Kunie Tanaka - Actor Profile

Kunie Tanaka

Acting
Updated: May 15, 2026
50Total Films
10.0 Highest Rated
Born: Nov 23, 1932
Birth Place: Toki, Gifu, Japan

About Kunie Tanaka

Kunie Tanaka (田中 邦衛 Tanaka Kunie, November 23, 1932 - March 24, 2021) was a Japanese actor. He had his first notable role in 1960 as a thug in Akira Kurosawa's The Bad Sleep Well, and worked with the director again on Sanjuro. Tanaka is well known for his roles in Kinji Fukasaku's yakuza films, namely the Battles Without Honor and Humanity series. He also appeared in Masaki Kobayashi's Kwaidan. He has been nominated for five Japanese Academy Awards, winning the Best Supporting Actor statuette for Gakko in 1993. He appeared as the lecherous Shinjiro Ishiyama, nicknamed Aodaishō, the antagonist of the hero, played by Yūzō Kayama, in all of the Wakadaishō series of films. The character Kizaru, from Eiichiro Oda's manga series One Piece, is modeled after Tanaka.

Kunie Tanaka Movies & Career Overview

The filmography of Kunie Tanaka reflects exceptional commercial consistency. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.

Dominant Genre

A large portion of Kunie Tanaka's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.

Success Ratio

Approximately 100% of Kunie Tanaka's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.

One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains A Fishmonger's Tour, which stands out as a key performance.

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Best Kunie Tanaka Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from Kunie Tanaka's career based on audience ratings.

Full Filmography

Every movie Kunie Tanaka has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
2003 Fukumimi - Super Hit Similar →
2003 The Boat to Heaven Masato Sakurai Super Hit Similar →
2002 Kewaishi - Super Hit Similar →
2000 As the River Flows Matsuda (The Shopkeeper) Super Hit Similar →
1995 Kita no kuni kara '95 Himitsu - Super Hit Similar →
1992 Kita no kuni kara '92 Sudachi Part 1 - Super Hit Similar →
1991 Mourning Work - Super Hit Similar →
1990 Tasmania Story - Super Hit Similar →
1990 Hoshi wo tsugu mono Kenji Yoshida Super Hit Similar →
1987 The Great Department Store Robbery - Super Hit Similar →
1987 Take Me Out to the Snowland Yûichirô Tayama Super Hit Similar →
1986 The House of Wedlock Kazuya Enomoto Super Hit Similar →
1982 Highschool Scramble - Super Hit Similar →
1982 Karate Cop Neighbor Super Hit Similar →
1981 Return of the Champ Shinjiro Ishiyama Super Hit Similar →
1979 The Last Game - Super Hit Similar →
1978 The Truck Rascals Go to The North - Super Hit Similar →
1977 Sugata Sanshiro Yasuyoshi Super Hit Similar →
1977 The Love and Adventures of Kuroki Taro Kuroki Taro Super Hit Similar →
1976 Kawachi Rascal Is Spurred On Shinichiro Nabeyama Super Hit Similar →
1976 Hobo General - Super Hit Similar →
1975 300 Million Thief: Statute of Limitations Toyama Super Hit Similar →
1975 Doterai Man - Super Hit Similar →
1975 Path of Japanese Chivalry: Story of All-Out Attack - Super Hit Similar →
1972 New Abashiri Prison Story: Honor and Humanity, Ammunition That Attracts the Storm - Super Hit Similar →
1972 My Voiceless Friends - Super Hit Similar →
1971 Japan's No. 1 Shocked Man - Super Hit Similar →
1971 The Instant Services Bureau - Super Hit Similar →
1971 Kigeki: Onna ikitemasu - Super Hit Similar →
1970 Charming Men Kuramoto Kuraji Super Hit Similar →
1969 The Great Japanese Pick-Pocket Club Kanegai Super Hit Similar →
1969 Forward, Young People! Taro Super Hit Similar →
1968 Young People Taro Super Hit Similar →
1968 The Day the Sun Rose - Super Hit Similar →
1968 Cry of the Mountain - Super Hit Similar →
1968 Women and Miso Soup - Super Hit Similar →
1968 The Woman Champion - Super Hit Similar →
1968 Hymn to a Tired Man Hisataro Ohno Super Hit Similar →
1967 Abashiri Prison: Challenge to the Evil - Super Hit Similar →
1967 River of Forever - Super Hit Similar →
1966 The Bullet and the Horse - Super Hit Similar →
1965 Prison Walls of Abashiri 4 - Super Hit Similar →
1965 The Last Judgment - Super Hit Similar →
1963 Sensation Seekers - Super Hit Similar →
1963 A Fishmonger's Tour - Super Hit Similar →
1962 The Crimson Sky - Super Hit Similar →
1962 Pride of the Campus Shinjiro Ishiyama (Aodaisho) Super Hit Similar →
1962 Sanjuro Samurai Super Hit Similar →
1961 Hidden Fangs - Super Hit Similar →
1959 The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity Obara Nitôhei Super Hit Similar →

Kunie Tanaka - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of Kunie Tanaka?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Kunie Tanaka is "A Fishmonger's Tour" with a rating of 10.0/10.

How many movies has Kunie Tanaka acted in?

Kunie Tanaka has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by Kunie Tanaka?

Other notable films include "Fukumimi", "The Woman Champion", and "Highschool Scramble".

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