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Ken Takakura

Ken Takakura

Biography

Ken Takakura (高倉 健, Takakura Ken), born Gouichi Oda (February 16, 1931, in Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka, Japan), was a Japanese actor best known for his brooding style and the stoic presence he brings to his roles. Takakura gained his streetwise swagger and tough-guy persona watching yakuza turf battles over the lucrative black market and racketeering in postwar Fukuoka. This subject was covered in one of his most famous movies, Showa Zankyo-den (Remnants of Chivalry in the Showa Era), in which he played an honorable old-school yakuza among the violent post-war gurentai. A graduate of Meiji University in Tokyo Takakura happened by an audition in 1955 at the Toei Film Company, and decided to look in. Toei found a natural in Takakura as he debuted with Denko Karate Uchi (Lightning Karate Blow) in 1956. Japan experienced a boom in gangster films in the 1960s as the Japanese people struggled with the generational differences between those raised in pre-war and post-war Japan and these were Takakura's stock and trade. His breakout role would be in the 1965 film Abashiri Prison, and its sequel Abashiri Bangaichi: Bokyohen (Abashiri Prison: Longing for Home, also 1965), in which he played an ex-con antihero. By the time Takakura would leave Toei in 1976, he had appeared in over 180 films. Takakura gained international recognition after starring in the 1970 war film Too Late the Hero as the cunning Imperial Japanese Major Yamaguchi, the 1975 Sydney Pollack sleeper hit The Yakuza with Robert Mitchum and is probably best known in the West for his role in Ridley Scott's Black Rain (1989) where he surprises American cops played by Michael Douglas and Andy García with the line, "I do speak fucking English". He again proved himself bankable to Western audiences with the 1992 Fred Schepisi comedy Mr. Baseball starring Tom Selleck. While he has slowed down a bit in his older years, he is still active. His most recent film was the 2005 Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles by Chinese director Zhang Yimou. Description above from the Wikipedia article Ken Takakura, licensed under CC-BY-SA,full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Personal Info

Gender

Male

Birthday

1931-02-16

Place of Birth

Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka, Japan

Cast


Crew

    The Longest Tunnel

    The Longest Tunnel

    19820.0 / 10

    Black Rain

    Black Rain

    19896.6 / 10

    Operation Diamond

    Operation Diamond

    19620.0 / 10

    The Yellow Handkerchief

    The Yellow Handkerchief

    19776.8 / 10

    47 Ronin

    47 Ronin

    19947.5 / 10

    Tokyo Gang vs. Hong Kong Gang

    Tokyo Gang vs. Hong Kong Gang

    19640.0 / 10

    South Pacific Waves Are High

    South Pacific Waves Are High

    19620.0 / 10

    A Dead Drifter

    A Dead Drifter

    19590.0 / 10

    Never Give Up

    Never Give Up

    19785.7 / 10

    Rogue

    Rogue

    19680.0 / 10

    The Yakuza

    The Yakuza

    19747.1 / 10

    Men Fighting Whales

    Men Fighting Whales

    19570.0 / 10

    Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles

    Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles

    20057.2 / 10

    Tokyo Untouchable

    Tokyo Untouchable

    19620.0 / 10

    The Kamikaze Guy

    The Kamikaze Guy

    19665.0 / 10

    Antarctica

    Antarctica

    19837.2 / 10

    The Bullet Train

    The Bullet Train

    19756.8 / 10

    Mannen Taro and His Feminine Colleagues

    Mannen Taro and His Feminine Colleagues

    19610.0 / 10

    Mr. Baseball

    Mr. Baseball

    19925.8 / 10

    The World's Most Noble Guy: Taro's Whirlwind

    The World's Most Noble Guy: Taro's Whirlwind

    19610.0 / 10

    Railroad Man

    Railroad Man

    19997.0 / 10

    Blackmail

    Blackmail

    19630.0 / 10

    Red Peony Gambler

    Red Peony Gambler

    19687.2 / 10

    Manhunt

    Manhunt

    19766.5 / 10

    Main Street in the Underworld

    Main Street in the Underworld

    19646.0 / 10

    An Outlaw

    An Outlaw

    19644.8 / 10

    A Distant Cry from Spring

    A Distant Cry from Spring

    19807.3 / 10

    Golgo 13

    Golgo 13

    19734.9 / 10

    Hell's Companion

    Hell's Companion

    19590.0 / 10

    Red Peony Gambler: Flower Cards Game

    Red Peony Gambler: Flower Cards Game

    19697.0 / 10

    The Outsiders

    The Outsiders

    19580.0 / 10

    Tokyo's  Business District

    Tokyo's Business District

    19620.0 / 10

    Brave Red Flower of the North

    Brave Red Flower of the North

    19706.0 / 10

    Miyamoto Musashi V: Musashi vs Kojiro

    Miyamoto Musashi V: Musashi vs Kojiro

    19657.3 / 10

    Mount Hakkoda

    Mount Hakkoda

    19776.4 / 10

    Buddies

    Buddies

    19896.8 / 10

    Station

    Station

    19816.1 / 10

    A Fugitive from the Past

    A Fugitive from the Past

    19657.5 / 10

    Dearest

    Dearest

    20126.8 / 10

    Contemporary Tales of Chivalry 2

    Contemporary Tales of Chivalry 2

    19667.0 / 10

    Contemporary Tales of Chivalry: The Lone Wolf

    Contemporary Tales of Chivalry: The Lone Wolf

    19666.0 / 10

    Demon

    Demon

    19857.0 / 10

    Contemporary Tales of Chivalry 4

    Contemporary Tales of Chivalry 4

    19676.2 / 10

    Manchurian Sunset

    Manchurian Sunset

    19560.0 / 10

    Brutal Tales of Chivalry 5: Man With The Karajishi Tattoo

    Brutal Tales of Chivalry 5: Man With The Karajishi Tattoo

    19697.5 / 10

    Brutal Tales of Chivalry 7: Hell Is a Man's Destiny

    Brutal Tales of Chivalry 7: Hell Is a Man's Destiny

    19706.0 / 10

    Brutal Tales of Chivalry

    Brutal Tales of Chivalry

    19657.1 / 10

    Showdown in Blood

    Showdown in Blood

    19570.0 / 10

    If You're Man Enough

    If You're Man Enough

    19600.0 / 10

    Abashiri Prison

    Abashiri Prison

    19657.1 / 10

