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Toshirô Mifune

Toshirô Mifune

43 movies on Netflix

Biography

Toshiro Mifune, a producer as well as a screen actor from Japan, became the Japanese star best recognized by Western audiences, largely through his repeated work with Akira Kurosawa. Toho's New Faces audition led to his first feature role after a screen test for Kajiro Yamamoto, and Kurosawa later cast him in sixteen features. Rashomon (1950) brought him the San Marco Golden Lion from the Venice Film Festival. For Yojimbo (1961) he won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor. He played Miyamoto Musashi in Hiroshi Inagaki's Samurai Trilogy, and Red Beard (1965) earned him a second Venice Best Actor award. In 1962 he established Mifune Productions, which made Samurai Banners (1969). Kurosawa also directed him in Seven Samurai (1954). He starred in the NBC television miniseries Shogun, and his later work abroad included Steven Spielberg's 1941 (1979). He died in 1997.

77years old at death

  • Born Qingdao
  • Died Mitaka
  • Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19

Movie Career

Films
43
Career span
67 years1948 to 2015

Genres

First and latest

Photos

  • Toshirô Mifune, photo 1 of 3
  • Toshirô Mifune, photo 2 of 3
  • Toshirô Mifune, photo 3 of 3

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  1. First role

    Mifune was one of 48 people accepted from about 4,000 applicants and got a screen test with Kajirō Yamamoto. Yamamoto liked him and sent him to Senkichi Taniguchi, which brought Mifune his first feature part, in Shin Baka Jidai.

  2. Big break

    Mifune lost the competition, yet Kurosawa was impressed. Kurosawa said he was rarely impressed by actors, but in Mifune's case he was completely overwhelmed.

  3. Getting ready for a role

    Mifune reportedly watched footage of lions in the wild to get ready for Seven Samurai and Rashomon. For the Mexican movie Ánimas Trujano, he listened to tapes of Mexican actors speaking so he could say all his lines in Spanish.

  4. Own stunts

    Yoshio Sugino, of the Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū, taught Mifune martial arts. Sugino also created the fight choreography for films including Seven Samurai and Yojimbo.

  5. Behind the camera

    Mifune started Mifune Productions in 1962, and it had success with big works such as The Sands of Kurobe and Samurai Banners. He also starred in Legacy of the 500,000, his directorial debut.

Toshirô Mifune movies on Netflix

Best known for

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

Top of the page, the section list
  1. Seven Samurai1954 Action, Adventure, Dramaas Kikuchiyo

    IMDb rating 8.6406K votes

  2. Yojimbo1961 Dramaas Sanjuro Kuwabatake / The Samurai

    IMDb rating 8.2145K votes

  3. Rashomon1950as Tajômaru

    IMDb rating 8.1199K votes

  4. High and Low1963as Kingo Gondo

    IMDb rating 8.474K votes

  5. Throne of Blood1957as Taketoki Washizu

    IMDb rating 8.061K votes

  6. The Hidden Fortress1958as General Rokurota Makabe

    IMDb rating 8.046K votes

  7. Sanjuro1962as Sanjûrô Tsubaki / The Samurai

    IMDb rating 8.044K votes

  8. Red Beard1965as Dr. Kyojô Niide

    IMDb rating 8.324K votes

Most often with

Akira Kurosawa directed fifteen of these films, Hiroshi Inagaki five and Kihachi Okamoto three. Takashi Shimura 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.

Top of the page, the section list
Takashi Shimura, 20 films togetherSee the 20 films with Takashi ShimuraMinoru Chiaki, 9 films togetherSee the 9 films with Minoru ChiakiEijirô Tôno, 8 films togetherSee the 8 films with Eijirô TônoYoshio Tsuchiya, 8 films togetherSee the 8 films with Yoshio TsuchiyaKamatari Fujiwara, 8 films togetherSee the 8 films with Kamatari FujiwaraKichijirô Ueda, 8 films togetherSee the 8 films with Kichijirô UedaAkira KurosawaDirector, 15 filmsSee the 15 films by Akira KurosawaHiroshi InagakiDirector, 5 filmsSee the 5 films by Hiroshi InagakiKihachi OkamotoDirector, 3 filmsSee the 3 films by Kihachi Okamoto

