Takashi Shimura
Photo: TMDB

Known for

Takashi Shimura

Born
12 March 1905
Zodiac sign
Pisces
Died
11 February 1982
Birthplace
Ikuno, Hyogo, Japan
Credits
150

Takashi Shimura (1905–1982) was a Japanese actor born in Ikuno, Hyogo. Over a career of around 150 credits, he moved between period films, crime dramas and monster movies. Among his best-known roles are Tokuemon, the sake brewer, in Yojimbo (1961), Kurofuji in Sanjuro (1962), General Izumi Nagakura in The Hidden Fortress (1958) and the Chief of Investigation Section in High and Low (1963).

He also appeared in The Bad Sleep Well (1960), Red Beard (1965), Kwaidan (1965), Mothra (1961) and Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964). His later credits include The Bullet Train (1975), in which he played the JNR President, and Kagemusha (1980), where he appeared as Taguchi Gyobu. His honours include the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 1974 and the Mainichi Film Award for Best Actor.

Where to watch their movies

  • Amazon Video: High and Low, Ikiru
  • Apple TV Store: High and Low, Ikiru
  • Criterion Channel: Ikiru
  • Fandango At Home: High and Low, Ikiru
  • Google Play Movies: Ikiru
  • HBO Max: High and Low, Ikiru
  • HBO Max Amazon Channel: High and Low, Ikiru
  • Kanopy: Ikiru
  • Plex: High and Low
  • Plex Channel: High and Low
  • Shout! Factory TV: High and Low
  • Tubi TV: High and Low
  • YouTube: Ikiru
  • YouTube Free: High and Low

Platforms listed for our film pages in your country (source: JustWatch via TMDB).

Frequent co-stars

  • Toshirō Mifune · 7 films together: High and Low, Red Beard, Yojimbo, Sanjuro
  • Yūzō Kayama · 4 films together: Red Beard, Sanjuro, Chûshingura, Fright Time
  • Kyōko Kagawa · 4 films together: High and Low, Red Beard, The Bad Sleep Well, Mothra
  • Tatsuya Nakadai · 4 films together: High and Low, Kagemusha, Yojimbo, Sanjuro
  • Tatsuya Mihashi · 3 films together: High and Low, The Bad Sleep Well, Chûshingura
  • Akihiko Hirata · 3 films together: Godzilla, Prophecies of Nostradamus, Gorath

