Takashi Shimura

Biography

Takashi Shimura was a Japanese character actor and a key member of Akira Kurosawa's stock company. Born in southern Japan and descended from samurai, he trained at university and founded the theater group Shichigatsu-za before joining the professional Kindai-za company in 1930. After moving to the Kinema Shinko studio, he found steady work in samurai parts, and from 1943 he held a long Toho contract, appearing in about six films a year over four decades. His strongest reviews came in more than 20 films for Kurosawa; he played the diffident, dying bureaucrat of Ikiru (1952) and the leader of the samurai band in Seven Samurai (1954), roles that showed a wide range. Outside Japan he was widely recognized as the kindly doctor in Godzilla (1954). He kept acting almost until his death in 1982; his final Kurosawa film was Kagemusha (1980).

Movie Career

Films: 32
Career span: 31 years1943 to 1974

Genres

Drama75%, 24 films
Action34%, 11 films
Adventure28%, 9 films
History16%, 5 films
Sci-Fi16%, 5 films

First and latest

Takashi Shimura movies on Netflix

Nosutoradamusu no daiyogen1974IMDb rating 6.2as Pediatrician
Japan's Longest Day1967IMDb rating 7.7as Information Bureau Director Hiroshi Shimomura
Frankenstein Conquers the World1965IMDb rating 5.5as Axis Scientist
Red Beard1965IMDb rating 8.3as Tokubei Izumiya
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster1964IMDb rating 6.5as Dr. Tsukamoto
Gambler Tales of Hasshu: A Man's Pledge1963IMDb rating 7.2as Tobei
High and Low1963IMDb rating 8.4as Chief of Investigation Section
The Lost World of Sinbad1963IMDb rating 6.3as King Raksha
Chûshingura1962IMDb rating 7.5as Hyôbu Chisaka
Sanjuro1962IMDb rating 8.0as Kurofuji
Mothra1961IMDb rating 6.6as News Editor
Yojimbo1961IMDb rating 8.2as Tokuemon - Sake Brewer
The Bad Sleep Well1960IMDb rating 7.9as Administrative Officer Moriyama
The Storm of the Pacific1960IMDb rating 6.3as Tosaku
Gigantis, the Fire Monster1959IMDb rating 4.2as Dr. Yamane
The Hidden Fortress1958IMDb rating 8.0as The Old General, Izumi Nagakura
Throne of Blood1957IMDb rating 8.0as Noriyasu Odagura
Untamed Woman1957IMDb rating 7.4as Owner of the rice mill
Godzilla, King of the Monsters!1956IMDb rating 6.3as Dr. Yamane
Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island1956IMDb rating 7.5as Sado Nagaoka the court official
Godzilla Raids Again1955IMDb rating 5.7as Kyohei Yamane-hakase
I Live in Fear1955IMDb rating 7.3as Domestic Court Counselor Dr. Harada
Seven Samurai1954IMDb rating 8.6as Kambei Shimada
The Eagle of the Pacific1953IMDb rating 6.9as Colonel A, staff officer of the army
The Idiot1951IMDb rating 7.1as Ono, Ayako's father
Rashomon1950IMDb rating 8.1as Woodcutter
Scandal1950IMDb rating 7.2as Otokichi Hiruta
The Quiet Duel1949IMDb rating 7.3as Dr. Konosuke Fujisaki
Drunken Angel1948IMDb rating 7.6as Sanada
No Regrets for Our Youth1946IMDb rating 7.1as Police Commissioner 'Poison Strawberry' Dokuichigo
The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail1945IMDb rating 6.7as Kataoka
Sanshiro Sugata1943IMDb rating 6.7as Hansuke Murai, Sayo's father

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Seven Samurai1954 Action, Adventure, Dramaas Kambei Shimada
IMDb rating 8.6406K votes
Rashomon1950 Crime, Drama, Mysteryas Woodcutter
IMDb rating 8.1199K votes
Throne of Blood1957as Noriyasu Odagura
IMDb rating 8.061K votes
Yojimbo1961as Tokuemon - Sake Brewer
IMDb rating 8.2145K votes
Drunken Angel1948as Sanada
IMDb rating 7.615K votes
The Hidden Fortress1958as The Old General, Izumi Nagakura
IMDb rating 8.046K votes
Sanjuro1962as Kurofuji
IMDb rating 8.044K votes
High and Low1963as Chief of Investigation Section
IMDb rating 8.474K votes