Films together

  • Takashi Shimura20 films together, 1948 to 1967
    Takashi Shimura's page
    • Japan's Longest Day1967IMDb rating 7.7Mifune as War Minister General Korechika AnamiShimura as Information Bureau Director Hiroshi Shimomura
    • Red Beard1965IMDb rating 8.3Mifune as Dr. Kyojô NiideShimura as Tokubei Izumiya
    • High and Low1963IMDb rating 8.4Mifune as Kingo GondoShimura as Chief of Investigation Section
    • The Lost World of Sinbad1963IMDb rating 6.3Mifune as Sukezaemon Naya, alias 'Luzon' (Sinbad in English version)Shimura as King Raksha
    • Chûshingura1962IMDb rating 7.5Mifune as Genba TawaraboshiShimura as Hyôbu Chisaka
    • Sanjuro1962IMDb rating 8.0Mifune as Sanjûrô Tsubaki / The SamuraiShimura as Kurofuji
    • Yojimbo1961IMDb rating 8.2Mifune as Sanjuro Kuwabatake / The SamuraiShimura as Tokuemon - Sake Brewer
    • The Bad Sleep Well1960IMDb rating 7.9Mifune as Kôichi NishiShimura as Administrative Officer Moriyama
    • The Storm of the Pacific1960IMDb rating 6.3Mifune as Admiral Tamon YamaguchiShimura as Tosaku
    • The Hidden Fortress1958IMDb rating 8.0Mifune as General Rokurota MakabeShimura as The Old General, Izumi Nagakura
    • Throne of Blood1957IMDb rating 8.0Mifune as Taketoki WashizuShimura as Noriyasu Odagura
    • Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island1956IMDb rating 7.5Mifune as Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo)Shimura as Sado Nagaoka the court official
    • I Live in Fear1955IMDb rating 7.3Mifune as Kiichi NakajimaShimura as Domestic Court Counselor Dr. Harada
    • Seven Samurai1954IMDb rating 8.6Mifune as KikuchiyoShimura as Kambei Shimada
    • The Eagle of the Pacific1953IMDb rating 6.9Mifune as 1st Lieutenant TomonagaShimura as Colonel A, staff officer of the army
    • The Idiot1951IMDb rating 7.1Mifune as Denkichi AkamaShimura as Ono, Ayako's father
    • Rashomon1950IMDb rating 8.1Mifune as TajômaruShimura as Woodcutter
    • Scandal1950IMDb rating 7.2Mifune as Ichirô AoyeShimura as Otokichi Hiruta
    • The Quiet Duel1949IMDb rating 7.3Mifune as Dr. Kyoji FujisakiShimura as Dr. Konosuke Fujisaki
    • Drunken Angel1948IMDb rating 7.6Mifune as MatsunagaShimura as Sanada
  • Minoru Chiaki9 films together, 1950 to 1963
    Minoru Chiaki's page
    • High and Low1963IMDb rating 8.4Mifune as Kingo GondoChiaki as First Reporter
    • The Hidden Fortress1958IMDb rating 8.0Mifune as General Rokurota MakabeChiaki as Tahei
    • The Lower Depths1957IMDb rating 7.2Mifune as Sutekichi the ThiefChiaki as Former Samurai
    • Throne of Blood1957IMDb rating 8.0Mifune as Taketoki WashizuChiaki as Yoshiaki Miki
    • Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island1956IMDb rating 7.5Mifune as Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo)Chiaki as Sasuke the boatman
    • I Live in Fear1955IMDb rating 7.3Mifune as Kiichi NakajimaChiaki as Jiro Nakajima
    • Seven Samurai1954IMDb rating 8.6Mifune as KikuchiyoChiaki as Heihachi
    • The Idiot1951IMDb rating 7.1Mifune as Denkichi AkamaChiaki as Mutsuo Kayama, the secretary
    • Rashomon1950IMDb rating 8.1Mifune as TajômaruChiaki as Priest
  • Eijirô Tôno8 films together, 1954 to 1965
    Eijirô Tôno's page
    • Red Beard1965IMDb rating 8.3Mifune as Dr. Kyojô NiideTôno as Goheiji
    • Samurai Assassin1965IMDb rating 7.4Mifune as Tsuruchiyo NiiroTôno as Masagorō Kisoya
    • High and Low1963IMDb rating 8.4Mifune as Kingo GondoTôno as Factory Worker
    • Yojimbo1961IMDb rating 8.2Mifune as Sanjuro Kuwabatake / The SamuraiTôno as Gonji - Tavern Keeper
    • The Lower Depths1957IMDb rating 7.2Mifune as Sutekichi the ThiefTôno as Tomekichi the Tinker
    • I Live in Fear1955IMDb rating 7.3Mifune as Kiichi NakajimaTôno as Old man from Brazil
    • Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple1955IMDb rating 7.3Mifune as Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo)Tôno as Baiken Shishido
    • Seven Samurai1954IMDb rating 8.6Mifune as KikuchiyoTôno as Thief
  • Yoshio Tsuchiya8 films together, 1954 to 2015
    Yoshio Tsuchiya's page
    • Mifune: The Last Samurai2015IMDb rating 7.2Mifune as Self - Actor / Various RolesTsuchiya as Self - Actor
    • Samurai Banners1969IMDb rating 7.0Mifune as Kansuke Yamamoto
    • Red Beard1965IMDb rating 8.3Mifune as Dr. Kyojô NiideTsuchiya as Dr. Handayû Mori
    • Sanjuro1962IMDb rating 8.0Mifune as Sanjûrô Tsubaki / The SamuraiTsuchiya as Samurai
    • The Storm of the Pacific1960IMDb rating 6.3Mifune as Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi
    • The Hidden Fortress1958IMDb rating 8.0Mifune as General Rokurota MakabeTsuchiya as Samurai on horse
    • Throne of Blood1957IMDb rating 8.0Mifune as Taketoki WashizuTsuchiya as Washizu samurai
    • Seven Samurai1954IMDb rating 8.6Mifune as KikuchiyoTsuchiya as Farmer Rikichi
  • Kamatari Fujiwara8 films together, 1954 to 1966
    Kamatari Fujiwara's page
    • The Sword of Doom1966IMDb rating 7.9Mifune as Toranosuke ShimadaFujiwara as Omatsu's grandfather
    • Sanjuro1962IMDb rating 8.0Mifune as Sanjûrô Tsubaki / The SamuraiFujiwara as Takebayashi
    • Yojimbo1961IMDb rating 8.2Mifune as Sanjuro Kuwabatake / The SamuraiFujiwara as Tazaemon
    • The Bad Sleep Well1960IMDb rating 7.9Mifune as Kôichi NishiFujiwara as Assistant-to-the-Chief Wada
    • The Hidden Fortress1958IMDb rating 8.0Mifune as General Rokurota MakabeFujiwara as Matashichi
    • The Lower Depths1957IMDb rating 7.2Mifune as Sutekichi the ThiefFujiwara as The Actor
    • I Live in Fear1955IMDb rating 7.3Mifune as Kiichi NakajimaFujiwara as Okamoto
    • Seven Samurai1954IMDb rating 8.6Mifune as KikuchiyoFujiwara as Farmer Manzo
  • Kichijirô Ueda8 films together, 1950 to 1958
    Kichijirô Ueda's page
    • The Hidden Fortress1958IMDb rating 8.0Mifune as General Rokurota MakabeUeda as Slave Trader
    • The Lower Depths1957IMDb rating 7.2Mifune as Sutekichi the ThiefUeda as Shimazo the Police Agent
    • Throne of Blood1957IMDb rating 8.0Mifune as Taketoki WashizuUeda as Washizu's workman
    • Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island1956IMDb rating 7.5Mifune as Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo)Ueda as Priest Ogon
    • I Live in Fear1955IMDb rating 7.3Mifune as Kiichi NakajimaUeda as Mr. Kuribayashi father
    • Seven Samurai1954IMDb rating 8.6Mifune as KikuchiyoUeda as Bandit Scout
    • Rashomon1950IMDb rating 8.1Mifune as TajômaruUeda as Commoner
    • Scandal1950IMDb rating 7.2Mifune as Ichirô AoyeUeda as Old Man B
  • Akira KurosawaDirector, 15 films, 1948 to 1965
  • Hiroshi InagakiDirector, 5 films, 1954 to 1969
  • Kihachi OkamotoDirector, 3 films, 1965 to 1967

