{{Short description|Japanese actor (1931–2014)}} {{For|the fictional character of the same name|List of Dandadan characters#Ken Takakura / Okarun}} {{Expand Japanese|topic=bio|高倉健|date=February 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Ken Takakura | honorific_suffix = [[Junior Third Rank]] | image = TakakuraKen.jpg | image_size = | caption = | native_name = {{nobold|高倉 健}} | native_name_lang = ja | birth_name = Takeichi Oda | birth_date = {{birth date|1931|2|16}} | birth_place = [[Nakama, Fukuoka]], Japan | death_date = {{death date and age|2014|11|10|1931|2|16}} | death_place = [[Tokyo]], Japan | other_names = | height = {{height|m=1.80}} | alma_mater = [[Meiji University]] | occupation = Actor | years_active = 1956–2014 | spouse = {{plainlist|*{{marriage|[[Chiemi Eri]]|1959|1971|end=divorced}} *[[Taka Oda]] (Common-law marriage 1997-2014 until death, daughter in law from 2013) }}<ref>https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%B0%8F%E7%94%B0%E8%B2%B4%E6%9C%88 小田貴月</ref> | website = }}
{{nihongo|'''Ken Takakura'''|高倉 健|Takakura Ken|lead=yes}}, born {{nihongo|'''Takeichi Oda'''|小田 剛一|Oda Takeichi|February 16, 1931 – November 10, 2014}}, was a Japanese actor and singer who appeared in over 200 films. Affectionately referred to as "Ken-san" by audiences, he was best known for his brooding style and the stoic presence he brought to his roles.<ref name=la>{{cite web|last1=Thomas|first1=Kevin|title=Takakura: 'Black Rain' Star Finds His Place in the Sun : Movies: The veteran of nearly 200 Japanese films is likely to gain greater international fame from this one, atypical performance.|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-10-13-ca-312-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=19 November 2014|date=13 October 1989}}</ref> He won the [[Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role]] four times, tied with [[Koji Yakusho]] for the most ever.<ref name="nippon.com obit"/> Takakura additionally received the [[Medals of Honor (Japan)|Japanese Medal of Honor with purple ribbon]] in 1998, the [[Person of Cultural Merit]] award in 2006, and the [[Order of Culture]] in 2013.
== Life== Takakura was born in [[Nakama, Fukuoka]] in 1931.<ref name=guard>{{cite web|last1=Macy|first1=Roger|title=Ken Takakura obituary|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/nov/18/ken-takakura|work=The Guardian|access-date=19 November 2014|date=18 November 2014}}</ref> He was the second of four siblings, two of whom were sons and two of whom were daughters. His father, Toshiro Oda, was a former Imperial Japanese Navy officer, serving on the battleship Hiei during World War II, and mother, Takano was a teacher.<ref>{{cite web |title=高倉健さん没後11年「お兄さん、今幸せでしょう」 妹が語る国民的名優の素顔 |url=https://www.sankei.com/article/20251202-BP24FQTBDZLM7KGGZ2KQQZYMQE/ |website=Sankei |access-date=8 February 2026 |language=ja |date=2 December 2025}}</ref> As child he suffered from disease , encouraged by his father, Tadahi joined sports when He attended Tochiku High School in nearby [[Yahata, Fukuoka|Yahata City]], where he was a member of the boxing team and English society. It was around this time that he gained his streetwise swagger and tough-guy persona watching ''[[yakuza]]'' movies.<ref name=hoover>{{cite book|last1=Hoover|first1=William D.|title=Historical dictionary of postwar Japan|date=2011|publisher=Scarecrow Press|location=Lanham, Md.|isbn=978-0810854604|page=301}}</ref> 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 gangs.<ref name=guard/> After graduating from [[Meiji University]] in Tokyo, Takakura attended an audition on impulse in 1955 at the [[Toei Company|Toei Film Company]] while applying for a managerial position.<ref name=guard/>
