’s most revered actors, Nakadai was awarded with the Order of the Rising Sun in 2003, named him as a Person of Cultural Merit in 2007, and then presented with the country’s  Order of Culture by the emperor of Japan in 2015, the country’s highest accolade for a person in the arts and sciences.

Actor

The Pass: Last Days of the Samurai (2020)

The Pass: Last Days of the Samurai

5.9

Makino Tadayuki

2020

 

Kikyo (2019)

Kikyo

7.1

TV Movie

2019

 

A Town and a Tall Chimney (2019)

A Town and a Tall Chimney

SEKINE Hyoma

2019

 

Henkan Koshonin Itsuka, Okinawa o Torimodosu

Narrator (voice)

2018

 

Henkan Koshonin Itsuka, Okinawa o Torimodosu

TV Movie

Narrator (voice)

2017

 

Lear on the Shore (2017)

Lear on the Shore

6.0

2017

 

Cold Case: Shinjitsu No Tobira (2016)

Cold Case: Shinjitsu No Tobira

7.1

TV Mini Series

Kiyoshi Suzaki (Older)

2016

1 episode

 

Kyoaku wa nemurasenai: Tokusô Kenji no gyakushû (2016)

Kyoaku wa nemurasenai: Tokusô Kenji no gyakushû

TV Movie

2016

 

Tatsuya Nakadai, Kippei Shîna, and Ken'ichi Takitô in Burst (2015)

Burst

TV Mini Series

Rentarou Kuraki

2015

7 episodes

 

Hatashiai (2015)

Hatashiai

6.9

TV Movie

Shoji Sanosuke

2015

 

Yuzuriha no koro (2015)

Yuzuriha no koro

5.6

Kenichiro Miya

2015

 

Nôrin Ten: A Gonjirô Inazuka Story (2015)

Nôrin Ten: A Gonjirô Inazuka Story

2015

 

A Sinner's Lie (2014)

A Sinner's Lie

8.2

TV Mini Series

2014

5 episodes

 

Gun Woman (2014)

Gun Woman

4.8

Mr. Hamazaki (credit only)

2014

 

Giovanni's Island (2014)

Giovanni's Island

7.3

Junpei Senou (older) (voice)

2014

 

The Tale of The Princess Kaguya (2013)

The Tale of The Princess Kaguya

8.0

Sumiyaki no rôjin (voice)

2013

 

The Human Trust (2013)

The Human Trust

4.3

Nobuhiro Sasakura

2013

 

Yakusoku: Nabari dokubudôshu jiken shikeishû no shôgai

6.3

Masaru okunishi

2013

 

Until the Break of Dawn (2012)

Until the Break of Dawn

6.4

Sadayuki Akiyama

2012

 

Kazuki Kitamura, Tatsuya Nakadai, Akemi Ohmori, and Shinobu Terajima in Japan's Tragedy (2012)

Japan's Tragedy

7.2

Fujio

2012

 

Gaku

TV Movie

Kazama Shin-ichi

2012

 

Shingo Katori in Zatoichi: The Last (2010)

Zatoichi: The Last

5.1

Tendo

2010

 

Haru tono tabi (2010)

Haru tono tabi

7.1

Tadao Nakai

2010

 

Hikidashi no naka no rabu retâ (2009)

Hikidashi no naka no rabu retâ

6.4

Kyozo Hayami

2009

 

VeggieTales FitnessHof (2008)

VeggieTales FitnessHof

4.2

TV Series

Old Man with Sign

2008

1 episode

 

Seiyô Uchino in The Trusted Confidant (2007)

The Trusted Confidant

7.7

TV Series

Takeda Nobutora

2007

11 episodes

 

Murder of the Inugami Clan (2006)

Murder of the Inugami Clan

6.2

Sahei Inugami

2006

 

Shin ningen kousaten

TV Series

Yuji

2006

3 episodes

 

Yamato (2005)

Yamato

6.4

Katsumi Kamio (75 years old)

2005

 

Hoshi ni negaio: 7jô ma de umareta 410man no hoshi

7.3

TV Movie

Takanori Wakamiya

2005

 

Yoshino Kimura, Jun'ichi Okada, and Atsurô Watabe in Taika no Kaishin (2005)

Taika no Kaishin

TV Mini Series

Minabuchi no Syôan

2005

1 episode

 

Crying out Love, in the Center of the World (2004)

Crying out Love, in the Center of the World

7.9

TV Series

Matsumoto Kentaro

2004

 

Kyôko Fukada, Eri Fukatsu, Hitomi Kuroki, and Shinobu Ôtake in Ashura no gotoku (2003)

Ashura no gotoku

7.0

Kotaro Takezawa

2003

 

Dawn of a New Day: The Man Behind VHS (2002)

Dawn of a New Day: The Man Behind VHS

6.9

Matsushita (Matsushita Denki Co.)

