Ken Takakura
Ken Takakura
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.
Known For Acting
Most Rating 8.3
Birthday 1931-02-16
Place of Birth Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka, Japan
Also Known As Goichi Oda, 高仓健, Кэн Такакура, کن تاکاکورا,
The Longest Tunnel
1982

The Longest Tunnel

Black Rain
1989

Black Rain

Operation Diamond
1962

Operation Diamond

The Yellow Handkerchief
1977

The Yellow Handkerchief

47 Ronin
1994

47 Ronin

Tokyo Gang vs. Hong Kong Gang
1964

Tokyo Gang vs. Hong Kong Gang

South Pacific Waves Are High
1962

South Pacific Waves Are High

A Dead Drifter
1959

A Dead Drifter

Never Give Up
1978

Never Give Up

Rogue
1968

Rogue

The Yakuza
1974

The Yakuza

Men Fighting Whales
1957

Men Fighting Whales

Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles
2005

Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles

Tokyo Untouchable
1962

Tokyo Untouchable

The Kamikaze Guy
1966

The Kamikaze Guy

Antarctica
1983

Antarctica

Delinquent Angel
1960

Delinquent Angel

The Bullet Train
1975

The Bullet Train

Mannen Taro and His Feminine Colleagues
1961

Mannen Taro and His Feminine Colleagues

Mr. Baseball
1992

Mr. Baseball

Tenka no Kaidanji Senpū Tarō
1961

Tenka no Kaidanji Senpū Tarō

Railroad Man
1999

Railroad Man

Kyōkatsu
1963

Kyōkatsu

Red Peony Gambler
1968

Red Peony Gambler

Manhunt
1976

Manhunt

Main Street in the Underworld
1964

Main Street in the Underworld

An Outlaw
1964

An Outlaw

A Distant Cry from Spring
1980

A Distant Cry from Spring

Golgo 13
1973

Golgo 13

Hell's Companion
1959

Hell's Companion

Red Peony Gambler: Flower Cards Game
1969

Red Peony Gambler: Flower Cards Game

The Outsiders
1958

The Outsiders

Tokyo's  Business District
1962

Tokyo's Business District

Brave Red Flower of the North
1970

Brave Red Flower of the North

Miyamoto Musashi V: Musashi vs Kojiro
1965

Miyamoto Musashi V: Musashi vs Kojiro

Mount Hakkoda
1977

Mount Hakkoda

Buddies
1989

Buddies

Station
1981

Station

A Fugitive from the Past
1965

A Fugitive from the Past

Dearest
2012

Dearest

Contemporary Tales of Chivalry 2
1966

Contemporary Tales of Chivalry 2

Contemporary Tales of Chivalry: The Lone Wolf
1966

Contemporary Tales of Chivalry: The Lone Wolf

Demon
1985

Demon

Brutal Tales of Chivalry 7: Hell Is a Man's Destiny
1970

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

Manchurian Sunset
1956

Manchurian Sunset

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

Brutal Tales of Chivalry 5: Man With The Karajishi Tattoo

Contemporary Tales of Chivalry 4
1967

Contemporary Tales of Chivalry 4

Brutal Tales of Chivalry
1965

Brutal Tales of Chivalry

Showdown in Blood
1957

Showdown in Blood

If You're Man Enough
1960

If You're Man Enough

Abashiri Prison
1965

Abashiri Prison

Wolves, Pigs & Men
1964

Wolves, Pigs & Men

All Rascals
1962

All Rascals

The Man
1971

The Man

Karate Cop
1982

Karate Cop

Tokyo Untouchable: Escape
1963

Tokyo Untouchable: Escape

The Kanto Scarlet Cherry Gang
1972

The Kanto Scarlet Cherry Gang

Uragirimono wa jigoku daze
1962

Uragirimono wa jigoku daze

The Firefly
2001

The Firefly

Winter's Flower
1978

Winter's Flower

G-men of Japan 4: Special Armed Unit Mobilization
1956

G-men of Japan 4: Special Armed Unit Mobilization

Robert Mitchum: The Reluctant Star
1991

Robert Mitchum: The Reluctant Star

The Domain
1964

The Domain

The Homeless
1974

The Homeless

A Portrait of the Author
1984

A Portrait of the Author

Too Late the Hero
1970

