Nook NotesPick a film
Toshirō Mifune

Actor

Toshirō Mifune

Born April 1, 1920 in Qingdao, ChinaDied December 24, 1997163 films

Toshirō Mifune (April 1, 1920 - December 24, 1997) was a Japanese actor who is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors in the history of Japanese cinema. He was born in Qingdao, China, but was raised in Japan. Mifune's career spanned over 50 years, during which he collaborated extensively with renowned director Akira Kurosawa, creating some of the most iconic films in Japanese cinema.

Read more

Mifune gained international recognition for his performances in Kurosawa's films, particularly in samurai films. He portrayed strong, dynamic, and often rebellious characters, bringing a raw intensity to his roles. Some of his notable collaborations with Kurosawa include "Rashomon" (1950), "Seven Samurai" (1954), "Yojimbo" (1961), and "The Hidden Fortress" (1958), which inspired George Lucas's "Star Wars."

Apart from his work with Kurosawa, Mifune appeared in numerous other films, showcasing his versatility as an actor. He played roles in various genres, including dramas, comedies, and war films. Some of his other notable films include "The Throne of Blood" (1957), "High and Low" (1963), and "Red Beard" (1965).

Mifune's charismatic presence, powerful performances, and ability to convey complex emotions made him an iconic figure in Japanese cinema. He received international recognition and awards for his contributions to the film industry, including several honors at the Venice Film Festival and a lifetime achievement award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Start here

The best way into Toshirō Mifune's work
Seven Samurai posterFirst watchSeven Samurai19548.5as KikuchiyoA samurai answers a village's request for protection after he falls on hard times. The town needs protection from bandits, so the samurai gathers six others to help him teach the people…View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
Rashomon poster8.0Rashomon1950Yojimbo poster8.1Yojimbo1961High and Low poster8.4High and Low1963Throne of Blood poster7.9Throne of Blood1957The Hidden Fortress poster8.0The Hidden Fortress1958Sanjuro poster7.9Sanjuro1962Red Beard poster8.2Red Beard1965Samurai Rebellion poster8.3Samurai Rebellion1967