2002

 

To Dance with the White Dog

6.6

Eisuke Nakamoto

2002

 

Hiroyuki Sanada in Sukedachi-ya Sukeroku (2001)

Sukedachi-ya Sukeroku

6.5

Umetaro Katakura

2001

 

Aki no ryojô sasupensu 3: Shokutaku keiji Koyamada Shô'hei tabiji no hate

TV Movie

2001

 

Jubaku: Spellbound (1999)

Jubaku: Spellbound

6.6

Hideaki Sasaki

1999

 

After the Rain (1999)

After the Rain

7.6

Tsuji Gettan

1999

 

Hideyoshi (1996)

Hideyoshi

7.3

TV Series

Rikyu

1996

29 episodes

 

Miyazawa Kenji sono ai

5.3

Seijirou Miyazawa

1996

 

Takaya Kamikawa in Daichi no Ko (1995)

Daichi no Ko

8.9

TV Series

Koji Matsumoto

1995

 

East Meets West (1995)

East Meets West

5.8

Rentaro Katsu

1995

 

Tatsuya Nakadai in Seizaemon's Last Days Revenge the Duel at Harimaya (1995)

Seizaemon's Last Days Revenge the Duel at Harimaya

TV Movie

1995

 

Go Tsubu no Shinju

TV Movie

Partner

1993

 

Gekko no natsu

7.6

1993

 

Tatsuya Nakadai in Seizaemon Zanjitsuroku (1993)

Seizaemon Zanjitsuroku

TV Series

Seizaemon Mitsuya

1993

 

Lone Wolf and Cub: Final Conflict (1993)

Lone Wolf and Cub: Final Conflict

6.6

Yagyu Retsudo

1993

 

Pinwheel Hamakichi's Spell (1992)

Pinwheel Hamakichi's Spell

TV Series

1992

 

Tatsuya Nakadai and Michelle Reis in The Wicked City (1992)

The Wicked City

5.7

Yuen Tai-Chung

1992

 

Toki rakujitsu (1992)

Toki rakujitsu

6.7

Kobayashi

1992

 

Gô-hime (1992)

Gô-hime

6.8

Oribe Furuta

1992

 

Heat Wave (1991)

Heat Wave

6.6

Tsunejiro Murai

1991

 

Bujinesuman no chichi yori musuko e no 30-tsuu no tegami

TV Series

1990

 

Jûsannin no shikaku (1990)

Jûsannin no shikaku

6.8

TV Movie

1990

 

Four Days of Snow and Blood (1989)

Four Days of Snow and Blood

6.3

Sugiyama

1989

 

Return from the River Kwai (1989)

Return from the River Kwai

4.9

Major Harada

1989

 

Sydne Rome in Another Way: D-Kikan-Joho (1988)

Another Way: D-Kikan-Joho

5.7

Shimamura

1988

 

Oracion (1988)

Oracion

6.1

Heihachiro Wagu

1988

 

Taikoki (1987)

Taikoki

7.5

TV Movie

(Narrator)

1987

 

Trinacria: Porsche 959

1987

 

Hachi-ko (1987)

Hachi-ko

7.9

Shujiro Ueno

1987

 

Michi

Seiji Tajima

1986

 

Atami satsujin jiken (1986)

Atami satsujin jiken

3.3

Denbei Nikaido

1986

 

Family Without a Dinner Table (1985)

Family Without a Dinner Table

7.2

Nabayuki Kidoji

1985

 

Ran (1985)

Ran

8.2

Lord Hidetora Ichimonji

1985

 

Kita no hotaru (1984)

Kita no hotaru

6.8

Takeshi Tsukigata

1984

 

Momi no ki wa nokotta: Ranshin (1983)

Momi no ki wa nokotta: Ranshin

4.8

TV Movie

1983

 

Kage gari (1983)

Kage gari

6.1

TV Movie

1983

 

Battle Anthem (1983)

Battle Anthem

6.5

Narrator

1983

 

Final Yamato (1983)

Final Yamato

7.0

Narrator (voice)

1983

 

Jigoku no Okite (1982)

Jigoku no Okite

5.2

Ikuzo

1982

 

Tange Sazen Kenfû! Hyakuman ryô no tsubo (1982)

Tange Sazen Kenfû! Hyakuman ryô no tsubo

6.8

TV Movie

Tange Sazen

1982

 

Onimasa (1982)

