# Ken Takakura

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Japanese actor (1931–2014)

For the fictional character of the same name, see [List of Dandadan characters § Ken Takakura / Okarun](/source/List_of_Dandadan_characters#Ken_Takakura_/_Okarun).

You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Japanese. (February 2022) Click [show] for important translation instructions. View a machine-translated version of the Japanese article. Machine translation, like DeepL or Google Translate, is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must follow the LLM translation guideline, revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into the English Wikipedia. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. You must provide copyright attribution in the edit summary accompanying your translation by providing an interlanguage link to the source of your translation. A model attribution edit summary is Content in this edit is translated from the existing Japanese Wikipedia article at [[:ja:高倉健]]; see its history for attribution. You may also add the template {{Translated|ja|高倉健}} to the talk page. For more guidance, see Wikipedia:Translation.

Ken Takakura Junior Third Rank 高倉 健 Born Takeichi Oda (1931-02-16)February 16, 1931 Nakama, Fukuoka, Japan Died November 10, 2014(2014-11-10) (aged 83) Tokyo, Japan Alma mater Meiji University Occupation Actor Years active 1956–2014 Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) Spouses Chiemi Eri ​ ​ (m. 1959; div. 1971)​ Taka Oda (Common-law marriage 1997-2014 until death, daughter in law from 2013) [1]

**Ken Takakura** ([Japanese](/source/Japanese_language): 高倉 健, [Hepburn](/source/Hepburn_romanization): *Takakura Ken*), born **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.[2] He won the [Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role](/source/Japan_Academy_Prize_for_Outstanding_Performance_by_an_Actor_in_a_Leading_Role) four times, tied with [Koji Yakusho](/source/Koji_Yakusho) for the most ever.[3] Takakura additionally received the [Japanese Medal of Honor with purple ribbon](/source/Medals_of_Honor_(Japan)) in 1998, the [Person of Cultural Merit](/source/Person_of_Cultural_Merit) award in 2006, and the [Order of Culture](/source/Order_of_Culture) in 2013.

## Life

Takakura was born in [Nakama, Fukuoka](/source/Nakama%2C_Fukuoka) in 1931.[4] 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.[5] As child he suffered from disease , encouraged by his father, Tadahi joined sports when He attended Tochiku High School in nearby [Yahata City](/source/Yahata%2C_Fukuoka), 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](/source/Yakuza)* movies.[6] 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.[4] After graduating from [Meiji University](/source/Meiji_University) in Tokyo, Takakura attended an audition on impulse in 1955 at the [Toei Film Company](/source/Toei_Company) while applying for a managerial position.[4]

## Career

Toei found a natural in Takakura as he debuted with *Denko Karate Uchi* (*Lightning Karate Blow*) in 1956.[7] In 1959 he married singer [Chiemi Eri](/source/Chiemi_Eri), but divorced in 1971. His breakout role would be in the 1965 film *[Abashiri Prison](/source/Abashiri_Prison_(film))*, and its sequel *Abashiri Bangaichi: Bokyohen* (*Abashiri Prison: Longing for Home*, also 1965), in which he played an ex-con antihero.[4] By the time Takakura left Toei in 1976, he had appeared in over 180 films.[6]

He gained international recognition after starring in the 1970 war film *[Too Late the Hero](/source/Too_Late_the_Hero_(film))* as the cunning Imperial Japanese Major Yamaguchi, the 1974 [Sydney Pollack](/source/Sydney_Pollack) sleeper hit *[The Yakuza](/source/The_Yakuza)* with [Robert Mitchum](/source/Robert_Mitchum), and is probably best known in the West for his role in [Ridley Scott](/source/Ridley_Scott)'s *[Black Rain](/source/Black_Rain_(1989_American_film))* (1989). He again appeared to Western audiences with the 1992 [Fred Schepisi](/source/Fred_Schepisi) comedy *[Mr. Baseball](/source/Mr._Baseball)* starring [Tom Selleck](/source/Tom_Selleck).[7]

Takakura was one of the few Japanese actors who experienced popularity in China, due to his appearance in [Junya Satō](/source/Junya_Sat%C5%8D)'s 1976 crime drama *[Kimi yo Fundo no Kawa o Watare](/source/Manhunt_(1976_film))* (known in some territories as *Manhunt*), the first foreign film shown after the [Cultural Revolution](/source/Cultural_Revolution).[8][9] He also starred as the titular assassin in Junya Satō's *[Golgo 13](/source/Golgo_13_(film))* (1973), a Japanese–Iranian production and the first live-action adaptation of the Japanese [manga](/source/Manga) series *[Golgo 13](/source/Golgo_13)*.

