Kiichi Nakai
ActingAbout Kiichi Nakai
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Kiichi Nakai (born 18 September 1961) is a Japanese actor. His father, Keiji Sada, also a movie actor, died when Nakai was only two years old. Nakai started his acting career while he was still in university and was awarded the Rookie of the Year of Japan Academy Awards in 1981. He won the Japan Academy Best Supporting Actor award in 1994 (for 47 Ronin) and Best Actor award in 2003 (for Mibu gishi den (When the Last Sword is Drawn). He also won the award for best supporting actor at the 19th Hochi Film Award for 47 Ronin. In 2003 he played a Japanese delegate to a Chinese emperor of the Tang dynasty in Warriors of Heaven and Earth. Though a few of his lines are in Japanese, most are in Mandarin. His older sister, Kie Nakai, is also an actress. Description above from the Wikipedia article Kiichi Nakai, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Kiichi Nakai reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Kiichi Nakai's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 56% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Kiichi Nakai remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Time Never Stops, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Kiichi Nakai Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Kiichi Nakai's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Kiichi Nakai.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | YUKIKAZE | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2024 | Silence of the Sea | Suiken | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2023 | We Make Antiques! Osaka Dreams | Norio Koike | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2022 | Dreaming of the Meridian Arc | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2020 | 劇場の灯を消すな！PARCO劇場編 | - | Hit | Similar → |
| 2020 | We Make Antiques! Kyoto Rendezvous | Norio Koike | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2019 | Hit Me Anyone One More Time | Keisuke Kuroda | Hit | Similar → |
| 2019 | Aircraft Carrier Ibuki | Keiichi Nakano, convenience store manager | Average | Similar → |
| 2018 | We Make Antiques! | Norio Koike | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2017 | Flower and Sword | Nobunaga Oda | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2016 | Good Morning Show | Shingo Sumida | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2016 | Ken San | Narrator | Average | Similar → |
| 2014 | Snow on The Blades | Kingo Shimura | Hit | Similar → |
| 2014 | Time Never Stops | Ryosuke Saigo | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2012 | Tenchi: The Samurai Astronomer | Mitsukuni Mito | Hit | Similar → |
| 2012 | The Wings of the Kirin | Takeaki Aoyagi | Average | Similar → |
| 2011 | Wild 7 | - | Average | Similar → |
| 2011 | 三谷幸喜「short cut」 | - | Average | Similar → |
| 2011 | Once in a Blue Moon | Osano | Hit | Similar → |
| 2011 | Princess Toyotomi | Koichi Sanada | Average | Similar → |
| 2010 | Railways | Hajime Tsutsui | Hit | Similar → |
| 2009 | Amalfi: Rewards of the Goddess | Hiroshi Kataoka | Average | Similar → |
| 2008 | The Magic Hour | Toru Iwata | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2007 | Hero | Akihiko Takida | Hit | Similar → |
| 2007 | Dororo | Kagemitsu Daigo | Hit | Similar → |
| 2006 | HERO SP | Akihiko Takida / 泷田明彦 | Average | Similar → |
| 2005 | Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles | Kenichi Takata (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2005 | A Hardest Night!! | Hashita | Average | Similar → |
| 2003 | Onmyoji II | Genkaku | Average | Similar → |
| 2003 | Rockers | - | Average | Similar → |
| 2003 | Warriors of Heaven and Earth | Lai Qi | Average | Similar → |
| 2003 | When the Last Sword Is Drawn | Kanichiro Yoshimura | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2001 | The Firefly | - | Hit | Similar → |
| 2001 | Darkness in the Light | Makoto Sasano | Average | Similar → |
| 2000 | Tales of the Unusual | (segment "Samurai Cellular") | Hit | Similar → |
| 1999 | Owls' Castle | Tsuzura Juzo | Average | Similar → |
| 1998 | Begging for Love | Fumio Chin | Average | Similar → |
| 1995 | Fusa | - | Average | Similar → |
| 1994 | 47 Ronin | Matashiro Irobe | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1993 | Moving | Kenichi | Hit | Similar → |
| 1991 | Yakuza Warfare | - | Average | Similar → |
| 1990 | 1750 Days of Turbulence | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1990 | Tokyo Heaven | Fumio Amamiya | Hit | Similar → |
| 1988 | Those Swell Yakuza | - | Average | Similar → |
| 1987 | Princess from the Moon | Otomo-no-Dainagon or Minister of the Military | Average | Similar → |
| 1987 | Actress | Heinosuke Gosho | Hit | Similar → |
| 1986 | Final Take: The Golden Age of Movies | