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Ken Takakura‌

Gender

Male

Birthday

calendar1931-02-16

Popularity

star21.5

Ken Takakura

Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka, Japan

Ken Takakura

Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka, Japan

Gender

Male

Birthday

calendar1931-02-16

Popularity

star21.5

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.

Movie Credits

The Longest Tunnel

The Longest Tunnel‌
star0.0
calendar 1982

Black Rain

Black Rain‌
star6.6
calendar 1989

Operation Diamond

Operation Diamond‌
star0.0
calendar 1962

The Yellow Handkerchief

The Yellow Handkerchief‌
star6.7
calendar 1977

47 Ronin

47 Ronin‌
star7.4
calendar 1994

Tokyo Gang Vs. Hong Kong Gang

Tokyo Gang Vs. Hong Kong Gang‌
star0.0
calendar 1964

South Pacific Waves Are High

South Pacific Waves Are High‌
star0.0
calendar 1962

A Dead Drifter

A Dead Drifter‌
star0.0
calendar 1959

Never Give Up

Never Give Up‌
star5.7
calendar 1978

Rogue

Rogue‌
star0.0
calendar 1968

The Yakuza

The Yakuza‌
star7.1
calendar 1974

Men Fighting Whales

Men Fighting Whales‌
star0.0
calendar 1957

Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles

Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles‌
star7.1
calendar 2005

Tokyo Untouchable

Tokyo Untouchable‌
star0.0
calendar 1962

The Kamikaze Guy

The Kamikaze Guy‌
star5.0
calendar 1966

Antarctica

Antarctica‌
star7.2
calendar 1983

Bad Angel

Bad Angel‌
star0.0
calendar 1960

The Bullet Train

The Bullet Train‌
star6.8
calendar 1975

Mannen Taro and His Feminine Colleagues

Mannen Taro and His Feminine Colleagues‌
star0.0
calendar 1961

Mr. Baseball

Mr. Baseball‌
star5.9
calendar 1992

Tenka no Kaidanji Senpû Tarô

Tenka no Kaidanji Senpû Tarô‌
star0.0
calendar 1961

Railroad Man

Railroad Man‌
star6.9
calendar 1999

Kyôkatsu

Kyôkatsu‌
star0.0
calendar 1963

Red Peony Gambler

Red Peony Gambler‌
star7.2
calendar 1968

Manhunt

Manhunt‌
star6.4
calendar 1976

Main Street in the Underworld

Main Street in the Underworld‌
star5.8
calendar 1964

An Outlaw

An Outlaw‌
star4.8
calendar 1964

A Distant Cry from Spring

A Distant Cry from Spring‌
star7.2
calendar 1980

Golgo 13

Golgo 13‌
star4.5
calendar 1973

Hell's Companion

Hell's Companion‌
star0.0
calendar 1959

Red Peony Gambler: Flower Cards Game

Red Peony Gambler: Flower Cards Game‌
star7.0
calendar 1969

The Outsiders

The Outsiders‌
star0.0
calendar 1958

Tokyo's Business District

Tokyo's  Business District‌
star0.0
calendar 1962

Brave Red Flower of the North

Brave Red Flower of the North‌
star6.0
calendar 1970

Miyamoto Musashi V: Musashi vs Kojiro

Miyamoto Musashi V: Musashi vs Kojiro‌
star7.3
calendar 1965

Mount Hakkoda

Mount Hakkoda‌
star6.8
calendar 1977

Buddies

Buddies‌
star6.8
calendar 1989

Station

Station‌
star6.1
calendar 1981

A Fugitive from the Past

A Fugitive from the Past‌
star7.5
calendar 1965

Dearest

Dearest‌
star6.8
calendar 2012

Contemporary Tales of Chivalry 2

Contemporary Tales of Chivalry 2‌
star7.0
calendar 1966

Contemporary Tales of Chivalry: The Lone Wolf

Contemporary Tales of Chivalry: The Lone Wolf‌
star6.0
calendar 1966

Demon

Demon‌
star7.7
calendar 1985

Manchurian Sunset

Manchurian Sunset‌
star0.0
calendar 1956

Contemporary Tales of Chivalry 4

Contemporary Tales of Chivalry 4‌
star6.2
calendar 1967

Brutal Tales of Chivalry 5: Man With The Karajishi Tattoo

Brutal Tales of Chivalry 5: Man With The Karajishi Tattoo‌
star7.5
calendar 1969

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