He appeared in three films since 2000: *Hotaru* (ホタル, *The Firefly*) in May 2001, *[Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles](/source/Riding_Alone_for_Thousands_of_Miles)*, by [Chinese](/source/China) director [Zhang Yimou](/source/Zhang_Yimou), in late December 2005, and [Yasuo Furuhata](/source/Yasuo_Furuhata)'s *[Anata e](/source/Anata_e)* (*Dearest*) in late August 2012, after a six-year hiatus.[10] He died of [lymphoma](/source/Lymphoma) on November 10, 2014.[11][3] [Shintaro Ishihara](/source/Shintaro_Ishihara) described him as "the last big star (in Japan)."[12] A huge number of Chinese internet users expressed their sympathies and condolences, including many celebrities in the Chinese movie industry.[13] The spokesman of China's [Ministry of Foreign Affairs](/source/Ministry_of_Foreign_Affairs_of_the_People's_Republic_of_China) Hong Lei said that Takakura made significant contributions to the cultural exchange between China and Japan.[14]

A documentary based on Takakura's life entitled *Ken San* premiered at the [2016 Cannes Film Festival](/source/2016_Cannes_Film_Festival) and was released in Japanese theaters on August 20, 2016.[15] It was directed by photographer [Yuichi Hibi](/source/Yuichi_Hibi) and features interviews with filmmakers and actors such as [Martin Scorsese](/source/Martin_Scorsese), [Paul Schrader](/source/Paul_Schrader), [Michael Douglas](/source/Michael_Douglas), [John Woo](/source/John_Woo), and [Yoji Yamada](/source/Yoji_Yamada).[16]

## Filmography

Year Title Role Notes Ref. 1956 Inner Journey Pt.2 Yusaku Shinobu Lead role [17] Inner Journey Yusaku Shinobu Lead role [18] The Chop Professor [19] Nippon G-Men Pt.3 [20] Yûhi to Kenjû Shintarô Yamaoka [21] Mother Peacock Get Rid of the Gun Lead role 1957 Daigaku no Ishimatsu Lead role Tajobushin Nisshin senso fuun hiwa: Kiri no machi Aoi unabara Kenji Hamada Jet Air Base 101 Jiro Nakata 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 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 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 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 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 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 1964 Tôkyô gyangu tai Honkon gyangu Miyamoto Musashi: Ichijôji no kettô Sasaki Kojirō 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 1965 Kaoyaku Kyôichi Hayami A Fugitive from the Past Detective Ajimura [22] Nihon Kyokaku-den: naniwa-hen Lead role 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 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 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 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 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 1970 House of Gamblers The Japan Derby Race Lead role 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 1971 Nihon yakuza-den: Sôchiyô e no michi Ryutaro Fudo Lead role Gorotsuki mushuku Isamu Tekada Lead role The Man Lead role [23] 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 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 1973 Yakuza of the Present Ryoichi Shimaya Lead role Golgo 13 Golgo 13 Lead role Japan's Top Gangster Kazuo Taoka Lead role 1974 Sister Street Fighter Kazuo Taoka Lead role The Homeless Joukichi The Yakuza Ken Tanaka American film 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 Fuyuto Morioka Lead role [24] 1977 Mount Hakkoda Captain Tokushima Lead role [25] The Yellow Handkerchief Yusaku Shima Lead role [26] 1978 Flower of Winter Hidetsugu Kano Lead role [27] Never Give Up Takeshi Ajisawa Lead role [28] 1980 Dōran Keisuke Miyagi Lead role [29] A Distant Cry from Spring Kōsaku Tajima Lead role [30] 1981 Station Eiji Mikami Lead role [31] 1982 Detective Story Detective Mikami Cameo [32] The Longest Tunnel Go Akutsu Lead role [33] 1983 Antarctica Akira Ushioda Lead role [34] Izakaya Chōji Chōji Lead role [35] 1985 Yasha Shūji Lead role [36] 1988 Umi e, See You Eiji Honma Lead role [37] 1989 Black Rain Assistant Inspector Masahiro "Mas" Matsumoto American film [38] Buddies Shūzō Kadokura Lead role [39] 1992 Mr. Baseball Uchiyama American film [40] 1994 47 Ronin Ōishi Kuranosuke Lead role [41] 1999 Railroad Man Otomatsu Satō Lead role [42] 2001 The Firefly Yamaoka Shûji Lead role [43] 2005 Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles Gou-Ichi Takata Lead role; Chinese film [44] 2012 Dearest Eiji Kurashima Lead role [45]

## Honours

Takakura (far right) received the [Order of Culture](/source/Order_of_Culture) on November 3, 2013.

- [Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role](/source/Japan_Academy_Prize_for_Outstanding_Performance_by_an_Actor_in_a_Leading_Role)[46]

- - 1978 – as Yusaku Shima, in [The Yellow Handkerchief](/source/The_Yellow_Handkerchief_(1977_film)) - 1981 – as Kōsaku Tajima, in [A Distant Cry from Spring](/source/A_Distant_Cry_from_Spring) - 1982 – as Eiji Mikami, in [Station](/source/Station_(1981_film)) - 1999 – as Otomatsu Satō, in [Poppoya](/source/Poppoya)

- [Japan Academy Prize for Special Award of Honour from the Association](/source/37th_Japan_Academy_Prize)[47]

- - 2013

- [Blue Ribbon Awards](/source/Blue_Ribbon_Awards)[48]

- - 1977 – as Yusaku Shima, in [The Yellow Handkerchief](/source/The_Yellow_Handkerchief_(1977_film)) - 1999 – as Otomatsu Satō, in [Poppoya](/source/Poppoya)

- [Japanese Medal of Honor (Purple Ribbon)](/source/Medals_of_Honor_(Japan)) (1998)

- [Person of Cultural Merit](/source/Person_of_Cultural_Merit) (2006)[3][49]

- [Order of Culture](/source/Order_of_Culture) (2013)[50]

- [Junior Third Rank](/source/List_of_Japanese_court_ranks%2C_positions_and_hereditary_titles) (2014; posthumous)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%B0%8F%E7%94%B0%E8%B2%B4%E6%9C%88](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%B0%8F%E7%94%B0%E8%B2%B4%E6%9C%88) 小田貴月

1. **[^](#cite_ref-la_2-0)** Thomas, Kevin (13 October 1989). ["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"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-10-13-ca-312-story.html). *Los Angeles Times*. Retrieved 19 November 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nippon.com_obit_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nippon.com_obit_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-nippon.com_obit_3-2) ["Cinema Star Takakura Ken Passes Away at 83"](http://www.nippon.com/en/behind/l00075/). *Nippon.com*. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-guard_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-guard_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-guard_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-guard_4-3) Macy, Roger (18 November 2014). ["Ken Takakura obituary"](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/nov/18/ken-takakura). *The Guardian*. Retrieved 19 November 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["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"](https://www.sankei.com/article/20251202-BP24FQTBDZLM7KGGZ2KQQZYMQE/). *Sankei* (in Japanese). 2 December 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-hoover_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-hoover_6-1) Hoover, William D. (2011). *Historical dictionary of postwar Japan*. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press. p. 301. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0810854604](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0810854604).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-mayer_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-mayer_7-1) Mayer, Geoff (2012). *Historical dictionary of crime films*. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press. pp. 359–360. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0810867697](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0810867697).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** 陈晨 (2014-11-18). ["83岁日本男演员高仓健去世，其电影《追捕》影响中国一代人"](https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1278940) [83-year-old Japanese actor Ken Takakura died, and his film "Manhunt" influenced a generation in China]. *[The Paper](/source/The_Paper_(newspaper))*. Retrieved 2024-04-16.

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Veteran Japanese actor Ken Takakura dies at 83"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-30092460). BBC News. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["日本男星高仓健去世引众星悼念 姚晨：别了杜秋"](http://ent.ifeng.com/a/20141118/40368886_0.shtml). *ent.ifeng.com*. Retrieved 1 October 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["外交部对高仓健逝世表示哀悼：他是国人熟悉的艺术家"](http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2014/1118/c70731-26048966.html) [The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses condolences for the death of Ken Takakura: he is a well-known artist among the Chinese people]. *[People's Daily](/source/People's_Daily)* (in Chinese). 2014-11-18.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Brasor, Philip (16 July 2016). ["Why Japanese media still kowtow to Ken Takakura"](http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/07/16/national/media-national/japanese-media-still-kowtow-ken-takakura/#.V7IoBJgrLIU). *The Japan Times*. Retrieved 15 August 2016.