==Career==
Toei found a natural in Takakura as he debuted with ''Denko Karate Uchi'' (''Lightning Karate Blow'') in 1956.<ref name=mayer>{{cite book|last1=Mayer|first1=Geoff|title=Historical dictionary of crime films|date=2012|publisher=Scarecrow Press|location=Lanham, Md.|isbn=978-0810867697|pages=359–360}}</ref> In 1959 he married singer [[Chiemi Eri]], but divorced in 1971. His breakout role would be in the 1965 film ''[[Abashiri Prison (film)|Abashiri Prison]]'', and its sequel ''Abashiri Bangaichi: Bokyohen'' (''Abashiri Prison: Longing for Home'', also 1965), in which he played an ex-con antihero.<ref name=guard/> By the time Takakura left Toei in 1976, he had appeared in over 180 films.<ref name=hoover/>
He gained international recognition after starring in the 1970 war film ''[[Too Late the Hero (film)|Too Late the Hero]]'' as the cunning Imperial Japanese Major Yamaguchi, the 1974 [[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 American film)|Black Rain]]'' (1989). He again appeared to Western audiences with the 1992 [[Fred Schepisi]] comedy ''[[Mr. Baseball]]'' starring [[Tom Selleck]].<ref name=mayer/>
Takakura was one of the few Japanese actors who experienced popularity in China, due to his appearance in [[Junya Satō]]'s 1976 crime drama ''[[Manhunt (1976 film)|Kimi yo Fundo no Kawa o Watare]]'' (known in some territories as ''Manhunt''), the first foreign film shown after the [[Cultural Revolution]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=陈晨 |date=2014-11-18 |title=83岁日本男演员高仓健去世，其电影《追捕》影响中国一代人 |trans-title=83-year-old Japanese actor Ken Takakura died, and his film "Manhunt" influenced a generation in China |url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1278940 |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=[[The Paper (newspaper)|The Paper]]}}</ref><ref name="takchina">{{cite web|title=China mourns death of Japanese actor Takakura|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/china-mourns-death-japanese-actor-takakura-040444538.html?ref=gs|website=Yahoo! News|access-date=12 May 2016|archive-date=30 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530172306/https://www.yahoo.com/news/china-mourns-death-japanese-actor-takakura-040444538.html?ref=gs|url-status=dead}}</ref> He also starred as the titular assassin in Junya Satō's ''[[Golgo 13 (film)|Golgo 13]]'' (1973), a Japanese–Iranian production and the first live-action adaptation of the Japanese [[manga]] series ''[[Golgo 13]]''.
He appeared in three films since 2000: {{Nihongo|''Hotaru''|ホタル|The Firefly}} in May 2001, ''[[Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles]]'', by [[China|Chinese]] director [[Zhang Yimou]], in late December 2005, and [[Yasuo Furuhata]]'s ''[[Anata e]]'' (''Dearest'') in late August 2012, after a six-year hiatus.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Sharp|first1=Jasper|title=Historical dictionary of Japanese cinema|date=2011|publisher=Scarecrow Press|location=Lanham, Md.|isbn=978-0810875418|pages=232–234}}</ref> He died of [[lymphoma]] on November 10, 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-30092460|title=Veteran Japanese actor Ken Takakura dies at 83|publisher=BBC News|date=18 November 2014|access-date=19 November 2014}}</ref><ref name="nippon.com obit"/> [[Shintaro Ishihara]] described him as "the last big star (in Japan)."<ref>{{cite web|title=Ken Takakura, Japanese star and Black Rain actor, dead at 83|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/ken-takakura-japanese-star-and-black-rain-actor-dead-at-83-1.2838806|publisher=CBC|access-date=19 November 2014|date=18 November 2014}}</ref> A huge number of Chinese internet users expressed their sympathies and condolences, including many celebrities in the Chinese movie industry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ent.ifeng.com/a/20141118/40368886_0.shtml|title=日本男星高仓健去世引众星悼念 姚晨：别了杜秋|website=ent.ifeng.com|access-date=1 October 2018}}</ref> The spokesman of China's [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] Hong Lei said that Takakura made significant contributions to the cultural exchange between China and Japan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-11-18 |title=外交部对高仓健逝世表示哀悼：他是国人熟悉的艺术家 |trans-title=The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses condolences for the death of Ken Takakura: he is a well-known artist among the Chinese people |url=http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2014/1118/c70731-26048966.html |website=[[People's Daily]] |language=zh}}</ref>
A documentary based on Takakura's life entitled ''Ken San'' premiered at the [[2016 Cannes Film Festival]] and was released in Japanese theaters on August 20, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Brasor|first1=Philip|title=Why Japanese media still kowtow to Ken Takakura|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/07/16/national/media-national/japanese-media-still-kowtow-ken-takakura/#.V7IoBJgrLIU|website=The Japan Times| date=16 July 2016 |access-date=15 August 2016}}</ref> It was directed by photographer [[Yuichi Hibi]] and features interviews with filmmakers and actors such as [[Martin Scorsese]], [[Paul Schrader]], [[Michael Douglas]], [[John Woo]], and [[Yoji Yamada]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Deleon|first1=Alex|title=KEN SAN, A towering documentary from Japan was thinly Attended at Cannes|url=http://www.filmfestivals.com/blog/cannes_market_dailies/ken_san_a_towering_documentary_from_japan_was_thinly_attended_at_cannes|website=FilmFestivals|publisher=M21 Entertainment|access-date=15 August 2016}}</ref>
== Filmography == {|class="wikitable sortable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"|Notes ! class="unsortable"|{{Abbr|Ref.|References}} |- |rowspan="7" |1956 |''Inner Journey Pt.2'' |Yusaku Shinobu |Lead role |<ref>{{cite web |url= https://eiga.com/movie/72047/|title= 電光空手打ち|access-date= 29 May 2026|website= [[Eiga.com]]|language=ja}}</ref> |- |''Inner Journey'' |Yusaku Shinobu |Lead role |<ref>{{cite web |url= https://eiga.com/movie/72047/|title= 電光空手打ち|access-date= 29 May 2026|website= Eiga.com|language=ja}}</ref> |- |''The Chop Professor'' | | |<ref>{{cite web |url= https://eiga.com/movie/72187/|title= 無敵の空手! チョップ先生|access-date= 29 May 2026|website= Eiga.com|language=ja}}</ref> |- |''Nippon G-Men Pt.3'' | | |<ref>{{cite web |url= https://eiga.com/movie/72289/|title= にっぽんGメン 特別武装班出動|access-date= 29 May 2026|website= Eiga.com|language=ja}}</ref> |- |''Yûhi to Kenjû'' |Shintarô Yamaoka | |<ref>{{cite web |url= https://eiga.com/movie/72341/|title= 夕日と拳銃|access-date= 29 May 2026|website= Eiga.com|language=ja}}</ref> |- |''Mother Peacock'' | | | |- |''Get Rid of the Gun'' | |Lead role | |- |rowspan="5" |1957 |''Daigaku no Ishimatsu'' | |Lead role | |- |''Tajobushin'' | | | |- |''Nisshin senso fuun hiwa: Kiri no machi'' | | | |- |''Aoi unabara'' |Kenji Hamada | | |- |''Jet Air Base 101'' |Jiro Nakata | | |- |rowspan="9" |1958 |''No Advice Taken'' | | | |- |''Tarao Bannai: Jusan no mao'' | | | |- |''Romance, Freestyle'' | | | |- |''Kisetsufu no kanatani'' |Hideo Sekigawa | | |- |''Detective Duel'' | | | |- |''With Songs in My Heart'' | | | |- |''Festival of Forest And Lake'' |Ichitaro Kazamori |Lead role | |- |''Sister within Sister'' |Hiroshi Ishioka | | |- |''Guns of Purgatory'' | | | |- |rowspan="7" |1959 |''Tornado Family'' |Goro Tamura | | |- |''Men in a Rough Town'' | | | |- |''Black Finger'' |Shinkichi Mita |Lead role | |- |''Four Hours of Terror'' | |Lead role | |- |''The Road That Beasts Take'' | |Lead role | |- |''See You in the Hell'' |Mikio Ikari | | |- |''Hyoryû shitaî'' | | | |- |rowspan="9" |1960 |''Zoku beran me-e geisha'' | | | |- |''Ôinaru tabiji'' |Kozo's Second Son | | |- |''Zubekô tenshi'' | | | |- |''Tenka no Kaidanji Tosshin Tarô'' |Tarô Tosshin |Lead role | |- |''Zoku zoku beran me-e geisha'' | | | |- |''Otoko nara yattemiro'' | |Lead role | |- |''Sabaku o wataru taiyo'' | | | |- |''Ôzora no muhômono'' | |Lead role | |- |''The Second Bullet Is Marked'' | | | |- |rowspan="10" |1961 |''Tenka no Kaidanji Senpû Tarô'' |Tarô Senpû |Lead role | |- |''Hana to arashi to gyangu'' | | | |- |''Hibari minyo no tabi beran me e geisha Sado heiku'' | | | |- |''Mannen Tarô to anego shain'' |Tarô Mannen |Lead role | |- |''Beranme Chunori-san'' | | | |- |''Akuma no temari-uta'' |[[Kindaichi Kōsuke]] |Lead role | |- |''Saigo no kaoyaku'' | | | |- |''Kashi no onna Ishimatsu'' | | | |- |''Boku wa jigoku no tehinshi da'' | | | |- |''Beran me-e geisha makari tôru'' | | | |- |rowspan="12" |1962 |''Minami taiheiyô nami takashi'' | | | |- |''Beran me-e geisha to Osaka musume'' | | | |- |''Ni-nirokushiken Daisshutsu'' | | | |- |''Koi to Taiyo to Gang'' | |Lead role | |- |''Komon shacho manyuki'' | | | |- |''Minyo no tabi: Sakurajima Otemoyan'' | | | |- |''Sanbyakurokujugoya'' | | | |- |''Ankoku-gai saigo no hi'' | | | |- |''Tokyo Untouchable'' |Yoshio Harada |Lead role | |- |''Yumin-gai no Judan'' | | | |- |''Uragiri mono wa jigoku daze'' | | | |- |''Sen-hime to Hideyori'' |Naomori | | |- |rowspan="9" |1963 |''Ankokugai no kaoyaku: juichinin no gyangu'' |Sawagami | | |- |''Tokyo Untouchable: Prison Breakers'' |Yoshio Harada | | |- |''Ankokugai saidai no kettô'' |Shimpei Matsuoka | | |- |''Miyamoto Musashi: Nitôryû kaigen'' |[[Sasaki Kojirō]] | | |- |''Gyangu Chûshingura'' |Takumi Asano | | |- |''Kyôkatsu'' |Teruo Yabuki |Lead role | |- |''Theater of Life: Hishakaku'' |Miyagawa | | |- |''Overthrow the Boss'' |Yoshioka |Lead role | |- |''Violent Quarter'' |Shunsuke |Lead role | |- |rowspan="8" |1964 |''Tôkyô gyangu tai Honkon gyangu'' | | | |- |''Miyamoto Musashi: Ichijôji no kettô'' |[[Sasaki Kojirō]] | | |- |''[[Jakoman and Tetsu (1964 film)|Jakoman and Tetsu]]'' |Tetsu |Lead role | |- |''Narazumono'' |Minami |Lead role | |- |''Irezumi totsugekitai'' | | | |- |''Ankokugai Main Street'' |Tetsuya Shinobu |Lead role | |- |''Nihon kyôkaku-den'' |Chokichi |Lead role | |- |''[[Wolves, Pigs and Men]]'' |Jirō | | |- |rowspan="9" |1965 |''Kaoyaku'' |Kyôichi Hayami | | |- |''[[A Fugitive from the Past]]'' |Detective Ajimura | |<ref>{{cite web|url= https://movie.walkerplus.com/mv21347/|title= 飢餓海峡|access-date= March 23, 2020|work= Movie