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...

Known For

Career Timeline

19541964197419841994200420142025
  1. 2025
    The Limit

    Narrator • Acting

  2. 2022
    The Pass: Last Days of the Samurai

    Makino Tadayuki • Acting

  3. 2022
  4. 2019
  5. 2019
  6. 2019
    Sleeping Village

    (narration) • Acting

  7. 2018
  8. 2017
    Lear on the Shore

    Kuwahata Chokichi • Acting

Tatsuya Nakadai - Aperture