Most often with

Akira Kurosawa directed seventeen of these films, Ishirô Honda five and Motoyoshi Oda two. Toshirô Mifune appears in twenty of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Toshirô Mifune

Minoru Chiaki

Kokuten Kôdô

Yoshio Tsuchiya

Masao Shimizu

Susumu FujitaAkira KurosawaDirector, 17 films Ishirô HondaDirector, 5 films Motoyoshi OdaDirector, 2 films

Films together

Toshirô Mifune20 films together, 1948 to 1967
Toshirô Mifune's page
- Japan's Longest Day1967IMDb rating 7.7Shimura as Information Bureau Director Hiroshi ShimomuraMifune as War Minister General Korechika Anami
- Red Beard1965IMDb rating 8.3Shimura as Tokubei IzumiyaMifune as Dr. Kyojô Niide
- High and Low1963IMDb rating 8.4Shimura as Chief of Investigation SectionMifune as Kingo Gondo
- The Lost World of Sinbad1963IMDb rating 6.3Shimura as King RakshaMifune as Sukezaemon Naya, alias 'Luzon' (Sinbad in English version)
- Chûshingura1962IMDb rating 7.5Shimura as Hyôbu ChisakaMifune as Genba Tawaraboshi
- Sanjuro1962IMDb rating 8.0Shimura as KurofujiMifune as Sanjûrô Tsubaki / The Samurai
- Yojimbo1961IMDb rating 8.2Shimura as Tokuemon - Sake BrewerMifune as Sanjuro Kuwabatake / The Samurai
- The Bad Sleep Well1960IMDb rating 7.9Shimura as Administrative Officer MoriyamaMifune as Kôichi Nishi
- The Storm of the Pacific1960IMDb rating 6.3Shimura as TosakuMifune as Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi
- The Hidden Fortress1958IMDb rating 8.0Shimura as The Old General, Izumi NagakuraMifune as General Rokurota Makabe
- Throne of Blood1957IMDb rating 8.0Shimura as Noriyasu OdaguraMifune as Taketoki Washizu
- Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island1956IMDb rating 7.5Shimura as Sado Nagaoka the court officialMifune as Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo)
- I Live in Fear1955IMDb rating 7.3Shimura as Domestic Court Counselor Dr. HaradaMifune as Kiichi Nakajima
- Seven Samurai1954IMDb rating 8.6Shimura as Kambei ShimadaMifune as Kikuchiyo
- The Eagle of the Pacific1953IMDb rating 6.9Shimura as Colonel A, staff officer of the armyMifune as 1st Lieutenant Tomonaga
- The Idiot1951IMDb rating 7.1Shimura as Ono, Ayako's fatherMifune as Denkichi Akama
- Rashomon1950IMDb rating 8.1Shimura as WoodcutterMifune as Tajômaru
- Scandal1950IMDb rating 7.2Shimura as Otokichi HirutaMifune as Ichirô Aoye
- The Quiet Duel1949IMDb rating 7.3Shimura as Dr. Konosuke FujisakiMifune as Dr. Kyoji Fujisaki
- Drunken Angel1948IMDb rating 7.6Shimura as SanadaMifune as Matsunaga
Minoru Chiaki10 films together, 1950 to 1963
Minoru Chiaki's page
- High and Low1963IMDb rating 8.4Shimura as Chief of Investigation SectionChiaki as First Reporter
- Gigantis, the Fire Monster1959IMDb rating 4.2Shimura as Dr. YamaneChiaki as Kobayashi
- The Hidden Fortress1958IMDb rating 8.0Shimura as The Old General, Izumi NagakuraChiaki as Tahei
- Throne of Blood1957IMDb rating 8.0Shimura as Noriyasu OdaguraChiaki as Yoshiaki Miki
- Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island1956IMDb rating 7.5Shimura as Sado Nagaoka the court officialChiaki as Sasuke the boatman
- Godzilla Raids Again1955IMDb rating 5.7Shimura as Kyohei Yamane-hakaseChiaki as Kôji Kobayashi
- I Live in Fear1955IMDb rating 7.3Shimura as Domestic Court Counselor Dr. HaradaChiaki as Jiro Nakajima
- Seven Samurai1954IMDb rating 8.6Shimura as Kambei ShimadaChiaki as Heihachi