Walker|archive-date= March 23, 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200323055501/https://movie.walkerplus.com/mv21347/|url-status= dead}}</ref> |- |''Nihon Kyokaku-den: naniwa-hen'' | |Lead role | |- |''[[Abashiri Prison (film)|Abashiri Prison]]'' |Shinichi Tachibana |Lead role | |- |''Nihon Kyokaku-den: kanto-hen'' | | | |- |''Miyamoto Musashi: Ganryû-jima no kettô'' |[[Sasaki Kojirō]] | | |- |''Shôwa zankyô-den'' |Seiji Terajima |Lead role | |- |''Abashiri bangaichi: Bôkyô hen'' |Shinichi Tachibana |Lead role | |- |''Abashiri bangaichi: Hokkai hen'' |Shinichi Tachibana |Lead role | |- |rowspan="10" |1966 |''Shôwa zankyô-den: Karajishi botan'' | |Lead role | |- |''Nihon Kyokaku-den: Ketto Kanda-matsuri'' |Shinsan |Lead role | |- |''[[Kamikaze Man: Duel at Noon]]'' |Fumio Kuroki | | |- |''Otoko no shôbu'' |Kotaro Senju | | |- |''Nihon Kyokaku-den: Kaminari-mon no Ketto'' |Shintaro Hiramatsu |Lead role | |- |''Jigoku no okite ni asu wa nai'' |Ichiro Takita |Lead role | |- |''Showa zankyo-den: Ippiki okami'' | |Lead role | |- |''Abashiri Bangaichi: Nangoku no Taiketsu'' |Shinichi Tachibana |Lead role | |- |''Abashiri Bangaichi: Koya no taiketsu'' |Shinichi Tachibana |Lead role | |- |''Abashiri bangaichi: Dai setsugen no taiktsu'' |Shinichi Tachibana | | |- |rowspan="9" |1967 |''Abashiri bangaichi: Kettô reika 30 do'' |Shinichi Tachibana |Lead role | |- |''Shôwa zankyô-den: Chizome no karajishi'' |Hidejirô Hanada |Lead role | |- |''Abashiri bangaichi: Fubuki no tôsô'' |Shinichi Tachibana |Lead role | |- |''Nihon Kyokaku-den: Shira-ha no Sakazuki'' | |Lead role | |- |''Nihon kyokaku-den: kirikomi'' | |Lead role | |- |''Kyokotsu ichidai'' | | | |- |''Kyokakû no okitê'' | |Special appearance | |- |''Abashiri Bangaichi: Aku eno Chôsen'' |Shinichi Tachibana |Lead role | |- |''Âa dôki no sakura'' |First Lieutenant Kenmochi | | |- |rowspan="10" |1968 |''Nihon Kyokaku-den: Zetsuenjô'' | |Lead role | |- |''[[The Drifting Avenger]]'' |Ken Kato |Lead role | |- |''[[Red Peony Gambler]]'' |Shogo Hanaoka | | |- |''Gorotsuki'' | |Lead role | |- |''Jinsei-gekijô: Hishakaku to kiratsune'' |Miyagawa | | |- |''Gion matsuri'' | | | |- |''Bakuto retsuden'' | |Lead role | |- |''Shin Abashiri Bangaichi'' |Katsuji Suematsu |Lead role | |- |''Kyokaku Retsuden'' | | | |- |''Gokuchu no kaoyaku'' | | | |- |rowspan="12" |1969 |''Hibotan bakuto: Hanafuda shôbu'' |Shogo Hanaoka | | |- |''Shôwa zankyô-den: Karajishi jingi'' | |Lead role | |- |''Hibotan bakuto: Nidaime shûmei'' | | | |- |''Nihon kyokaku-den: hana to ryu'' |Tamai Kingoro |Lead role | |- |''Nihon ansatsu hiroku'' |[[Saburō Aizawa]] | | |- |''Tosei-nin Retsuden'' | | | |- |''Showa zankyo-den: Hito-kiri karajishi'' | |Lead role | |- |''Shin Abashiri Bangaichi: Saihate no Nagare-mono'' |Shinichi Tachibana |Lead role | |- |''Shin Abashiri Bangaichi: Runin-masaki no ketto'' |Shinichi Tachibana |Lead role | |- |''Sengo Saidai no Toba'' | |Lead role | |- |''Nihon jokyo-den: kyokaku geisha'' | | | |- |''Brothers Serving Time'' | |Lead role | |- |rowspan="11" |1970 |''House of Gamblers'' | | | |- |''The Japan Derby Race'' | |Lead role | |- |''[[Too Late the Hero (film)|Too Late the Hero]]'' |Major Yamaguchi |Anglo-American film | |- |''Shôwa zankyô-den: Shinde moraimasu'' | |Lead role | |- |''Saigo no tokkôtai'' | |Lead role | |- |''Nihon kyokaku-den: Nobori Ryu'' | |Lead role | |- |''Yukyo-retsuden'' | |Lead role | |- |''Sutemi no Narazu-mono'' |Yajima |Lead role | |- |''Shin Abashiri Bangaichi: Fubuki no Hagure Okami'' | |Lead role | |- |''Shin Abashiri Bangaichi: Dai Shinrin no Ketto'' | |Lead role | |- |''Nihon jokyo-den: makka na dokyo-bana'' | | | |- |rowspan="8" |1971 |''Nihon yakuza-den: Sôchiyô e no michi'' |Ryutaro Fudo |Lead role | |- |''Gorotsuki mushuku'' |Isamu Tekada |Lead role | |- |''The Man'' | |Lead role |<ref>{{cite web |url= http://db.eiren.org/contents/03000000253.html|title= 任侠列伝 男|access-date= November 9, 2020|work= Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan, Inc.