Awards won

  • Medal with Purple Ribbon (1974)
  • Mainichi Film Award for Best Actor

Career at a glance

First credit: The Black Hooded Man 5 (1958) · Credits: 150

Roles played

  • Fifth Movement (1981)Fifth Movement1981
  • The Last Days of Planet Earth (1981)The Last Days of Planet Earth1981 · Hospital Director
  • Kagemusha (1980)Kagemusha1980 · Taguchi Gyobu
  • A-Un (1980)A-Un1980
  • An Ocean to Cross (1980)An Ocean to Cross1980 · Ryuuson
  • The Revolt (1980)The Revolt1980
  • Talk of the Town Tora-san (1978)Talk of the Town Tora-san1978 · 诹访兵一郎
  • Strait of Roses (1978)Strait of Roses1978
  • Love and Faith (1978)Love and Faith1978 · Sen Rikyu
  • Fuyu no Undokai (1977)Fuyu no Undokai1977
  • Kashin (1977)Kashin1977 · Chikuin
  • Godzilla (1977)Godzilla1977 · Dr. Yamane
  • Ninjutsu: Sasuke Saruhi (1976)Ninjutsu: Sasuke Saruhi1976
  • Human Revolution II (1976)Human Revolution II1976
  • Akai Unmei (1976)Akai Unmei1976
  • The Roads Men Travel (1976)The Roads Men Travel1976 · Motoki
  • The Bullet Train (1975)The Bullet Train1975 · JNR President
  • Hadashi no seishun (1975)Hadashi no seishun1975
  • Prophecies of Nostradamus (1974)Prophecies of Nostradamus1974 · Pediatrician
  • The Maizuru Showdown between The Yakuza Brothers (1974)The Maizuru Showdown between The Yakuza Brothers1974
Show all (60 more)
  • The Tattooed Hitman (1974)The Tattooed Hitman1974 · Bukichi Oura
  • The Family (1974)The Family1974 · Yasuda - Makiko's Father
  • Kigeki: koko kara hajimaru monogatari (1973)Kigeki: koko kara hajimaru monogatari1973
  • Zatoichi's Conspiracy (1973)Zatoichi's Conspiracy1973 · Sakubei
  • A Yakuza Has His Way (1972)A Yakuza Has His Way1972
  • 愛と愛 (1972)愛と愛1972
  • Tora-san's Love Call (1971)Tora-san's Love Call1971 · 诹访飚一郎（阿博的父亲）
  • Patience Has An End (1971)Patience Has An End1971
  • The Earth is Born Again (1971)The Earth is Born Again1971 · Gondo
  • Wicked Priest 5: Breaking the Commandments (1971)Wicked Priest 5: Breaking the Commandments1971
  • The Militarists (1970)The Militarists1970 · Takeda
  • House of Gamblers (1970)House of Gamblers1970
  • Women of Osaka Castle1970
  • Japan's Violent Gangs: The Boss and the Killers (1969)Japan's Violent Gangs: The Boss and the Killers1969
  • The Magoichi Saga (1969)The Magoichi Saga1969 · Magoichi's father
  • Tora-san, Our Lovable Tramp (1969)Tora-san, Our Lovable Tramp1969 · 诹访飚一郎（阿博的父亲）
  • New Prison Walls of Abashiri 2 (1969)New Prison Walls of Abashiri 21969
  • Kanto Woman Infamy (1969)Kanto Woman Infamy1969
  • Brutal Tales of Chivalry 5: Man With The Karajishi Tattoo (1969)Brutal Tales of Chivalry 5: Man With The Karajishi Tattoo1969
  • Samurai Banners (1969)Samurai Banners1969 · Obu Toramasa
  • A Modern Yakuza: The Code of the Lawless (1969)A Modern Yakuza: The Code of the Lawless1969
  • Heaven and Earth (1969)Heaven and Earth1969 · Nagao Fusakage
  • New Prison Walls of Abashiri (1968)New Prison Walls of Abashiri1968
  • The Day the Sun Rose1968
  • Woman Gambler and the Nun (1968)Woman Gambler and the Nun1968
  • Zatoichi and the Fugitives (1968)Zatoichi and the Fugitives1968 · Dr. Junan
  • The Woman Champion (1968)The Woman Champion1968
  • The Bride from Hades (1968)The Bride from Hades1968 · Fortune Teller
  • The Drifting Avenger (1968)The Drifting Avenger1968 · Ken's Father
  • Industrial Spy (1968)Industrial Spy1968 · Taizo Matsui
  • The Sands of Kurobe (1968)The Sands of Kurobe1968 · Ashimura
  • Slave Factory (1968)Slave Factory1968
  • Human Torpedoes (1968)Human Torpedoes1968
  • King of the Gang (1967)King of the Gang1967
  • Japan's Longest Day (1967)Japan's Longest Day1967 · Information Bureau Director Hiroshi Shimomura
  • When the Cookie Crumbles (1967)When the Cookie Crumbles1967
  • The Chivalrous Life (1967)The Chivalrous Life1967 · Sakamoto
  • Underworld series - Pardon My Violent Ways (1967)Underworld series - Pardon My Violent Ways1967
  • Three Sisters (1967)Three Sisters1967 · Misawa Heizaemon [Kingoro's father]
  • No Greater Love (1966)No Greater Love1966
  • The Harbor of No Return (1966)The Harbor of No Return1966 · Detective Egusa
  • Greatest Boss of the Showa Era (1966)Greatest Boss of the Showa Era1966
  • The Protector (1966)The Protector1966
  • Night in Bangkok (1966)Night in Bangkok1966
  • A Circus Girl (1966)A Circus Girl1966
  • Code of Ruffians (1965)Code of Ruffians1965
  • Expelled from the Kanto Mob (1965)Expelled from the Kanto Mob1965
  • Snake Princess: Oshima and Sentaro (1965)Snake Princess: Oshima and Sentaro1965
  • Frankenstein Conquers the World (1965)Frankenstein Conquers the World1965 · Hiroshima Army Hospital doctor
  • The Retreat from Kiska (1965)The Retreat from Kiska1965 · Military Command president
  • Sanshiro Sugata (1965)Sanshiro Sugata1965 · Mishima
  • Three Yakuza (1965)Three Yakuza1965
  • Red Beard (1965)Red Beard1965 · Tokubei Izumiya
  • Hoodlum Match (1965)Hoodlum Match1965
  • The Soundless Cry (1965)The Soundless Cry1965
  • Kwaidan (1965)Kwaidan1965 · Head Priest (segment "Hoichi the Earless")
  • Samurai Assassin (1965)Samurai Assassin1965 · Narihisa Ichijō
  • Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster1964 · Dr. Tsukamoto
  • Thief on the Run (1964)Thief on the Run1964
  • Blood and Diamonds (1964)Blood and Diamonds1964

and 70 more

Images: TMDB · Posters belong to their respective copyright holders and are shown only to identify the work and for review purposes

Profile based on TMDB and Wikidata facts and checked against public sources. Career information only.