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-41)** ["四十七人の刺客"](https://eiga.com/movie/36862/). *Eiga.com* (in Japanese). Retrieved 29 May 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-42)** ["鉄道員 (ぽっぽや)"](https://eiga.com/movie/39434/). *Eiga.com* (in Japanese). Retrieved 29 May 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-43)** ["ホタル"](https://eiga.com/movie/40443/). *Eiga.com* (in Japanese). Retrieved 29 May 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-44)** ["単騎、千里を走る。"](https://eiga.com/movie/1684/). *Eiga.com* (in Japanese). Retrieved 29 May 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-45)** ["あなたへ"](https://eiga.com/movie/57096/). *Eiga.com* (in Japanese). Retrieved 29 May 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-46)** ["Nippon Akademī-shō kōshiki saito" 日本アカデミー賞公式サイト](https://www.japan-academy-prize.jp/news/index.php#2014_11_18) (in Japanese). Japan Academy Prize Association. Retrieved 19 November 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-47)** ["Dai 37 kai Nippon Akademī-shō kōshiki saito" 第37回日本アカデミー賞協会栄誉賞](https://www.japan-academy-prize.jp/prizes/37.html#title24) [37th Japan Academy Prize List] (in Japanese). Japan Academy Prize Association. Retrieved 17 April 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-48)** ["Burū Ribon-shō rekidai jushō ichiran" ブルーリボン賞歴代受賞一覧](https://web.archive.org/web/20130203124405/http://cinemahochi.yomiuri.co.jp/b_award/table.htm) [Blue Ribbon Awards Previous Winners List]. *Cinema Hochi* (in Japanese). [Yomiuri Shimbun](/source/Yomiuri_Shimbun). Archived from [the original](http://cinemahochi.yomiuri.co.jp/b_award/table.htm) on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-49)** ["銀幕に新風！高倉健が文化功労者に…映画俳優から初選出"](https://web.archive.org/web/20061130025756/http://www.sanspo.com/geino/top/gt200610/gt2006102802.html). *www.sanspo.com* (in Japanese). Archived from [the original](http://www.sanspo.com/geino/top/gt200610/gt2006102802.html) on 2006-11-30. Retrieved 2026-05-30.

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## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Ken Takakura](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Ken_Takakura).

- [Ken Takakura](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0847264/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [Ken Takakura](http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/person/p0115490.htm) at the [Japanese Movie Database](/source/Japanese_Movie_Database) (in Japanese)