}}</ref> |- |''Shin Abashiri Bangaichi: Fubuki no Dai-Dassou'' |Shinichi Tachibana |Lead role | |- |''Showa zankyo-den: hoero karajishi'' | |Lead role | |- |''Shin abashiri bangaichi: Arashi yobu shiretoko-misaki'' |Shinichi Tachibana |Lead role | |- |''Nihon kyokaku-den: Dosu'' | |Lead role | |- |''Nihon jokyo-den: ketto midare-bana'' |Yoshioka | | |- |rowspan="5" |1972 |''The Kanto Scarlet Cherry Gang'' |Kuramoto | | |- |''New Prison Walls of Abashiri: Temple Code'' |Shinichi Tachibana |Lead role | |- |''Contemporary Tales of Chivalry: The Traitor Shall Die'' | |Lead role | |- |''Lullaby for a Tough Guy'' | |Lead role | |- |''The Pledge'' | | | |- |rowspan="3" |1973 |''Yakuza of the Present'' |Ryoichi Shimaya |Lead role | |- |''[[Golgo 13 (film)|Golgo 13]]'' |[[Golgo 13]] |Lead role | |- |''Japan's Top Gangster'' |[[Kazuo Taoka]] |Lead role | |- |rowspan="3" |1974 |''Sister Street Fighter'' |Kazuo Taoka |Lead role | |- |''[[The Homeless (film)|The Homeless]]'' |Joukichi | | |- |''[[The Yakuza]]'' |Ken Tanaka |American film | |- |rowspan="4" |1975 |''Roads for Honor'' |Ichizo Ryuzaki |Lead role | |- |''Great Jailbreak'' |Ichiro Kozue |Lead role | |- |''[[The Bullet Train]]'' |Tetsuo Okita |Lead role | |- |''The International Gang of Kobe'' |Masato Dan |Lead role | |- |1976 |''[[Manhunt (1976 film)|Manhunt]]'' |Fuyuto Morioka |Lead role |<ref>{{cite web |url= https://eiga.com/movie/35908/|title= 君よ憤怒の河を渉れ|access-date= 29 May 2026|website= Eiga.com|language=ja}}</ref> |- |rowspan="2" |1977 |''[[Mount Hakkoda (film)|Mount Hakkoda]]'' |Captain Tokushima | Lead role |<ref>{{cite web|url= https://movie.walkerplus.com/mv18506/|title= 八甲田山|access-date= March 23, 2020|work= Movie Walker|archive-date= August 22, 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190822140756/https://movie.walkerplus.com/mv18506/|url-status= dead}}</ref> |- |''[[The Yellow Handkerchief (1977 film)|The Yellow Handkerchief]]'' |Yusaku Shima | Lead role |<ref>{{cite web|url= https://movie.walkerplus.com/mv18562/|title= 幸福の黄色いハンカチ|access-date= March 23, 2020|work= Movie Walker|archive-date= March 23, 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200323055501/https://movie.walkerplus.com/mv18562/|url-status= dead}}</ref> |- |rowspan="2" |1978 |''Flower of Winter'' |Hidetsugu Kano | Lead role |<ref>{{cite web |url= https://eiga.com/movie/39217/|title= 冬の華|access-date= 29 May 2026|website= Eiga.com|language=ja}}</ref> |- |''[[Never Give Up (1978 film)|Never Give Up]]'' |Takeshi Ajisawa |Lead role |<ref>{{cite web |url= https://eiga.com/movie/39823/|title= 野性の証明|access-date= 29 May 2026|website= Eiga.com|language=ja}}</ref> |- |rowspan="2" |1980 |''Dōran'' |Keisuke Miyagi |Lead role |<ref>{{cite web |url= https://eiga.com/movie/38100/|title= 動乱|access-date= 23 March 2020|website= Eiga.com|language=ja}}</ref> |- |''[[A Distant Cry from Spring]]'' |Kōsaku Tajima |Lead role |<ref>{{cite web |url= https://eiga.com/movie/38898/|title= 遙かなる山の呼び声|access-date= 