In Memory of Award-Winning Actor Tatsuya Nakadai (1932 – 2025)
It is with deep respect and heartfelt gratitude that Anaheim University’s Akira Kurosawa School of Film pays tribute to the legendary actor Tatsuya Nakadai, who passed away on November 8, 2025. Nakadai-san’s extraordinary artistry left an enduring legacy in Japanese and world cinema. His collaborations with Director Akira Kurosawa produced some of the most powerful performances in film history — including Yojimbo(1961), Sanjuro (1962), High and Low (1963), Kagemusha (1980), and Ran (1985). We at the Akira Kurosawa School of Film are profoundly grateful for his contribution to our Master of Fine Arts in Digital Filmmaking program. Nakadai-san shared his insights through a special video interview that continues to inspire Anaheim University students, offering firsthand wisdom on performance, discipline, and the soul of storytelling. As he said in his video interview in 2016: “I will give up when my body doesn’t move, but I want to stay an actor until I die.” True to his words, his final stage performance was held in Noto, Ishikawa, in May 2025 — a testament to his lifelong dedication to his craft. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, colleagues, and fans around the world. His legacy will forever live on through the films he made and the artists he continues to inspire. Thank you, Nakadai-san.