Brutal Tales of Chivalry 7: Hell Is a Man's Destiny‌
star6.0
calendar 1970

Brutal Tales of Chivalry

Brutal Tales of Chivalry‌
star7.1
calendar 1965

Showdown in Blood

Showdown in Blood‌
star0.0
calendar 1957

If You're Man Enough

If You're Man Enough‌
star0.0
calendar 1960

Abashiri Prison

Abashiri Prison‌
star7.0
calendar 1965

Wolves, Pigs & Men

Wolves, Pigs & Men‌
star8.3
calendar 1964

All Rascals

All Rascals‌
star0.0
calendar 1962

The Man

The Man‌
star0.0
calendar 1971

Karate Cop

Karate Cop‌
star0.0
calendar 1982

Tokyo Untouchable: Escape

Tokyo Untouchable: Escape‌
star0.0
calendar 1963

The Kanto Scarlet Cherry Gang

The Kanto Scarlet Cherry Gang‌
star6.0
calendar 1972

Uragirimono wa jigoku daze

Uragirimono wa jigoku daze‌
star0.0
calendar 1962

Winter's Flower

Winter's Flower‌
star6.2
calendar 1978

The Firefly

The Firefly‌
star7.0
calendar 2001

G-men of Japan 4: Special Armed Unit Mobilization

G-men of Japan 4: Special Armed Unit Mobilization‌
star0.0
calendar 1956

Robert Mitchum: The Reluctant Star

Robert Mitchum: The Reluctant Star‌
star7.0
calendar 1991

The Domain

The Domain‌
star5.8
calendar 1964

The Homeless

The Homeless‌
star7.5
calendar 1974

A Portrait of the Author

A Portrait of the Author‌
star0.0
calendar 1984

Too Late the Hero

Too Late the Hero‌
star6.4
calendar 1970

Contemporary Tales of Chivalry: Forbidden Love

Contemporary Tales of Chivalry: Forbidden Love‌
star7.0
calendar 1971

Lightning Karate Blow

Lightning Karate Blow‌
star0.0
calendar 1956

Prison Boss

Prison Boss‌
star7.0
calendar 1968

Choji Snack Bar

Choji Snack Bar‌
star7.0
calendar 1983

The Day the Sun Rose

The Day the Sun Rose‌
star7.0
calendar 1968

The Path of the King

The Path of the King‌
star6.0
calendar 1971

The Deep Blue Sea

The Deep Blue Sea‌
star5.0
calendar 1957

Classmates

Classmates‌
star6.5
calendar 1967

The Last Kamikaze

The Last Kamikaze‌
star6.0
calendar 1970

The Prickly Mouthed Geisha Part 2

The Prickly Mouthed Geisha Part 2‌
star0.0
calendar 1960

The Revolt

The Revolt‌
star6.0
calendar 1980

With Songs in My Heart

With Songs in My Heart‌
star0.0
calendar 1958

The Sand City in Manchuria

The Sand City in Manchuria‌
star6.5
calendar 1960

Prison Walls of Abashiri 4

Prison Walls of Abashiri 4‌
star0.0
calendar 1965

New Prison Walls of Abashiri

New Prison Walls of Abashiri‌
star6.0
calendar 1968

Flower, Storm and Gangster

Flower, Storm and Gangster‌
star6.0
calendar 1961

Romance Freestyle

Romance Freestyle‌
star0.0
calendar 1958

Four Hours of Terror

Four Hours of Terror‌
star5.7
calendar 1959

Devil's Nursery Rhyme

Devil's Nursery Rhyme‌
star0.0
calendar 1961

Jet Air Base 101

Jet Air Base 101‌
star0.0
calendar 1957

Detective Duel

Detective Duel‌
star6.0
calendar 1958

Sister with Sister

Sister with Sister‌
star0.0
calendar 1958

A Fishwife's Tale

A Fishwife's Tale‌
star0.0
calendar 1961

Glorious Fights

Glorious Fights‌
star7.0
calendar 1966

Hishakaku and Kiratsune: A Tale of Two Yakuza

Hishakaku and Kiratsune: A Tale of Two Yakuza‌
star6.0
calendar 1968

The International Gang of Kobe

The International Gang of Kobe‌
star5.7
calendar 1975

The Prickly Mouthed Geisha and the Girl of Osaka

The Prickly Mouthed Geisha and the Girl of Osaka‌
star0.0
calendar 1962

Ken San

Ken San‌
star6.0
calendar 2016

365 Nights

365 Nights‌
star0.0
calendar 1962

Feisty Edo Girl Nakanori-san

Feisty Edo Girl Nakanori-san‌
star0.0
calendar 1961

Tales of President Mito

Tales of President Mito‌
star0.0
calendar 1962

Man of the World 2

