Takeshi

From strip theater MC to Golden Lion winner: the comedian who redefined Japanese cinema with violence, silence, and black humor.

Takeshi Kitano (born January 18, 1947), known in Japan as Beat Takeshi, is a multifaceted Japanese entertainer renowned globally as a filmmaker and actor while maintaining his roots as a comedian and TV host. Rising from the strip theaters of Asakusa to become one of Japan's "Big Three" television comedians alongside Sanma Akashiya and Tamori, Kitano revolutionized manzai with sharp-tongued black humor that often targeted the socially vulnerable. His career pivoted dramatically in 1983 when he gained recognition for his serious acting role in Nagisa Ōshima's Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, eventually earning acclaim as a director after taking over Violent Cop in 1989. Known for his deadpan style and long takes, Kitano has become an international icon of modern cinema.

Quick Facts

Born

18 January 1947

Birthplace

Adachi, Tokyo, Japan

Other names

Beat Takeshi (ビートたけし)

Occupation

Comedian
actor
filmmaker

Years active

1969–present

Notable works

Hana-bi (1997)

Children

Shōko Kitano; Atsushi Kitano

Lore & Background

Kitano's journey began in a working-class neighborhood in Adachi, Tokyo, where he studied engineering at Meiji University before dropping out at age 19. In 1972, he moved to Asakusa to work as an elevator operator at the France-za strip club, eventually becoming its MC under the tutelage of Senzaburo Fukami. By 1973, he formed the comedy duo Two Beat with Kiyoshi Kaneko (Beat Kiyoshi), achieving national fame by 1976 through their risqué material that frequently censored offensive dialogue and even earned him a five-year ban from NHK studios for exposing his body on air.

The duo dominated the late 1970s and early 1980s with shows like Oretachi Hyōkin-zoku, which recorded a 29.1% viewership rating. Despite this success, Kitano dissolved the act to pursue solo hosting and acting, eventually casting himself in Nagisa Ōshima's film Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983). Following his directorial debut with Violent Cop in 1989 after Kinji Fukasaku stepped down, Kitano established a unique cinematic voice characterized by minimal camera movement and sudden violence.

Reader's Guide

Fans exploring Kitano's work should note his distinct evolution from a comedian known for targeting the elderly, handicapped, and poor in Two Beat to a serious actor who vowed to stick to dark characters after an audience laughed at his serious performance in Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence. His directorial style is defined by collaboration with composer Joe Hisaishi (from 1991's A Scene at the Sea until 2002) and a visual approach described as "near-stasis."

Key milestones include the 1989 debut of Violent Cop, where he heavily rewrote the script; the 1993 Cannes Film Festival screening of Sonatine, which received rave reviews in Europe despite poor domestic performance; and the 1997 Venice win for Hana-bi. His acting versatility is evident in roles ranging from a tough POW camp sergeant opposite David Bowie to the kayfabe manager of Big Van Vader at the 1987 NJPW Year End In Kokugikan event. For those interested in his literary side, he published the memoir Asakusa Kid in 1988 and has translated novels into French, while his paintings often adorn his film soundtracks.

Did You Know?

He was the first Japanese celebrity to actively contribute to video game development as a consultant on Takeshi no Chōsenjō (1986).
His film Hana-bi (1997) made him the third Japanese director to win the Golden Lion at Venice, following Akira Kurosawa and Hiroshi Inagaki.
Kitano described his 1994 motorscooter accident, which caused partial facial paralysis, as an "unconscious suicide attempt."