Takeshi Kitano

Takeshi Kitano (?? ?, Kitano Takeshi, b. January 18,1947) is a Japanese comedian, actor, author, poet, painter, one time video game designer and film director who has received critical acclaim, both in his native Japan and abroad, for his highly idiosyncratic cinematic work. With the exception of his works as a film director, he is known almost exclusively by the name Beat Takeshi (??????, B?to Takeshi). Since April 2005 he is a professor at the Graduate School of Visual Arts, Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music.

Other work

Kitano has written over fifty books of poetry, film criticism, and several novels, a few of which have also been adapted into movies by other directors.

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Creator of the 1986 Nintendo Famicom (NES) Takeshi no Chousenjou (Takeshi's Challenge) by Taito Corporation.

Related Topics:
1986 - Nintendo Famicom - NES - Takeshi no Chousenjou - Taito Corporation

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He has also become a popular television host. Takeshi's Castle, a game show hosted in the 1980s by Kitano featuring slapstick-style physical contests, has gained cult popularity in the United States (where portions are broadcast on Spike TV as MXC, formerly Most Extreme Elimination Challenge) and in Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom where it was given a voiceover by Craig Charles. More recently, he hosted Koko ga hen da yo, nihonjin (roughly meaning "People of Japan, This Doesn't Make Sense!"), a talk show where a large panel of Japanese-speaking foreigners from around the world debate current issues in Japanese society. Another of his shows is Sekai Marumie ("The World Exposed"), a weekly collection of various interesting video clips from around the world, often focusing on the weird aspects of other countries, and with a regular section on daring rescues, taken from the American program Rescue 911. On this show, he plays the child-like idiot, insulting the guests and wearing strange costumes.

Related Topics:
Takeshi's Castle - Game show - 1980s - Spike TV - United Kingdom - Craig Charles - Talk show - Rescue 911

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The now internationally acclaimed Takeshi Kitano was awarded an honorary Bachelor of Science in engineering by Meiji University on September 7, 2004, 34 years after he dropped out to pursue his career in entertainment.

Related Topics:
Bachelor of Science - Meiji University

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He was an early supporter of enka singer Kiyoshi Hikawa, and actually gave Hikawa his stage name.

Related Topics:
Enka - Kiyoshi Hikawa

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