Onimasa

6.9

Masagoro Kiryûin - Onimasa

1982

 

Willful Murder (1981)

Willful Murder

7.2

Yashiro

1981

 

Kinagashi bugyo (1981)

Kinagashi bugyo

7.2

TV Movie

1981

 

Aokiôkami narukichiomoase no shôgai

TV Movie

1980

 

Tatsuya Nakadai and Tetsurô Tanba in The Battle of Port Arthur (1980)

The Battle of Port Arthur

6.6

General Nogi

1980

 

Kagemusha: The Shadow Warrior (1980)

Kagemusha: The Shadow Warrior

7.9

Shingen TakedaKagemusha

1980

 

Tatsuya Nakadai in Hunter in the Dark (1979)

Hunter in the Dark

7.0

Gomyo Kiyoemon

1979

 

Blue Christmas (1978)

Blue Christmas

6.2

Kazuya Minami

1978

 

Hi no tori (1978)

Hi no tori

6.0

Jingi the Conqueror, leader of the Takamagahara

1978

 

Tatsuya Nakadai in Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron (1978)

Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron

6.6

Kumokiri Nizaemon

1978

 

Queen Bee (1978)

Queen Bee

6.3

Ginzo Daidoji

1978

 

Sugata Sanshirô (1977)

Sugata Sanshirô

7.3

Yano

1977

 

Fumô chitai (1976)

Fumô chitai

7.0

1976

 

Zoku ningen kakumei (1976)

Zoku ningen kakumei

8.4

1976

 

Banka

Setsuo Katsuragi

1976

 

Kinkanshoku (1975)

Kinkanshoku

7.2

Yasuo Hoshino

1975

 

I Am a Cat (1975)

I Am a Cat

6.5

Kushami

1975

 

Tokkan (1975)

Tokkan

6.2

1975

 

The Gate of Youth (1975)

The Gate of Youth

6.8

Yuki, Shinsuke's father

1975

 

Yajû shisubeshi: fukushû no mekanikku (1974)

Yajû shisubeshi: fukushû no mekanikku

7.4

1974

 

The Family (1974)

The Family

7.6

Teppei Manpyo

1974

 

Rise, Fair Sun (1973)

Rise, Fair Sun

7.8

Sakuzo

1973

 

The Human Revolution (1973)

The Human Revolution

8.1

1973

 

Belladonna of Sadness (1973)

Belladonna of Sadness

7.3

Devil (voice)

1973

 

Ôshô (1973)

Ôshô

6.2

1973

 

Tatsuya Nakadai in Shin heike monogatari (1972)

Shin heike monogatari

6.8

TV Series

Taira no Kiyomori

1972

 

The Wolves (1971)

The Wolves

7.2

Seji Iwahashi

1971

 

Inn of Evil (1971)

Inn of Evil

7.2

Sadashichi

1971

 

Battle of Okinawa (1971)

Battle of Okinawa

6.9

Colonel Hiromichi Yahara

1971

 

Challenge at Dawn

1971

 

Will to Conquer

Toyo Yoshida

1970

 

Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival (1970)

Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival

7.3

Ronin (as Tatsuya Nakayo)

1970

 

The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan (1970)

The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan

6.8

Naojiro Kataoka

1970

 

Bakumatsu (1970)

Bakumatsu

6.0

Shintaro Nakaoka

1970

 

Ezo yakata no ketto (1970)

Ezo yakata no ketto

6.7

Daizennokami Honjo

1970

 

Tengu-tô (1969)

Tengu-tô

6.6

Sentarô

1969

 

Jigokuhen (1969)

Jigokuhen

7.3

Yoshihide

1969

 

Hitokiri (1969)

Hitokiri

7.4

Hanpeita Takechi

1969

 

Battle of the Japan Sea (1969)

Battle of the Japan Sea

6.4

Major Genjiro Akashi

1969

 

Safari 5000 (1969)

Safari 5000

5.9

1969

 

The Steel Edge of Revenge (1969)

The Steel Edge of Revenge

7.6

Magobei Wakizaka

1969

 

The Human Bullet (1968)

The Human Bullet

7.3

A narrator

1968

 

Admiral Yamamoto (1968)

Admiral Yamamoto

6.7

Narrator (voice)

1968

 

Kill! (1968)

Kill!

7.4

Genta

1968

 

Bud Spencer in Today We Kill, Tomorrow We Die! (1968)

Today We Kill, Tomorrow We Die!

