Takeshi Kitano

Takeshi Kitano is a Japanese filmmaker, actor and comedian, also known as Beat Takeshi. Born in Tokyo in 1947, he established a popular comedy and television career before gaining international attention in Nagisa Oshima's Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence. He made his directorial debut with Violent Cop in 1989.

His films include Sonatine, Hana-Bi, Kikujiro, Brother and Zatoichi, alongside the Outrage crime trilogy. He often combines violence with stillness, deadpan humour and unexpected tenderness. Outside his own cinema, his appearances in Battle Royale and the television game show Takeshi’s Castle have brought him to very different international audiences.