Man of the World 2‌
star0.0
calendar 1960

No Advice Taken

No Advice Taken‌
star0.0
calendar 1958

Outlaw Under a Blue Canopy

Outlaw Under a Blue Canopy‌
star0.0
calendar 1960

The Bullet and the Horse

The Bullet and the Horse‌
star0.0
calendar 1966

Patience Has An End

Patience Has An End‌
star5.7
calendar 1971

House of Gamblers

House of Gamblers‌
star7.0
calendar 1970

The Pledge

The Pledge‌
star5.0
calendar 1972

The Prickly Mouthed Geisha, Part 4

The Prickly Mouthed Geisha, Part 4‌
star0.0
calendar 1961

The Prickly Mouthed Geisha, Part 3

The Prickly Mouthed Geisha, Part 3‌
star0.0
calendar 1960

Black Rain: Making The Film

Black Rain: Making The Film‌
star6.0
calendar 2006

Eleven Gangsters

Eleven Gangsters‌
star0.0
calendar 1963

The Second Bullet is Marked

The Second Bullet is Marked‌
star6.0
calendar 1960

Contemporary Tales of Chivalry: The Traitor Shall Die

Contemporary Tales of Chivalry: The Traitor Shall Die‌
star0.0
calendar 1972

Brutal Tales of Chivalry 6

Brutal Tales of Chivalry 6‌
star0.0
calendar 1969

The Chivalrous Life

The Chivalrous Life‌
star7.0
calendar 1967

New Prison Walls of Abashiri 2

New Prison Walls of Abashiri 2‌
star6.0
calendar 1969

Prison Walls of Abashiri 3

Prison Walls of Abashiri 3‌
star0.0
calendar 1965

Jakoman and Tetsu

Jakoman and Tetsu‌
star6.0
calendar 1964

Samurai Geisha

Samurai Geisha‌
star6.0
calendar 1969

Miyamoto Musashi: Birth of Two Sword Style

Miyamoto Musashi: Birth of Two Sword Style‌
star7.0
calendar 1963

Miyamoto Musashi: The Duel at Ichijo Temple

Miyamoto Musashi: The Duel at Ichijo Temple‌
star7.0
calendar 1964

A Story from Abashiri Prison—Duel in Snow Storm

A Story from Abashiri Prison—Duel in Snow Storm‌
star0.0
calendar 1967

The Domain: Flower and Dragon

The Domain: Flower and Dragon‌
star0.0
calendar 1969

New Prison Walls of Abashiri: Snowbound Deserter

New Prison Walls of Abashiri: Snowbound Deserter‌
star0.0
calendar 1971

Life of Hishakaku

Life of Hishakaku‌
star8.0
calendar 1963

Song of Kagoshima

Song of Kagoshima‌
star0.0
calendar 1962

The Drifting Avenger

The Drifting Avenger‌
star6.7
calendar 1968

Yakuza of the Present

Yakuza of the Present‌
star0.0
calendar 1973

Beyond the Seasonal Wind

Beyond the Seasonal Wind‌
star0.0
calendar 1958

Memoir of Japanese Assassinations

Memoir of Japanese Assassinations‌
star7.0
calendar 1969

Prison Walls of Abashiri, Part 2

Prison Walls of Abashiri, Part 2‌
star6.0
calendar 1965

Third Generation Boss

Third Generation Boss‌
star0.0
calendar 1974

New Prison Walls of Abashiri: Stormy Cape

New Prison Walls of Abashiri: Stormy Cape‌
star5.0
calendar 1971

Brothers Serving Time

Brothers Serving Time‌
star8.0
calendar 1969

Gambler's Legacy

Gambler's Legacy‌
star6.5
calendar 1969

Bloodiest Flower

Bloodiest Flower‌
star5.2
calendar 1971

Red Peony Gambler: Second Generation Ceremony

Red Peony Gambler: Second Generation Ceremony‌
star6.2
calendar 1969

Man of Thirteen Eyes

Man of Thirteen Eyes‌
star0.0
calendar 1958

Mother Peacock

Mother Peacock‌
star0.0
calendar 1956

The Escape

The Escape‌
star7.0
calendar 1962

The Biggest Gamble

The Biggest Gamble‌
star7.0
calendar 1969

The Prickly-Mouthed Geisha Goes to Sado

The Prickly-Mouthed Geisha Goes to Sado‌
star0.0
calendar 1961

Man of the World

Man of the World‌
star0.0
calendar 1960

The Happy Family

The Happy Family‌
star0.0
calendar 1959

The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry

The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry‌
star6.0
calendar 1965

