Takeshi Kitano is a Japanese director, actor, comedian, filmmaker and TV presenter, as well as one of Japan's most influential cultural figures. The pinnacle of his television career came in the 80s, when he switched careers to directing and became famous worldwide. Takeshi Kitano's films ("Fireworks", "Violent Police", "Little Sonata", "Lawlessness", "Humpback City") have won numerous awards at the Cannes and Venice Film Festivals.
Takeshi Kitano
Takeshi Kitano was born on January 18, 1947, to an extended family in a slum in Tokyo. His father, Adaki, is an artist, his mother is a factory trainer, and his parents are barely able to support four children. As a child, Takeshi Kitano is the "life" of his sister and two brothers.
It is speculated that Kitano's father is actually a member of the Japanese gang, which is why he has made many good movies about the gang. Takeshi Kitano and his friends spend a lot of time on the streets, stealing and robbing to make money.
Kitano Yu as a young man
However, he performed well in school and was always immersed in science classes. He described these carefree days in his 1996 autobiography, The Boys Are Back.
Thanks to his siblings borrowing money everywhere to raise tuition fees, Kitano Takeshi entered Meiji University majoring in mechanical engineering. At the time, his biggest dream was to get a job at the Honda factory.
During college, Takeshi Kitano realized that he was completely different from his wealthy classmates. He was also an angry youth and often attended student rallies.
Takeshi Kitano rarely appears in the classroom, spending most of his time in the Asakusa area known as "Tokyo Montmartre". He soon dropped out of college and worked as an elevator operator in a theater. In those years, the theater was run by comedian Chisaburo Fukami, who soon noticed Takeshi Kitano's talent. Takeshi Kitano began to help him create comedies, and over time, Chisaburo Fukami began to treat Takeshi Kitano as a disciple.
Takeshi Kitano's first appearance on stage was accidental. One of the silent actors fell ill and Washi Kitano temporarily took over. After his debut on stage, he was popular because he was a versatile actor who could do anything from playing the piano to dancing.
In the 1970s, the Hosse comedy became popular in Japan. It's a comedy made up of two characters: Zucchini and Bork. Comedians Kaneko Yoshiro and Kitano co-wrote the ten-man duo "two bits". Their jokes stand out because they transcend moral boundaries and mercilessly insult the lives, love, and politics of ordinary Japanese. The audience always greeted them with applause, and their plays were broadcast on radio and television. On television, Kitano was nicknamed "Bitwu". Unfortunately, after the members of the "Two Bits" disagreed, Kitano began working as a TV presenter. Sometimes he hosts eight shows on one channel.
Takeshi Kitano's most popular program was the 1986-1989 entertainment and sports program Takejo. Participants must overcome various obstacles and reach the "castle". The winner wins 1 million yen (about $8,000 at the current exchange rate). But in three years, only nine people have won.
Takeshi Kitano's first major film role was in the Japanese-American military theme drama "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence". In the film, he plays the role of former Sergeant Gino. Prior to this, Kitano Takeshi was little known internationally.
He began his career as a director in 1989. It was also an accident. Takeshi Kitano starred in "The Fierce Policeman", but the director could not work due to health reasons. Instead, Kitano directed the show, and he went on to play and star in almost all of his films.
The next film, Boiling Point, was released in 1990 and received a critical acclaim and received a special status at the Turin Film Festival. Critics say he created his own writing style in his second work. They include long periods of not moving the camera, moving the camera at minimum speed, short conversations, sudden confusion, and sudden violence.
One of the director's best works is the Little Sonata, which is a transitional phase for him. This work is about the life of a gangster.
In 1994, Takeshi Kitano had a terrible accident while riding a motorcycle, and the right side of his face was paralyzed. Until his recovery, he kept his distance from the world of cinema, during which time he composed music and painted.
By the way, his paintings can be seen in the 1997 film "Hana Bi". Because the impact of the accident on Takeshi Kitano was too great, he had less violence on "Hanami" and added many dialogue scenes reflecting life and death. The film won the highest prize at the 54th Venice Film Festival.
Takeshi Kitano married actor Mickey Matsuda in 1979 and has two children, Atsushi and Shoko.
As for his personality, he was brash and fresh, and once broke into a magazine office that secretly took pictures of him and beat up everyone inside.
In 2003, Takeshi Kitano created a new series in the popular "Zatoichi" series, in which he played the role of a blind samurai. The work was highly praised by critics.
He thinks he's always looking for a job. Takeshi Kitano is a painter, writer, Japanese social interviewer, and mathematician.
Takeshi Kitano studied European and American cinema and admired the works of Stanley Kubrick, Ingmar Bergman, and Alfred Hitchcock.