    Wolves, Pigs & Men

    Wolves, Pigs & Men

    19648.1 / 10

    All Rascals

    All Rascals

    19620.0 / 10

    The Man

    The Man

    19710.0 / 10

    Karate Cop

    Karate Cop

    19820.0 / 10

    Tokyo Untouchable: Escape

    Tokyo Untouchable: Escape

    19630.0 / 10

    The Kanto Scarlet Cherry Gang

    The Kanto Scarlet Cherry Gang

    19726.0 / 10

    Uragirimono wa jigoku daze

    Uragirimono wa jigoku daze

    19620.0 / 10

    Winter's Flower

    Winter's Flower

    19786.2 / 10

    The Firefly

    The Firefly

    20017.0 / 10

    G-men of Japan 4: Special Armed Unit Mobilization

    G-men of Japan 4: Special Armed Unit Mobilization

    19560.0 / 10

    Robert Mitchum: The Reluctant Star

    Robert Mitchum: The Reluctant Star

    19917.5 / 10

    The Domain

    The Domain

    19646.4 / 10

    The Homeless

    The Homeless

    19747.5 / 10

    A Portrait of the Author

    A Portrait of the Author

    19840.0 / 10

    Too Late the Hero

    Too Late the Hero

    19706.5 / 10

    Contemporary Tales of Chivalry: Forbidden Love

    Contemporary Tales of Chivalry: Forbidden Love

    19717.0 / 10

    Lightning Karate Blow

    Lightning Karate Blow

    19560.0 / 10

    Prison Boss

    Prison Boss

    19687.0 / 10

    Choji Snack Bar

    Choji Snack Bar

    19837.0 / 10

    The Day the Sun Rose

    The Day the Sun Rose

    19687.0 / 10

    The Path of the King

    The Path of the King

    19716.0 / 10

    The Deep Blue Sea

    The Deep Blue Sea

    19575.0 / 10

    Classmates

    Classmates

    19676.5 / 10

    The Last Kamikaze

    The Last Kamikaze

    19706.0 / 10

    The Prickly Mouthed Geisha Part 2

    The Prickly Mouthed Geisha Part 2

    19600.0 / 10

    The Revolt

    The Revolt

    19806.0 / 10

    With Songs in My Heart

    With Songs in My Heart

    19580.0 / 10

    The Sand City in Manchuria

    The Sand City in Manchuria

    19606.5 / 10

    Prison Walls of Abashiri 4

    Prison Walls of Abashiri 4

    19650.0 / 10

    New Prison Walls of Abashiri

    New Prison Walls of Abashiri

    19686.0 / 10

    Flower, Storm and Gangster

    Flower, Storm and Gangster

    19616.0 / 10

    Romance Freestyle

    Romance Freestyle

    19580.0 / 10

    Four Hours of Terror

    Four Hours of Terror

    19595.7 / 10

    Devil's Nursery Rhyme

    Devil's Nursery Rhyme

    19610.0 / 10

    Jet Air Base 101

    Jet Air Base 101

    19570.0 / 10

    Sister with Sister

    Sister with Sister

    19580.0 / 10

    Detective Duel

    Detective Duel

    19586.0 / 10

    A Fishwife's Tale

    A Fishwife's Tale

    19610.0 / 10

    Glorious Fights

    Glorious Fights

    19667.0 / 10

    Hishakaku and Kiratsune: A Tale of Two Yakuza

    Hishakaku and Kiratsune: A Tale of Two Yakuza

    19686.0 / 10

    The International Gang of Kobe

    The International Gang of Kobe

    19755.7 / 10

    The Prickly Mouthed Geisha and the Girl of Osaka

    The Prickly Mouthed Geisha and the Girl of Osaka

    19620.0 / 10

    Ken San

    Ken San

    20166.0 / 10

    365 Nights

    365 Nights

    19620.0 / 10

    Feisty Edo Girl Nakanori-san

    Feisty Edo Girl Nakanori-san

    19610.0 / 10

    The World's Most Noble Guy: Taro's Rush

    The World's Most Noble Guy: Taro's Rush

    19600.0 / 10

    Tales of President Mito

    Tales of President Mito

    19620.0 / 10

    No Advice Taken

    No Advice Taken

    19580.0 / 10

    Outlaw Under a Blue Canopy

    Outlaw Under a Blue Canopy

    19600.0 / 10

    Patience Has An End

    Patience Has An End

    19715.7 / 10

    The Bullet and the Horse

    The Bullet and the Horse