Gang Loyalty and Vengeance

Gang Loyalty and Vengeance‌
star5.0
calendar 1963

Great Jailbreak

Great Jailbreak‌
star7.0
calendar 1975

The Japan Derby Race

The Japan Derby Race‌
star0.0
calendar 1970

The Big Boss

The Big Boss‌
star0.0
calendar 1963

Lullaby for a Tough Guy

Lullaby for a Tough Guy‌
star0.0
calendar 1972

Men in a Rough Town

Men in a Rough Town‌
star0.0
calendar 1959

Storm Party

Storm Party‌
star0.0
calendar 1964

Employee Full of Fight

Employee Full of Fight‌
star4.0
calendar 1957

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

New Prison Walls of Abashiri: The Vagrant Comes to a Port Town‌
star6.0
calendar 1969

Japan's Top Gangster

Japan's Top Gangster‌
star0.0
calendar 1973

Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido

Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido‌
star0.0
calendar 1967

Abashiri Prison: Duel in the Snow Country

Abashiri Prison: Duel in the Snow Country‌
star0.0
calendar 1966

Abashiri Prison: Duel in the South

Abashiri Prison: Duel in the South‌
star0.0
calendar 1966

The Boss

The Boss‌
star0.0
calendar 1965

New Prison Walls of Abashiri: Stray Wolf in Snow

New Prison Walls of Abashiri: Stray Wolf in Snow‌
star0.0
calendar 1970

Abashiri Prison: Challenge to the Evil

Abashiri Prison: Challenge to the Evil‌
star0.0
calendar 1967

New Prison Walls of Abashiri: High Stakes at Abashiri

New Prison Walls of Abashiri: High Stakes at Abashiri‌
star0.0
calendar 1970

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

New Abashiri Prison Story: Honor and Humanity, Ammunition That Attracts the Storm‌
star0.0
calendar 1972

Lady Sen and Hideyori

Lady Sen and Hideyori‌
star8.0
calendar 1962

The Domain: The Naniwa Story

The Domain: The Naniwa Story‌
star3.2
calendar 1965

The Domain: Rising Dragon

The Domain: Rising Dragon‌
star0.0
calendar 1970

Showdown of Men

Showdown of Men‌
star0.0
calendar 1966

The Domain: White Blade

The Domain: White Blade‌
star0.0
calendar 1967

The Domain: Severed Relations

The Domain: Severed Relations‌
star0.0
calendar 1968

Dagger

Dagger‌
star0.0
calendar 1971

The Domain: Kanda Festival Showdown

The Domain: Kanda Festival Showdown‌
star0.0
calendar 1966

The Domain: Where The Blade Enters

The Domain: Where The Blade Enters‌
star0.0
calendar 1967

The Domain: Duel at Thunder Gate

The Domain: Duel at Thunder Gate‌
star0.0
calendar 1966

Path of Japanese Chivalry: Story of All-Out Attack

Path of Japanese Chivalry: Story of All-Out Attack‌
star0.0
calendar 1975

See You

See You‌
star0.0
calendar 1988

A Hoodlum At The Risk Of His Life

A Hoodlum At The Risk Of His Life‌
star0.0
calendar 1970

The Great Road

The Great Road‌
star0.0
calendar 1960

Hell's Juggler

Hell's Juggler‌
star0.0
calendar 1961

Duel of the Underworld

Duel of the Underworld‌
star0.0
calendar 1963

Hell's Kitchen

Hell's Kitchen‌
star0.0
calendar 1962

Histories of the Chivalrous

Histories of the Chivalrous‌
star0.0
calendar 1968

The Chop Professor

The Chop Professor‌
star0.0
calendar 1956

Yukyo-retsuden

Yukyo-retsuden‌
star5.0
calendar 1970

Gambler Biography

Gambler Biography‌
star5.0
calendar 1968

The detective whose path was crossed by a snake

The detective whose path was crossed by a snake‌
star0.0
calendar 1995

Tv Credits

Older brother

Older brother‌
star0.0
calendar 1977

SMAP×SMAP

SMAP×SMAP‌
star8.5
calendar 1996

An Elegy of Tyrole

An Elegy of Tyrole‌
star0.0
calendar 1992

Korekara: Umibe no Tabibitotachi

Korekara: Umibe no Tabibitotachi‌
star0.0
calendar 1993