23 March 2020|website= Eiga.com|language=ja}}</ref> |- |1981 |''[[Station (1981 film)|Station]]'' |Eiji Mikami |Lead role |<ref>{{cite web |url= https://eiga.com/movie/35007/|title= 駅/Station|access-date= 29 May 2026|website= Eiga.com|language=ja}}</ref> |- |rowspan="2" |1982 |''Detective Story'' |Detective Mikami |Cameo |<ref>{{cite web |url= https://eiga.com/movie/36210/|title= 刑事物語|access-date= 29 May 2026|website= Eiga.com|language=ja}}</ref> |- |''The Longest Tunnel'' |Go Akutsu |Lead role |<ref>{{cite web |url= https://eiga.com/movie/35480/|title= 海峡|access-date= 29 May 2026|website= Eiga.com|language=ja}}</ref> |- |rowspan="2" |1983 |''[[Nankyoku Monogatari|Antarctica]]'' |Akira Ushioda |Lead role |<ref>{{cite web |url= https://eiga.com/movie/38366/|title= 南極物語（1983）|access-date= 23 March 2020|website= Eiga.com|language=ja}}</ref> |- |''[[Izakaya Chōji]]'' |Chōji |Lead role |<ref>{{cite web |url= https://eiga.com/movie/34753/|title= 居酒屋兆治|access-date= 29 May 2026|website= Eiga.com|language=ja}}</ref> |- |1985 |''Yasha'' |Shūji |Lead role |<ref>{{cite web |url= https://eiga.com/movie/39810/|title= 夜叉|access-date= 29 May 2026|website= Eiga.com|language=ja}}</ref> |- |1988 |''[[Umi e, See You]]'' |Eiji Honma |Lead role |<ref>{{cite web |url= https://eiga.com/movie/34943/|title= 海へ See you|access-date= 29 May 2026|website= Eiga.com|language=ja}}</ref> |- |rowspan="2" |1989 |''[[Black Rain (1989 American film)|Black Rain]]'' |Assistant Inspector Masahiro "Mas" Matsumoto |American film |<ref>{{cite web |url= https://eiga.com/movie/26808/|title= ブラック・レイン|access-date= 29 May 2026|website= Eiga.com|language=ja}}</ref> |- |''Buddies'' |Shūzō Kadokura |Lead role |<ref>{{cite web |url= https://eiga.com/movie/34388/|title= あ・うん|access-date= 29 May 2026|website= Eiga.com|language=ja}}</ref> |- |1992 |''[[Mr. Baseball]]'' |Uchiyama |American film |<ref>{{cite web |url= https://eiga.com/movie/49854/|title= ミスター・ベースボール|access-date= 29 May 2026|website= Eiga.com|language=ja}}</ref> |- |1994 |''[[47 Ronin (1994 film)|47 Ronin]]'' |[[Ōishi Yoshio|Ōishi Kuranosuke]] |Lead role |<ref>{{cite web |url= https://eiga.com/movie/36862/|title= 四十七人の刺客|access-date= 29 May 2026|website= Eiga.com|language=ja}}</ref> |- |1999 |''[[Poppoya|Railroad Man]]'' |Otomatsu Satō |Lead role |<ref>{{cite web |url= https://eiga.com/movie/39434/|title= 鉄道員 (ぽっぽや)|access-date= 29 May 2026|website= Eiga.com|language=ja}}</ref> |- |2001 |''The Firefly'' |Yamaoka Shûji |Lead role |<ref>{{cite web |url= https://eiga.com/movie/40443/|title= ホタル|access-date= 29 May 2026|website= Eiga.com|language=ja}}</ref> |- |2005 |''[[Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles]]'' |Gou-Ichi Takata |Lead role; Chinese film |<ref>{{cite web |url= https://eiga.com/movie/1684/|title= 単騎、千里を走る。|access-date= 29 May 2026|website= Eiga.com|language=ja}}</ref> |- |2012 |''[[Anata e|Dearest]]'' |Eiji Kurashima |Lead role |<ref>{{cite web |url= https://eiga.com/movie/57096/|title= あなたへ|access-date= 29 May 2026|website= Eiga.com|language=ja}}</ref> |}