    19660.0 / 10

    House of Gamblers

    House of Gamblers

    19707.0 / 10

    The Pledge

    The Pledge

    19725.0 / 10

    The Prickly Mouthed Geisha, Part 4

    The Prickly Mouthed Geisha, Part 4

    19610.0 / 10

    The Prickly Mouthed Geisha, Part 3

    The Prickly Mouthed Geisha, Part 3

    19600.0 / 10

    Black Rain: Making The Film

    Black Rain: Making The Film

    20067.3 / 10

    Eleven Gangsters

    Eleven Gangsters

    19630.0 / 10

    The Second Bullet is Marked

    The Second Bullet is Marked

    19606.0 / 10

    Brutal Tales of Chivalry 6

    Brutal Tales of Chivalry 6

    19690.0 / 10

    Contemporary Tales of Chivalry: The Traitor Shall Die

    Contemporary Tales of Chivalry: The Traitor Shall Die

    19720.0 / 10

    The Chivalrous Life

    The Chivalrous Life

    19677.0 / 10

    New Prison Walls of Abashiri 2

    New Prison Walls of Abashiri 2

    19696.0 / 10

    Prison Walls of Abashiri 3

    Prison Walls of Abashiri 3

    19657.0 / 10

    Jakoman and Tetsu

    Jakoman and Tetsu

    19646.0 / 10

    Samurai Geisha

    Samurai Geisha

    19696.0 / 10

    Miyamoto Musashi: Birth of Two Sword Style

    Miyamoto Musashi: Birth of Two Sword Style

    19637.0 / 10

    Miyamoto Musashi: The Duel at Ichijo Temple

    Miyamoto Musashi: The Duel at Ichijo Temple

    19647.0 / 10

    A Story from Abashiri Prison—Duel in Snow Storm

    A Story from Abashiri Prison—Duel in Snow Storm

    19670.0 / 10

    The Domain: Flower and Dragon

    The Domain: Flower and Dragon

    19690.0 / 10

    New Prison Walls of Abashiri: Snowbound Deserter

    New Prison Walls of Abashiri: Snowbound Deserter

    19710.0 / 10

    Life of Hishakaku

    Life of Hishakaku

    19638.0 / 10

    Song of Kagoshima

    Song of Kagoshima

    19620.0 / 10

    The Drifting Avenger

    The Drifting Avenger

    19686.7 / 10

    Yakuza of the Present

    Yakuza of the Present

    19730.0 / 10

    Beyond the Seasonal Wind

    Beyond the Seasonal Wind

    19580.0 / 10

    Memoir of Japanese Assassinations

    Memoir of Japanese Assassinations

    19697.0 / 10

    Prison Walls of Abashiri, Part 2

    Prison Walls of Abashiri, Part 2

    19657.0 / 10

    Third Generation Boss

    Third Generation Boss

    19740.0 / 10

    New Prison Walls of Abashiri: Stormy Cape

    New Prison Walls of Abashiri: Stormy Cape

    19715.0 / 10

    Brothers Serving Time

    Brothers Serving Time

    19698.0 / 10

    Gambler's Legacy

    Gambler's Legacy

    19696.5 / 10

    Bloodiest Flower

    Bloodiest Flower

    19715.2 / 10

    Red Peony Gambler: Second Generation Ceremony

    Red Peony Gambler: Second Generation Ceremony

    19696.2 / 10

    Man of Thirteen Eyes

    Man of Thirteen Eyes

    19580.0 / 10

    Mother Peacock

    Mother Peacock

    19560.0 / 10

    The Escape

    The Escape

    19627.0 / 10

    The Biggest Gamble

    The Biggest Gamble

    19697.0 / 10

    The Prickly-Mouthed Geisha Goes to Sado

    The Prickly-Mouthed Geisha Goes to Sado

    19610.0 / 10

    The World's Most Noble Guy: Taro's Eternity

    The World's Most Noble Guy: Taro's Eternity

    19600.0 / 10

    The Happy Family

    The Happy Family

    19590.0 / 10

    The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry

    The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry

    19656.0 / 10

    Gang Loyalty and Vengeance

    Gang Loyalty and Vengeance

    19635.0 / 10

    Great Jailbreak

    Great Jailbreak

    19757.0 / 10

    The Japan Derby Race

    The Japan Derby Race

    19700.0 / 10

    The Big Boss

    The Big Boss

    19630.0 / 10

    Lullaby for a Tough Guy