Awards for Ken Takakura v t e Blue Ribbon Award for Best Actor So Yamamura (1950) Toshiro Mifune (1951) Hisaya Morishige (1955) Keiji Sada (1956) Frankie Sakai (1957) Ichikawa Raizō VIII (1958) Hiroyuki Nagato (1959) Rentarō Mikuni (1960) Toshiro Mifune (1961) Tatsuya Nakadai (1962) Nakamura Kinnosuke (1963) Keiju Kobayashi (1964) Toshiro Mifune (1965) Hajime Hana (1966) Bunta Sugawara (1975) Tetsuya Watari (1976) Ken Takakura (1977) Ken Ogata (1978) Tomisaburo Wakayama (1979) Tatsuya Nakadai (1980) Toshiyuki Nagashima (1981) Kiyoshi Atsumi (1982) Ken Ogata (1983) Tsutomu Yamazaki (1984) Kin'ya Kitaōji (1985) Kunie Tanaka (1986) Takanori Jinnai (1987) Hajime Hana (1988) Rentarō Mikuni (1989) Yoshio Harada (1990) Naoto Takenaka (1991) Masahiro Motoki (1992) Hiroyuki Sanada (1993) Eiji Okuda (1994) Hiroyuki Sanada (1995) Koji Yakusho (1996) Koji Yakusho (1997) Takeshi Kitano (1998) Ken Takakura (1999) Yūji Oda (2000) Mansai Nomura (2001) Kōichi Satō (2002) Toshiyuki Nishida (2003) Akira Terao (2004) Hiroyuki Sanada (2005) Ken Watanabe (2006) Ryo Kase (2007) Masahiro Motoki (2008) Shōfukutei Tsurube II (2009) Satoshi Tsumabuki (2010) Yutaka Takenouchi (2011) Hiroshi Abe (2012) Kengo Kora (2013) Tadanobu Asano (2014) Yo Oizumi (2015) Kenichi Matsuyama (2016) Sadao Abe (2017) Hiroshi Tachi (2018) Kiichi Nakai (2019) Tsuyoshi Kusanagi (2020) Junichi Okada (2021) Kazunari Ninomiya (2022) Ryunosuke Kamiki (2023) Makiya Yamaguchi (2024) Satoshi Tsumabuki (2025) v t e Hochi Film Award for Best Actor Tatsuya Fuji (1976) Ken Takakura (1977) Ken Ogata (1978) Kenji Sawada (1979) Masato Furuoya (1980) Toshiyuki Nagashima (1981) Mitsuru Hirata (1982) Yūsaku Matsuda (1983) Saburō Tokitō (1984) Kin'ya Kitaōji (1985) Yuya Uchida (1986) Takanori Jinnai (1987) Hiroyuki Sanada (1988) Rentarō Mikuni (1989) Bunta Sugawara (1990) Masatoshi Nagase (1991) Masahiro Motoki (1992) Ken Tanaka (1993) Kenichi Hagiwara (1994) Hiroyuki Sanada (1995) Koji Yakusho (1996) Koji Yakusho (1997) Akira Emoto (1998) Tomokazu Miura (1999) Yūji Oda (2000) Yosuke Kubozuka (2001) Seiichi Tanabe (2002) Toshiyuki Nishida (2003) Satoshi Tsumabuki (2004) Ichikawa Somegorō VII (2005) Ken Watanabe (2006) Ryo Kase (2007) Shinichi Tsutsumi (2008) Ken Watanabe (2009) Etsushi Toyokawa (2010) Masato Sakai (2011) Ken Takakura (2012) Ryuhei Matsuda (2013) Junichi Okada (2014) Kōichi Satō (2015) Tomokazu Miura (2016) Masaki Suda (2017) Koji Yakusho (2018) Kiichi Nakai (2019) Shun Oguri (2020) Takuya Kimura (2021) Masaharu Fukuyama (2022) Ryusei Yokohama (2023) Ryusei Yokohama (2024) Ryo Yoshizawa (2025) v t e Japan Academy Film Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role Ken Takakura (1978) Ken Ogata (1979) Tomisaburo Wakayama (1980) Ken Takakura (1981) Ken Takakura (1982) Mitsuru Hirata (1983) Ken Ogata (1984) Tsutomu Yamazaki (1985) Minoru Chiaki (1986) Ken Ogata (1987) Tsutomu Yamazaki (1988) Toshiyuki Nishida (1989) Rentarō Mikuni (1990) Ittoku Kishibe (1991) Rentarō Mikuni (1992) Masahiro Motoki (1993) Toshiyuki Nishida (1994) Kōichi Satō (1995) Rentarō Mikuni (1996) Koji Yakusho (1997) Koji Yakusho (1998) Akira Emoto (1999) Ken Takakura (2000) Akira Terao (2001) Yōsuke Kubozuka (2002) Hiroyuki Sanada (2003) Kiichi Nakai (2004) Akira Terao (2005) Hidetaka Yoshioka (2006) Ken Watanabe (2007) Hidetaka Yoshioka (2008) Masahiro Motoki (2009) Ken Watanabe (2010) Satoshi Tsumabuki (2011) Yoshio Harada (2012) Hiroshi Abe (2013) Ryuhei Matsuda (2014) Junichi Okada (2015) Kazunari Ninomiya (2016) Kōichi Satō (2017) Masaki Suda (2018) Koji Yakusho (2019) Tori Matsuzaka (2020) Tsuyoshi Kusanagi (2021) Hidetoshi Nishijima (2022) Satoshi Tsumabuki (2023) Koji Yakusho (2024) Ryusei Yokohama (2025) Ryo Yoshizawa (2026) v t e Mainichi Film Award for Best Actor Masayuki Mori (1947) Chishū Ryū (1948) Takashi Shimura (1949) Shin Saburi (1950) Chishū Ryū (1951) Shin Saburi (1952) Ken Uehara (1953) So Yamamura (1954) Hisaya Morishige (1955) Keiji Sada (1956) Toshiro Mifune (1957) Keiju Kobayashi (1958) Eiji Funakoshi (1959) Keiju Kobayashi (1960) Tatsuya Nakadai (1961) Taiji Tonoyama (1962) Keiju Kobayashi (1963) Kō Nishimura (1964) Rentarō Mikuni (1965) Shoichi Ozawa (1966) Kunie Tanaka (1967) Minori Terada (1968) Kiyoshi Atsumi (1969) Hisashi Igawa (1970) Shintaro Katsu (1971) Takeo Chii (1972) Tetsurō Tamba (1973) Rentarō Mikuni (1974) Shin Saburi (1975) Tetsuya Watari (1976) Ken Takakura (1977) Ken Ogata (1978) Tomisaburo Wakayama (1979) Tatsuya Nakadai (1980) Takahiro Tamura (1981) Kō Nishimura (1982) Ken Ogata (1983) Tsutomu Yamazaki (1984) Kin'ya Kitaōji (1985) Eiji Okuda (1986) Masahiko Tsugawa (1987) Hajime Hana (1988) Rentarō Mikuni (1989) Masato Furuoya (1990) Masatoshi Nagase (1991) Kyōzō Nagatsuka (1992) Gorō Kishitani (1993) Eiji Okuda (1994) Koji Yakusho (1995) Koji Yakusho (1996) Yoshio Harada (1997) Masahiro Motoki (1998) Keiju Kobayashi (1999) Tadanobu Asano (2000) Tatsuya Mihashi (2001) Hiroyuki Sanada (2002) Toshiyuki Nishida (2003) Takeshi Kitano (2004) Tadanobu Asano (2005) Kōichi Satō (2006) Taichi Kokubun (2007) Hiroshi Abe (2008) Kenichi Matsuyama (2009) Shinichi Tsutsumi (2010) Mirai Moriyama (2011) Isao Natsuyagi (2012) Ryuhei Matsuda (2013) Go Ayano (2014) Shinya Tsukamoto (2015) Masahiro Motoki (2016) Masaki Suda (2017) Tasuku Emoto (2018) Ryo Narita (2019) Mirai Moriyama (2020) Takeru Satoh (2021) Kenji Sawada (2022) Ryohei Suzuki (2023) v t e San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor Kenneth Branagh (1996) Jack Nicholson (1997) Ian McKellen (1998) Kevin Spacey (1999) Russell Crowe (2000) Guy Pearce (2001) Daniel Day-Lewis (2002) Chiwetel Ejiofor (2003) Jim Carrey (2004) Philip Seymour Hoffman (2005) Ken Takakura (2006) Daniel Day-Lewis (2007) Mickey Rourke (2008) Colin Firth (2009) Colin Farrell (2010) Michael Shannon (2011) Daniel Day-Lewis (2012) Oscar Isaac (2013) Jake Gyllenhaal (2014) Leonardo DiCaprio (2015) Casey Affleck (2016) James McAvoy (2017) Ethan Hawke (2018) Adam Driver / Joaquin Phoenix (2019) Riz Ahmed (2020) Nicolas Cage (2021) Colin Farrell (2022) Jeffrey Wright (2023) Colman Domingo (2024) Michael B. Jordan (2025) v t e Yokohama Film Festival Award for Best Actor Ken Ogata (1980) Masato Furuoya (1981) Toshiyuki Nagashima (1982) Ryudo Uzaki (1983) Yūsaku Matsuda (1984) Takeshi Kaga (1985) Minori Terada (1986) Koichi Iwaki (1987) Saburō Tokitō (1988) Hiroyuki Sanada (1989) Ryo Ishibashi (1990) Masato Furuoya (1991) Hidekazu Akai (1992) Masahiro Motoki (1993) Hiroyuki Sanada (1994) Eiji Okuda (1995) Etsushi Toyokawa (1996) Koji Yakusho / Tadanobu Asano (1997) Yoshio Harada (1998) Kiichi Nakai / Claude Maki (1999) Ken Takakura (2000) Tadanobu Asano (2001) Yōsuke Kubozuka (2002) Kyōzō Nagatsuka / Seiichi Tanabe (2003) Satoshi Tsumabuki (2004) Koji Yakusho (2005) Joe Odagiri (2006) Teruyuki Kagawa (2007) Ryo Kase (2008) Kaoru Kobayashi (2009) Masato Sakai (2010) Etsushi Toyokawa (2011) Eita (2012) Hiroshi Abe (2013) Masaharu Fukuyama (2014) Go Ayano (2015) Kiyohiko Shibukawa / Masatoshi Nagase (2016) Tomokazu Miura / Yuya Yagira (2017) Sosuke Ikematsu (2018) Masahiro Higashide / Koji Yakusho (2019) Sosuke Ikematsu (2020) Kazunari Ninomiya (2021) Arata Furuta / Tori Matsuzaka (2022) Kōji Seto (2023) Ryohei Suzuki (2024) Taiga Nakano / Koji Yakusho (2025) Ryo Yoshizawa / Ryusei Yokohama (2026)

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND FAST WorldCat National United States France BnF data Japan Italy Czech Republic Spain Netherlands Korea Academics CiNii Artists MusicBrainz People Trove Other IdRef Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ken Takakura](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Takakura) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Takakura?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.