== Honours == [[File:Tasuku Honjo Susumu Nakanishi Ikuta Takagi Shinzo Abe Shunichi Iwasaki and Goichi Oda 20131103.jpg|thumb|right|Takakura (far right) received the [[Order of Culture]] on November 3, 2013.]] * [[Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japan-academy-prize.jp/news/index.php#2014_11_18|script-title=ja:日本アカデミー賞公式サイト|title=Nippon Akademī-shō kōshiki saito|access-date=19 November 2014|language=ja|publisher=Japan Academy Prize Association}}</ref> :*1978 – as Yusaku Shima, in [[The Yellow Handkerchief (1977 film)|The Yellow Handkerchief]] :*1981 – as Kōsaku Tajima, in [[A Distant Cry from Spring]] :*1982 – as Eiji Mikami, in [[Station (1981 film)|Station]] :*1999 – as Otomatsu Satō, in [[Poppoya]] * [[37th Japan Academy Prize|Japan Academy Prize for Special Award of Honour from the Association]]<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:第37回日本アカデミー賞協会栄誉賞|title=Dai 37 kai Nippon Akademī-shō kōshiki saito|trans-title=37th Japan Academy Prize List|url=http://www.japan-academy-prize.jp/prizes/37.html#title24|publisher=Japan Academy Prize Association|access-date=17 April 2017|language=ja}}</ref> :*2013 * [[Blue Ribbon Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:ブルーリボン賞歴代受賞一覧|title=Burū Ribon-shō rekidai jushō ichiran|trans-title=Blue Ribbon Awards Previous Winners List|url=http://cinemahochi.yomiuri.co.jp/b_award/table.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203124405/http://cinemahochi.yomiuri.co.jp/b_award/table.htm|archive-date=3 February 2013|website=Cinema Hochi|publisher=[[Yomiuri Shimbun]]|access-date=20 November 2014|language=ja}}</ref> :*1977 – as Yusaku Shima, in [[The Yellow Handkerchief (1977 film)|The Yellow Handkerchief]] :*1999 – as Otomatsu Satō, in [[Poppoya]] * [[Medals of Honor (Japan)|Japanese Medal of Honor (Purple Ribbon)]] (1998) * [[Person of Cultural Merit]] (2006)<ref name="nippon.com obit">{{cite web|url=http://www.nippon.com/en/behind/l00075/|title=Cinema Star Takakura Ken Passes Away at 83|date=18 November 2014|website=Nippon.com|access-date=19 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=銀幕に新風！高倉健が文化功労者に…映画俳優から初選出 |url=http://www.sanspo.com/geino/top/gt200610/gt2006102802.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061130025756/http://www.sanspo.com/geino/top/gt200610/gt2006102802.html |archive-date=2006-11-30 |access-date=2026-05-30 |website=www.sanspo.com |language=ja}}</ref> * [[Order of Culture]] (2013)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201311040060 |title=Actor Ken Takakura among 5 presented with top culture award |last1=Nakada |first1=Ayako |last2=Shima |first2=Yasuhiko |date=4 November 2013 |publisher=Asahi Shimbun |access-date=19 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129023504/http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201311040060 |archive-date=29 November 2014 }}</ref> * [[List of Japanese court ranks, positions and hereditary titles|Junior Third Rank]] (2014; posthumous)
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category|Ken Takakura}} * {{IMDb name|0847264}} * {{jmdb name|id=0115490}}
{{Navboxes |title = Awards for Ken Takakura |list = {{Blue Ribbon Award for Best Actor}} {{Hochi Film Award for Best Actor}} {{Japan Academy Prize for Best Actor}} {{Mainichi Film Award for Best Actor}} {{San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor}} {{Yokohama Film Festival Best Actor}} }} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Takakura, Ken}} [[Category:1931 births]] [[Category:2014 deaths]] [[Category:People from Nakama, Fukuoka]] [[Category:Japanese male film actors]] [[Category:Male actors from Fukuoka Prefecture]] [[Category:Recipients of the Medal with Purple Ribbon]] [[Category:Persons of Cultural Merit]] [[Category:Recipients of the Order of Culture]] [[Category:Meiji University alumni]] [[Category:Singers from Fukuoka Prefecture]] [[Category:Deaths from lymphoma in Japan]]