6.1

James Elfego

1968

 

Tabiji

Yuichiro

1967

 

Gomez no na wa Gomez - Ryûsa

Sakamoto

1967

 

Toshirô Mifune in Samurai Rebellion (1967)

Samurai Rebellion

8.3

Tatewaki Asano

1967

 

Sasaki Kojiro (1967)

Sasaki Kojiro

7.4

Musashi Miyamoto

1967

 

The Age of Assassins (1967)

The Age of Assassins

7.2

Shinji Kikyo

1967

 

The Daphne

6.9

Professor Kanahira

1966

 

Shurushuru

TV Movie

1966

 

The Face of Another (1966)

The Face of Another

7.8

Mr. Okuyama

1966

 

Toshirô Mifune, Yûzô Kayama, and Tatsuya Nakadai in The Sword of Doom (1966)

The Sword of Doom

7.9

Ryunosuke Tsukue

1966

 

Cash Calls Hell (1966)

Cash Calls Hell

7.4

Oida

1966

 

Saigô no shinpan

8.3

1965

 

Toda-ke no kyôdai

TV Mini Series

1965

 

Fort Graveyard (1965)

Fort Graveyard

7.5

Sakuma

1965

 

Illusion of Blood (1965)

Illusion of Blood

6.5

Iyemon Tamiya

1965

 

Three Yakuza (1965)

Three Yakuza

7.0

Hatsukari-no-Sentaro

1965

 

Kwaidan (1964)

Kwaidan

7.9

Mi nokichi (segment "Yuki-Onna")

1964

 

Jigoku sakusen

7.3

1964

 

A Woman's Life (1963)

A Woman's Life

7.7

Akimoto

1963

 

Miren

6.6

Ryôta Kinoshita

1963

 

500,000 (1963)

500,000

6.8

Mitsura Gunji

1963

 

Shiro to kuro (1963)

Shiro to kuro

7.3

Hamano

1963

 

Toshirô Mifune, Kenjirô Ishiyama, Kyôko Kagawa, and Tatsuya Nakadai in High and Low (1963)

High and Low

8.4

Chief Detective Tokura

1963

 

Yûshû heiya (1963)

Yûshû heiya

7.6

Tatsumi

1963

 

Harakiri (1962)

Harakiri

8.6

Hanshiro Tsugumo

1962

 

Love Under the Crucifix (1962)

Love Under the Crucifix

6.8

Ukon Takayama

1962

 

The Inheritance (1962)

The Inheritance

7.4

Kikuo Furukawa

1962

 

Toshirô Mifune and Tatsuya Nakadai in Sanjuro (1962)

Sanjuro

8.0

Hanbei Muroto

1962

 

Immortal Love (1961)

Immortal Love

7.3

Heibei

1961

 

Kumo ga chigireru toki (1961)

Kumo ga chigireru toki

6.9

1961

 

Poignant Story (1961)

Poignant Story

7.4

Minami

1961

 

Toshirô Mifune and Tatsuya Nakadai in Yojimbo (1961)

Yojimbo

8.2

Unosuke - Gunfighter

1961

 

The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer (1961)

The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer

8.8

Kaji

1961

 

Get 'em All (1960)

Get 'em All

6.8

Tsubota

1960

 

The Blue Beast (1960)

The Blue Beast

6.9

Yasuhiko Kuroki

1960

 

Daughters, Wives and a Mother (1960)

Daughters, Wives and a Mother

7.3

Shingo Kuroki, Reiji's friend

1960

 

When a Woman Ascends the Stairs (1960)

When a Woman Ascends the Stairs

8.0

Kenichi Komatsu, the manager

1960

 

The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity (1959)

The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity

8.5

Kaji

1959

 

Anyakôro (1959)

Anyakôro

7.5

Kaname

1959

 

Three Dolls in Ginza

5.6

1959

 

Odd Obsession (1959)

Odd Obsession

6.8

Kimura

1959

 

Yajû shisubeshi (1959)

Yajû shisubeshi

7.4

Kunihiko Date

1959

 

The Human Condition I: No Greater Love (1959)

The Human Condition I: No Greater Love

8.5

Kaji

1959

 

Hadaka no taiyô (1958)

Hadaka no taiyô

6.7

Maida

1958

 

Conflagration (1958)

Conflagration

7.1

Tokari

1958

 

Fûryû onsen nikki

1958

 

Oban kanketsu hen

1958

 

Buttsuke homban

6.0

his Assistant

1958

 

All About Marriage (1958)

All About Marriage

7.5

1958

 

Yoru no hamon

Masaki

1958

 

A Boy and Three Mothers (1958)

A Boy and Three Mothers

The Engineer

1958

 

Kampai! Miai kekkon

Kunihiko Sasada

1958

 