Box office

What Toshirô Mifune's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$329 million

11 of the 43 films have a worldwide figure.

Of the 43 films: 11 worldwide figure; 4 us gross only; 28 figure not found.

  • 11Worldwide figure
  • 4US gross only
  • 28Figure not found

Top grosser

Seven Samurai1954as Kikuchiyo$105 million

Highest grossing

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

  1. 1
    Seven Samurai1954as Kikuchiyo
    $105M31.9% of the total
  2. 2
    Midway1976as Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
    $100M30.4% of the total
  3. 3
    19411979as Cmdr. Akiro Mitamura
    $95M28.8% of the total
  4. 4
    Grand Prix1966as Izo Yamura
    $21M6.3% of the total
  5. 5
    The Challenge1982as Toru Yoshida
    $3.6M1.1% of the total
  6. 6
    Hell in the Pacific1968as Captain Tsuruhiko Kuroda
    $3.2M1.0% of the total
  7. 7
    Red Beard1965as Dr. Kyojô Niide
    $1.1M0.3% of the total
  8. 8
    The Bad Sleep Well1960as Kôichi Nishi
    $144K0.0% of the total
Rashomon (1950), $117,668The Hidden Fortress (1958), $57,673Throne of Blood (1957), $13,422

$188,763from the other 3 films with a worldwide figure, 0% of the total

Awards

Twelve awards and honors from 1952 to 1993, two of them major.

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Toshirô Mifune's awards and nominations, grouped by award
YearAwardFilmResult
Venice Film Festival
1965Volpi Cup for Best ActorRed BeardWon
1961Volpi Cup for Best ActorYojimboWon
Other honors
1993Order of the Sacred Treasure, 3rd classWon
1989Chevalier des Arts et des LettresWon
1988Blue Ribbon Awards for Best Supporting ActorWon
1986Medal with Purple RibbonWon
1966Blue Ribbon Awards for Best ActorRed BeardWon
1962Blue Ribbon Awards for Best ActorYojimboWon
1952Blue Ribbon Awards for Best ActorWon
Golden Arrow AwardWon
Mainichi Film Award for Best ActorWon
Star on Hollywood Walk of FameHonored

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

Top of the page, the section list