    Lullaby for a Tough Guy

    19720.0 / 10

    Men in a Rough Town

    Men in a Rough Town

    19590.0 / 10

    Storm Party

    Storm Party

    19640.0 / 10

    Employee Full of Fight

    Employee Full of Fight

    19574.0 / 10

    New Prison Walls of Abashiri: The Vagrant Comes to a Port Town

    New Prison Walls of Abashiri: The Vagrant Comes to a Port Town

    19696.0 / 10

    Japan's Top Gangster

    Japan's Top Gangster

    19730.0 / 10

    Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido

    Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido

    19670.0 / 10

    The Boss

    The Boss

    19650.0 / 10

    Abashiri Prison: Duel in the South

    Abashiri Prison: Duel in the South

    19660.0 / 10

    Abashiri Prison: Duel in the Snow Country

    Abashiri Prison: Duel in the Snow Country

    19660.0 / 10

    New Prison Walls of Abashiri: High Stakes at Abashiri

    New Prison Walls of Abashiri: High Stakes at Abashiri

    19700.0 / 10

    New Prison Walls of Abashiri: Stray Wolf in Snow

    New Prison Walls of Abashiri: Stray Wolf in Snow

    19700.0 / 10

    New Abashiri Prison Story: Honor and Humanity, Ammunition That Attracts the Storm

    New Abashiri Prison Story: Honor and Humanity, Ammunition That Attracts the Storm

    19720.0 / 10

    Abashiri Prison: Challenge to the Evil

    Abashiri Prison: Challenge to the Evil

    19670.0 / 10

    Lady Sen and Hideyori

    Lady Sen and Hideyori

    19628.0 / 10

    The Domain: Rising Dragon

    The Domain: Rising Dragon

    19700.0 / 10

    The Domain: The Naniwa Story

    The Domain: The Naniwa Story

    19653.2 / 10

    Showdown of Men

    Showdown of Men

    19660.0 / 10

    Dagger

    Dagger

    19710.0 / 10

    The Domain: White Blade

    The Domain: White Blade

    19670.0 / 10

    The Domain: Severed Relations

    The Domain: Severed Relations

    19680.0 / 10

    The Domain: Where The Blade Enters

    The Domain: Where The Blade Enters

    19670.0 / 10

    The Domain: Duel at Thunder Gate

    The Domain: Duel at Thunder Gate

    19660.0 / 10

    The Domain: Kanda Festival Showdown

    The Domain: Kanda Festival Showdown

    19660.0 / 10

    Path of Japanese Chivalry: Story of All-Out Attack

    Path of Japanese Chivalry: Story of All-Out Attack

    19750.0 / 10

    To the Sea, See You

    To the Sea, See You

    19880.0 / 10

    A Hoodlum At The Risk Of His Life

    A Hoodlum At The Risk Of His Life

    19700.0 / 10

    The Great Road

    The Great Road

    19600.0 / 10

    Hell's Juggler

    Hell's Juggler

    19610.0 / 10

    Duel of the Underworld

    Duel of the Underworld

    19630.0 / 10

    Hell's Kitchen

    Hell's Kitchen

    19620.0 / 10

    Histories of the Chivalrous

    Histories of the Chivalrous

    19680.0 / 10

    The Chop Professor

    The Chop Professor

    19560.0 / 10

    Yukyo-retsuden

    Yukyo-retsuden

    19705.0 / 10

    Gambler Biography

    Gambler Biography

    19685.0 / 10

    The detective whose path was crossed by a snake

    The detective whose path was crossed by a snake

    19950.0 / 10

    Meteor Karate Strike

    Meteor Karate Strike

    19560.0 / 10

    A Man's Dark Finger

    A Man's Dark Finger

    19590.0 / 10

    The Counterfeiters

    The Counterfeiters

    19590.0 / 10

    続べらんめぇ芸者

    続べらんめぇ芸者

    19600.0 / 10

    Monsoon Son

    Monsoon Son

    19580.0 / 10

    Monsoon Son Pt.2

    Monsoon Son Pt.2

    19580.0 / 10

    べらんめぇ藝者罷り通る

    べらんめぇ藝者罷り通る

    19610.0 / 10

    Midair Circus

    Midair Circus

    19580.0 / 10

    侠客の掟

    侠客の掟

    19670.0 / 10

    Delinquent Angel

    Delinquent Angel

    19600.0 / 10