- The Idiot1951IMDb rating 7.1Shimura as Ono, Ayako's fatherChiaki as Mutsuo Kayama, the secretary
- Rashomon1950IMDb rating 8.1Shimura as WoodcutterChiaki as Priest
Kokuten Kôdô10 films together, 1943 to 1958
Kokuten Kôdô's page
- The Hidden Fortress1958IMDb rating 8.0Shimura as The Old General, Izumi NagakuraKôdô as Old man in front of sign
- Throne of Blood1957IMDb rating 8.0Shimura as Noriyasu OdaguraKôdô as Military Commander
- Untamed Woman1957IMDb rating 7.4Shimura as Owner of the rice millKôdô as Kinshichi
- Godzilla, King of the Monsters!1956IMDb rating 6.3Shimura as Dr. YamaneKôdô as The Old Fisherman
- Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island1956IMDb rating 7.5Shimura as Sado Nagaoka the court officialKôdô as Old Priest Nikkan
- Seven Samurai1954IMDb rating 8.6Shimura as Kambei ShimadaKôdô as Old Man Gisaku
- The Idiot1951IMDb rating 7.1Shimura as Ono, Ayako's fatherKôdô as Jumpei
- Scandal1950IMDb rating 7.2Shimura as Otokichi HirutaKôdô as Old Man A
- No Regrets for Our Youth1946IMDb rating 7.1Shimura as Police Commissioner 'Poison Strawberry' DokuichigoKôdô as Mr. Noge
- Sanshiro Sugata1943IMDb rating 6.7Shimura as Hansuke Murai, Sayo's fatherKôdô as Buddhist Priest
Yoshio Tsuchiya9 films together, 1954 to 1965
Yoshio Tsuchiya's page
- Frankenstein Conquers the World1965IMDb rating 5.5Shimura as Axis ScientistTsuchiya as Mr. Kawai
- Red Beard1965IMDb rating 8.3Shimura as Tokubei IzumiyaTsuchiya as Dr. Handayû Mori
- Sanjuro1962IMDb rating 8.0Shimura as KurofujiTsuchiya as Samurai
- The Storm of the Pacific1960IMDb rating 6.3Shimura as Tosaku
- Gigantis, the Fire Monster1959IMDb rating 4.2Shimura as Dr. YamaneTsuchiya as Tajima
- The Hidden Fortress1958IMDb rating 8.0Shimura as The Old General, Izumi NagakuraTsuchiya as Samurai on horse
- Throne of Blood1957IMDb rating 8.0Shimura as Noriyasu OdaguraTsuchiya as Washizu samurai
- Godzilla Raids Again1955IMDb rating 5.7Shimura as Kyohei Yamane-hakaseTsuchiya as Tajima, Member of Osaka Defense Corps
- Seven Samurai1954IMDb rating 8.6Shimura as Kambei ShimadaTsuchiya as Farmer Rikichi
Masao Shimizu9 films together, 1946 to 1963
Masao Shimizu's page
- High and Low1963IMDb rating 8.4Shimura as Chief of Investigation SectionShimizu as Prison Warden
- Sanjuro1962IMDb rating 8.0Shimura as KurofujiShimizu as Kikui
- Gigantis, the Fire Monster1959IMDb rating 4.2Shimura as Dr. YamaneShimizu as Dr. Tadokoro
- Godzilla Raids Again1955IMDb rating 5.7Shimura as Kyohei Yamane-hakaseShimizu as Zoologist Dr. Tadokoro
- I Live in Fear1955IMDb rating 7.3Shimura as Domestic Court Counselor Dr. HaradaShimizu as Yamazaki, Yoshi's husband
- The Eagle of the Pacific1953IMDb rating 6.9Shimura as Colonel A, staff officer of the armyShimizu as Commander Kashima
- Scandal1950IMDb rating 7.2Shimura as Otokichi HirutaShimizu as Judge
- Drunken Angel1948IMDb rating 7.6Shimura as SanadaShimizu as Oyabun
- No Regrets for Our Youth1946IMDb rating 7.1Shimura as Police Commissioner 'Poison Strawberry' DokuichigoShimizu as Professor Hakozaki
Susumu Fujita8 films together, 1943 to 1965
Susumu Fujita's page
- Frankenstein Conquers the World1965IMDb rating 5.5Shimura as Axis ScientistFujita as Osaka Police Chief
- Yojimbo1961IMDb rating 8.2Shimura as Tokuemon - Sake BrewerFujita as Homma - Instructor Who Skips Town
