Takeshi kitano net worth

1. Early Life and Education
2. Forays into Various Fields
3. Breakthrough in Entertainment
4. Rise to Stardom
5. Icon of Japanese Cinema

Early Life and Education

Takeshi Kitanowas born on January 18, 1947, in Adachi, Tokyo, Japan. His father, Kikujirō Kitano, was a painter, and his mother, Saki Kitano, was a teacher. His name, "Takeshi," means "bamboo shoot" in Japanese, reflecting his parents' hope that he would overcome obstacles and achieve success.

Kitano attended Adachi Ward Junior High School, where he excelled academically thanks to his mother's educational support. Despite his academic abilities, he dropped out of high school in 1965 and enrolled in the engineering department of Meiji University. However, he soon lost interest in his studies and left the university to pursue other pursuits.

Forays into Various Fields

In the late 1960s, Kitano developed a passion for jazz and worked as a waiter in various Tokyo jazz bars. This experience led him to meet underground filmmakers Koji Wakamatsu and Kazuo Komizu, who cast him in minor roles in several of their films.

Despite his involvement in the film industry, Kitano also participated in student protests and held odd jobs, including working as a waiter, salesman, street vendor, and taxi driver. At one point, he considered becoming a foreign language translator.

Breakthrough in Entertainment

In 1972, Kitano joined the strip club "France" as an elevator attendant. He impressed the club's art director, Senzaburo Fukami, with his comedic talent and began receiving lessons in comedy.

After "France" faced financial difficulties, Kitano teamed up with Jiro Kaneko to form the "Two Beats" manzai comedy duo. Their initial performances were unsuccessful until Kaneko secured bookings through connections with renowned comedian "Korombia Ryuto." The duo gained popularity in nightclubs but faced criticism for their provocative jokes.

Rise to Stardom

In 1983, Kitano starred in the critically acclaimed film "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence," opposite David Bowie. The film's success and Kitano's subsequent performances earned him recognition as a talented actor.

In the same year, Kitano married Michiko Matsuura, a fellow comedian, and they had two children. In 1986, he made headlines for assaulting journalists, which briefly banned him from television appearances.

Despite this controversy, Kitano continued his career in film and television. He directed his first film, "Violent Cop," in 1989, and went on to release several critically acclaimed films, including "Boiling Point" (1990), "Sonatine" (1993), and "Fireworks" (1997), which won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.

Icon of Japanese Cinema

Kitano's unique style of filmmaking, blending violence, humor, and social commentary, has made him an iconic figure in Japanese cinema. He has directed and starred in numerous films, including "Kikujiro" (1999), "Outrage" (2010), and "Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen" (2015).

In 2008, he won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Asian Film Awards. Despite a serious motorcycle accident in 1994 that partially paralyzed his right side, Kitano has continued to work relentlessly, cementing his status as one of the most influential filmmakers in Japan and beyond.