Chiemi Eri in Sazae-san no seishun (1957)

Sazae-san no seishun

8.5

Norisuke

1957

 

Zokuzoku Ôban: Dotô hen

6.2

Shindon

1957

 

Black River (1957)

Black River

7.2

Jo

1957

 

Hadairo no tsuki

Jirô Taki

1957

 

A Dangerous Hero (1957)

A Dangerous Hero

8.5

1957

 

Zoku Ôban: Fûun hen

7.6

Shin don

1957

 

Kyôko Kagawa in Hikage no musume (1957)

Hikage no musume

1957

 

Untamed Woman (1957)

Untamed Woman

7.4

Shinkichi, the young tailor

1957

 

Ôban

6.9

Shin Don

1957

 

Oshidori no mon

1956

 

Sazae-san (1956)

Sazae-san

6.4

Norisuke

1956

 

The Thick-Walled Room (1956)

The Thick-Walled Room

7.1

1956

 

Hadashi no seishun (1956)

Hadashi no seishun

5.8

Yûji Wada

1956

 

Hi no tori (1956)

Hi no tori

5.6

Keiichi Naganuma

1956

 

Toshirô Mifune, Minoru Chiaki, Yoshio Inaba, Daisuke Katô, Isao Kimura, Seiji Miyaguchi, Takashi Shimura, and Keiko Tsushima in Seven Samurai (1954)

Seven Samurai

8.6

Samurai Wandering Through Town (uncredited)

1954

 

Soundtrack

Rise, Fair Sun (1973)

Rise, Fair Sun

7.8

Soundtrack ("O sole mio")

1973

 

Immortal Love (1961)

Immortal Love

7.3

Soundtrack ("Bakudan sanyûshi no uta (aka: Song of the three heroes)", "Teki wa ikuman (aka: Countless enemy soldiers)")

1961

 

Self

Imouto no Jikan (2025)

Imouto no Jikan

Self - Narrator

2025

 

Sleeping Village

Self (voice)

2019

 

Tetsuko Kuroyanagi in Tetsuko no heya (1976)

Tetsuko no heya

6.6

TV Series

Self

2011–2018

4 episodes

 

The 39th Annual Japan Academy Awards

TV Special

Self

2016

 

Futari no shikeishû - saishin imada hirakarezu (2015)

Futari no shikeishû - saishin imada hirakarezu

Self - Narration (voice)

2015

 

Isao Takahata in Isao Takahata and His Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)

Isao Takahata and His Tale of Princess Kaguya

7.5

Self

2013

 

Kakukoto no omosa: Sakka Satou Yasushi

Self - Narration (voice)

2013

 

Sutajio pâku kara konnichiwa (1995)

Sutajio pâku kara konnichiwa

TV Series

Self - Guest

2013

1 episode

 

Nakadai Tatsuya no Nihon eiga isan

TV Series

Self

2010–2011

4 episodes

 

The Making of 'Haru to no tabi'

1.3

Video

Self

2011

 

Bokura no jidai (2007)

Bokura no jidai

8.8

TV Series

Self

2010

1 episode

 

Chûbô desuyo!

TV Series

Self

2010

1 episode

 

Tsukuru to iu koto wa subarashii! Kurosawa Akira: Korega Kuroswa sasupensu da

Video

Self - Interviewee

2003

 

Kurosawa Akira: Tsukuru to iu koto wa subarashii (2002)

Kurosawa Akira: Tsukuru to iu koto wa subarashii

6.9

TV Series

SelfSelf - Unosuke - Gunfighter

2002

3 episodes

 

Great Performances (1971)

Great Performances

7.9

TV Series

Self

2000

1 episode

 

Kurosawa: The Last Emperor (1999)

Kurosawa: The Last Emperor

6.8

TV Movie

Self

1999

 

A.K. (1985)

A.K.

7.0

Self

1985

 

Michinaru hanran

TV Movie

Self - Macbeth

1983

 

Japan's Longest Day (1967)

Japan's Longest Day

7.7

Self - Narrator (voice)

1967

 

Reflets de Cannes (1952)

Reflets de Cannes

8.6

TV Series

Self

1963

1 episode

 

Archive Footage

Life Work of Akira Kurosawa (2023)

Life Work of Akira Kurosawa

Self - Lord Hidetora Ichimonji (archive footage)

2023

 

Pritan Ambroase in Hollywood Insider (2018)

Hollywood Insider

3.2

TV Series

Self (archive footage)

2022

1 episode

 

Today's Close Up

TV Series

Self (archive footage)

2015

1 episode

 

Hara/Baba (2013)

Hara/Baba

Short

(archive sound)

2013