Too Late the Hero

Contemporary Tales of Chivalry: Forbidden Love
1971

Contemporary Tales of Chivalry: Forbidden Love

Lightning Karate Blow
1956

Lightning Karate Blow

Prison Boss
1968

Prison Boss

Choji Snack Bar
1983

Choji Snack Bar

The Day the Sun Rose
1968

The Day the Sun Rose

The Path of the King
1971

The Path of the King

The Deep Blue Sea
1957

The Deep Blue Sea

The Last Kamikaze
1970

The Last Kamikaze

Classmates
1967

Classmates

The Prickly Mouthed Geisha Part 2
1960

The Prickly Mouthed Geisha Part 2

The Revolt
1980

The Revolt

With Songs in My Heart
1958

With Songs in My Heart

The Sand City in Manchuria
1960

The Sand City in Manchuria

Prison Walls of Abashiri 4
1965

Prison Walls of Abashiri 4

New Prison Walls of Abashiri
1968

New Prison Walls of Abashiri

Flower, Storm and Gangster
1961

Flower, Storm and Gangster

Romance Freestyle
1958

Romance Freestyle

Four Hours of Terror
1959

Four Hours of Terror

Devil's Nursery Rhyme
1961

Devil's Nursery Rhyme

Jet Air Base 101
1957

Jet Air Base 101

Sister with Sister
1958

Sister with Sister

Detective Duel
1958

Detective Duel

A Fishwife's Tale
1961

A Fishwife's Tale

Glorious Fights
1966

Glorious Fights

Hishakaku and Kiratsune: A Tale of Two Yakuza
1968

Hishakaku and Kiratsune: A Tale of Two Yakuza

The International Gang of Kobe
1975

The International Gang of Kobe

The Prickly Mouthed Geisha and the Girl of Osaka
1962

The Prickly Mouthed Geisha and the Girl of Osaka

Ken San
2016

Ken San

365 Nights
1962

365 Nights

Feisty Edo Girl Nakanori-san
1961

Feisty Edo Girl Nakanori-san

Tales of President Mito
1962

Tales of President Mito

Man of the World 2
1960

Man of the World 2

No Advice Taken
1958

No Advice Taken

Outlaw Under a Blue Canopy
1960

Outlaw Under a Blue Canopy

The Bullet and the Horse
1966

The Bullet and the Horse

Patience Has An End
1971

Patience Has An End

House of Gamblers
1970

House of Gamblers

The Pledge
1972

The Pledge

The Prickly Mouthed Geisha, Part 4
1961

The Prickly Mouthed Geisha, Part 4

The Prickly Mouthed Geisha, Part 3
1960

The Prickly Mouthed Geisha, Part 3

Black Rain: Making The Film
2006

Black Rain: Making The Film

Eleven Gangsters
1963

Eleven Gangsters

The Second Bullet is Marked
1960

The Second Bullet is Marked

Brutal Tales of Chivalry 6
1969

Brutal Tales of Chivalry 6

Contemporary Tales of Chivalry: The Traitor Shall Die
1972

Contemporary Tales of Chivalry: The Traitor Shall Die

New Prison Walls of Abashiri 2
1969

New Prison Walls of Abashiri 2

The Chivalrous Life
1967

The Chivalrous Life

Prison Walls of Abashiri 3
1965

Prison Walls of Abashiri 3

Jakoman and Tetsu
1964

Jakoman and Tetsu

Samurai Geisha
1969

Samurai Geisha

Miyamoto Musashi: The Duel at Ichijo Temple
1964

Miyamoto Musashi: The Duel at Ichijo Temple

Miyamoto Musashi: Birth of Two Sword Style
1963

Miyamoto Musashi: Birth of Two Sword Style

A Story from Abashiri Prison—Duel in Snow Storm
1967

A Story from Abashiri Prison—Duel in Snow Storm

The Domain: Flower and Dragon
1969

The Domain: Flower and Dragon

Life of Hishakaku
1963

Life of Hishakaku

New Prison Walls of Abashiri: Snowbound Deserter
1971

New Prison Walls of Abashiri: Snowbound Deserter

Song of Kagoshima
1962

Song of Kagoshima

The Drifting Avenger
1968

The Drifting Avenger

Yakuza of the Present
1973

Yakuza of the Present

Beyond the Seasonal Wind
1958

Beyond the Seasonal Wind

Memoir of Japanese Assassinations
1969

Memoir of Japanese Assassinations

Prison Walls of Abashiri, Part 2