- The Bad Sleep Well1960IMDb rating 7.9Shimura as Administrative Officer MoriyamaFujita as Detective
- The Storm of the Pacific1960IMDb rating 6.3Shimura as Tosaku
- The Hidden Fortress1958IMDb rating 8.0Shimura as The Old General, Izumi NagakuraFujita as General Hyoe Tadokoro
- No Regrets for Our Youth1946IMDb rating 7.1Shimura as Police Commissioner 'Poison Strawberry' DokuichigoFujita as Ruykichi Noge
- The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail1945IMDb rating 6.7Shimura as KataokaFujita as Togashi
- Sanshiro Sugata1943IMDb rating 6.7Shimura as Hansuke Murai, Sayo's fatherFujita as Sanshiro Sugata
Akira KurosawaDirector, 17 films, 1943 to 1965
- Red Beard1965IMDb rating 8.3Shimura as Tokubei Izumiya
- High and Low1963IMDb rating 8.4Shimura as Chief of Investigation Section
- Sanjuro1962IMDb rating 8.0Shimura as Kurofuji
- Yojimbo1961IMDb rating 8.2Shimura as Tokuemon - Sake Brewer
- The Bad Sleep Well1960IMDb rating 7.9Shimura as Administrative Officer Moriyama
- The Hidden Fortress1958IMDb rating 8.0Shimura as The Old General, Izumi Nagakura
- Throne of Blood1957IMDb rating 8.0Shimura as Noriyasu Odagura
- I Live in Fear1955IMDb rating 7.3Shimura as Domestic Court Counselor Dr. Harada
- Seven Samurai1954IMDb rating 8.6Shimura as Kambei Shimada
- The Idiot1951IMDb rating 7.1Shimura as Ono, Ayako's father
- Rashomon1950IMDb rating 8.1Shimura as Woodcutter
- Scandal1950IMDb rating 7.2Shimura as Otokichi Hiruta
- The Quiet Duel1949IMDb rating 7.3Shimura as Dr. Konosuke Fujisaki
- Drunken Angel1948IMDb rating 7.6Shimura as Sanada
- No Regrets for Our Youth1946IMDb rating 7.1Shimura as Police Commissioner 'Poison Strawberry' Dokuichigo
- The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail1945IMDb rating 6.7Shimura as Kataoka
- Sanshiro Sugata1943IMDb rating 6.7Shimura as Hansuke Murai, Sayo's father
Ishirô HondaDirector, 5 films, 1953 to 1965
All films by Ishirô Honda
- Frankenstein Conquers the World1965IMDb rating 5.5Shimura as Axis Scientist
- Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster1964IMDb rating 6.5Shimura as Dr. Tsukamoto
- Mothra1961IMDb rating 6.6Shimura as News Editor
- Godzilla, King of the Monsters!1956IMDb rating 6.3Shimura as Dr. Yamane
- The Eagle of the Pacific1953IMDb rating 6.9Shimura as Colonel A, staff officer of the army
Motoyoshi OdaDirector, 2 films, 1955 to 1959
All films by Motoyoshi Oda
- Gigantis, the Fire Monster1959IMDb rating 4.2Shimura as Dr. Yamane
- Godzilla Raids Again1955IMDb rating 5.7Shimura as Kyohei Yamane-hakase

Box office

What Takashi Shimura's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$119 million

11 of the 32 films have a worldwide figure.

11Worldwide figure
21Figure not found

Top grosser

Seven Samurai1954Kambei Shimada$105 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Seven Samurai1954as Kambei Shimada
$105M88.3% of the total
2
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster1964as Dr. Tsukamoto
$3.2M2.7% of the total
3
Nosutoradamusu no daiyogen1974as Pediatrician
$3.0M2.5% of the total
4
Mothra1961as News Editor
$2.2M1.9% of the total
5
Godzilla, King of the Monsters!1956as Dr. Yamane
$2.0M1.7% of the total
6
Godzilla Raids Again1955as Kyohei Yamane-hakase
$2.0M1.6% of the total
7
Red Beard1965as Tokubei Izumiya
$1.1M0.9% of the total
8
The Bad Sleep Well1960as Administrative Officer Moriyama
$144K0.1% of the total