Filmography

163 films as actor
  1. 1995Picture BrideThe Benshi
  2. 1995Deep RiverTsukada
  3. 1992Shadow of the WolfKroomak
  4. 1991Journey of HonorIeyasu Tokugawa
  5. 1991Strawberry RoadTaoka
  6. 1990Heaven and Earth: Dawn EpisodeNagao Tamekage
  7. 1989Death of a Tea MasterRikyu Sen-no
  8. 1989cf GirlShūichirō Hase
  9. 1989The Demon Comes in SpringKukkune no jî
  10. 1987Princess from the MoonTaketori-no-Miyatsuko
  11. 1987The Retired SamuraiHikozaemon Ōkubo
  12. 1987Tora-san Goes NorthJunkichi Ueno
  13. 1987The ShattererMurai
  14. 1986The Ballad of the Sea of GenkaiKyūbei Matsufuji
  15. 1985No More God, No More LoveKōzō Kanzaki
  16. 1984The Miracle of Joe, the PetrelFisherman
  17. 1984Okita Soji: Swordsman of FireShūsai Kondō
  18. 1983Secret of the Forbidden Valley
  19. 1983The Women of Osaka CastleTokugawa Ieyasu
  20. 1983Lowly Ronin 6: Betrayal at Yatate PassSûrônin Hinoki Sajûrô
  21. 1983Battle AnthemAdmiral Heihachiro Togo
  22. 1983Lowly Ronin 5: The Teenage Orphan GirlSûrônin Rakuyôjûrô
  23. 1983Lowly Ronin 4: Living HellSanjuro Hinoki
  24. 1983Theater Of LifeHyōtarō Aonari
  25. 1982Lowly Ronin 2: The Spray of BloodSanjuro Hinoki
  26. 1982DomineeringMasao Tadokoro
  27. 1982The ChallengeToru Yoshida
  28. 1982The Lowly Ronin 3: Duel at Dawn
  29. 1982Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 2Tamon Umei
  30. 1981Lowly RoninSanjuro Hinoki
  31. 1981The Bushido BladeShogun's Commander
  32. 1981Ten Duels of Young Shingo: Chapter 1Tamon Umei
  33. 1981InchonSaito-San
  34. 1980ShogunLord Yoshi Toranaga
  35. 1980Port ArthurEmperor Meiji
  36. 19791941Cmdr. Akiro Mitamura
  37. 1979Onmitsu Doshin: The Edo Secret PoliceSadanobu Matsudaira
  38. 1979The Adventures of Kosuke KindaichiKindaichi of 11th Generation in "The Woman in the Eye"
  39. 1979Winter KillsKeith
  40. 1978Lord MitoSakuzaemon Okumura
  41. 1978The Fall of Ako CastleTsuchiya Michinao
  42. 1978Japanese Godfather: ConclusionKosuke Oishi
  43. 1978Love and FaithTaiko Hideyoshi
  44. 1978ShagCaptain Takeo Murata
  45. 1978Shogun's Samurai: The Yagyu Clan ConspiracyYoshinao Tokugawa
  46. 1977Japanese Godfather: AmbitionKosuke Oishi
  47. 1977Proof of the ManYohei Kori
  48. 1976MidwayAdmiral Isoroku Yamamoto
  49. 1975Paper TigerAmbassador Kagoyama
  50. 1971Red SunKuroda Jubei
  51. 1970The MilitaristsAdm. Isoroku Yamamoto
  52. 1970The Walking MajorKinugasa Tadao
  53. 1970Incident at Blood PassYojimbo
  54. 1970The AmbitiousShojiro Goto
  55. 1970Zatoichi Meets YojimboYojimbo/Sasa
  56. 1969Shinsengumi: Assassins of HonorIsami Kondo
  57. 1969Red LionGonzo
  58. 1969Battle of the Japan SeaAdmiral Heihachiro Togo
  59. 1969Safari 5000Yūichirō Takase
  60. 1969Samurai BannersKansuke Yamamoto
  61. 1968Hell in the PacificCaptain Tsuruhiko Kuroda
  62. 1968The Day the Sun RoseKumaza
  63. 1968Admiral YamamotoAdmiral Isoroku Yamamoto
  64. 1968The Sands of KurobeKitagawa
  65. 1967Japan's Longest DayWar Minister General Korechika Anami
  66. 1967Samurai RebellionIsaburo Sasahara
  67. 1966Grand PrixIzō Yamura
  68. 1966The Mad AtlanticHeihachirô Murakami
  69. 1966Adventure in Kigan CastleOsami
  70. 1966The Sword of DoomToranosuke Shimada
  71. 1966Rise Against the SwordAbare Gōemon
  72. 1965Fort GraveyardSergeant Kosugi
  73. 1965The Retreat from KiskaOmura
  74. 1965Sanshiro SugataShogoro Yano
  75. 1965Red BeardDr. Kyojio Niide ("Red Beard")
  76. 1965Samurai AssassinTsuruchiyo Niiro
  77. 1964WhirlwindLord Akashi
  78. 1963Samurai PirateSukezaemon Naya, aka 'Luzon' [Sinbad, in US version]
  79. 1963Legacy of the 500,000Takeichi Matsuo
  80. 1963High and LowKingo Gondo
  81. 1963Attack SquadronLt. Colonel Senda
  82. 1962ChûshinguraGenba Tawaraboshi
  83. 1962Three Gentlemen Return from Hong KongZhang Zhizhang
  84. 1962TatsuTatsu
  85. 1962SanjuroSanjûrô Tsubaki / The ronin
  86. 1961The Important ManÁnimas Trujano
  87. 1961The Youth and His AmuletFudo-Myo (Immovable Bright King)
  88. 1961YojimboSanjuro Kuwabatake / The Samurai
  89. 1961The Masterless 47 – Part II
  90. 1961Daredevil in the CastleMohei
  91. 1960The Masterless 47Kazuo Momoi
  92. 1960The Bad Sleep WellKôichi Nishi
  93. 1960Man Against ManKaji
  94. 1960The Storm of the PacificAdmiral Tamon Yamaguchi
  95. 1960The Gambling SamuraiKunisada Chuji
  96. 1960The Last GunfightDetective Saburo Fujioka
  97. 1959The Three TreasuresPrince Yamato Takeru
  98. 1959Desperado OutpostBattalion Commander
  99. 1959Saga of the VagabondsRokuro Kai
  100. 1959Samurai SagaHeihachiro Komaki
  101. 1959The Big BossKashimura
  102. 1958The Hidden FortressGeneral Rokurota Makabe
  103. 1958Theater of Life
  104. 1958All About MarriageActing teacher
  105. 1958Yaji and Kita on the RoadToshinoshin Taya
  106. 1958The Rickshaw ManMatsugorō Tomishima
  107. 1958Holiday in TokyoTenkai's nephew Jirō
  108. 1958Yagyu Secret Scrolls: Ninjitsu - Part IITasaburo
  109. 1957DowntownYoshio Tsuruishi
  110. 1957The Lower DepthsSutekichi the Thief
  111. 1957A Dangerous HeroKawada
  112. 1957Yagyu Secret ScrollsTasaburō Kasumi
  113. 1957Good Luck to These TwoToshio Maruyama
  114. 1957A Man in the StormSaburō Watari
  115. 1957Throne of BloodTaketoki Washizu
  116. 1956Rebels on the High SeaMatsuo Tokuzō
  117. 1956ScoundrelKanji
  118. 1956A Wife's HeartKenkichi
  119. 1956Settlement of LoveShuntarō Ōhira
  120. 1956The UnderworldChief Inspector Kumada