1965

Prison Walls of Abashiri, Part 2

Third Generation Boss
1974

Third Generation Boss

New Prison Walls of Abashiri: Stormy Cape
1971

New Prison Walls of Abashiri: Stormy Cape

Brothers Serving Time
1969

Brothers Serving Time

Gambler's Legacy
1969

Gambler's Legacy

Bloodiest Flower
1971

Bloodiest Flower

Red Peony Gambler: Second Generation Ceremony
1969

Red Peony Gambler: Second Generation Ceremony

Man of Thirteen Eyes
1958

Man of Thirteen Eyes

Mother Peacock
1956

Mother Peacock

The Escape
1962

The Escape

The Biggest Gamble
1969

The Biggest Gamble

The Prickly-Mouthed Geisha Goes to Sado
1961

The Prickly-Mouthed Geisha Goes to Sado

Man of the World
1960

Man of the World

The Happy Family
1959

The Happy Family

The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry
1965

The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry

Gang Loyalty and Vengeance
1963

Gang Loyalty and Vengeance

Great Jailbreak
1975

Great Jailbreak

The Japan Derby Race
1970

The Japan Derby Race

The Big Boss
1963

The Big Boss

Lullaby for a Tough Guy
1972

Lullaby for a Tough Guy

Men in a Rough Town
1959

Men in a Rough Town

Storm Party
1964

Storm Party

Employee Full of Fight
1957

Employee Full of Fight

New Prison Walls of Abashiri: The Vagrant Comes to a Port Town
1969

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

Japan's Top Gangster
1973

Japan's Top Gangster

The Boss
1965

The Boss

Abashiri Prison: Duel in the South
1966

Abashiri Prison: Duel in the South

Abashiri Prison: Duel in the Snow Country
1966

Abashiri Prison: Duel in the Snow Country

Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido
1967

Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido

New Prison Walls of Abashiri: High Stakes at Abashiri
1970

New Prison Walls of Abashiri: High Stakes at Abashiri

Abashiri Prison: Challenge to the Evil
1967

Abashiri Prison: Challenge to the Evil

New Prison Walls of Abashiri: Stray Wolf in Snow
1970

New Prison Walls of Abashiri: Stray Wolf in Snow

New Abashiri Prison Story: Honor and Humanity, Ammunition That Attracts the Storm
1972

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

Lady Sen and Hideyori
1962

Lady Sen and Hideyori

The Domain: Rising Dragon
1970

The Domain: Rising Dragon

The Domain: The Naniwa Story
1965

The Domain: The Naniwa Story

Showdown of Men
1966

Showdown of Men

Dagger
1971

Dagger

The Domain: Kanda Festival Showdown
1966

The Domain: Kanda Festival Showdown

The Domain: White Blade
1967

The Domain: White Blade

The Domain: Duel at Thunder Gate
1966

The Domain: Duel at Thunder Gate

The Domain: Where The Blade Enters
1967

The Domain: Where The Blade Enters

The Domain: Severed Relations
1968

The Domain: Severed Relations

Path of Japanese Chivalry: Story of All-Out Attack
1975

Path of Japanese Chivalry: Story of All-Out Attack

See You
1988

See You

A Hoodlum At The Risk Of His Life
1970

A Hoodlum At The Risk Of His Life

The Great Road
1960

The Great Road

Hell's Juggler
1961

Hell's Juggler

Duel of the Underworld
1963

Duel of the Underworld

Hell's Kitchen
1962

Hell's Kitchen

Histories of the Chivalrous
1968

Histories of the Chivalrous

The Chop Professor
1956

The Chop Professor

Yukyo-retsuden
1970

Yukyo-retsuden

Gambler Biography
1968

Gambler Biography

The detective whose path was crossed by a snake
1995

The detective whose path was crossed by a snake

Meteor Karate Strike
1956

Meteor Karate Strike

A Man's Dark Finger
1959

A Man's Dark Finger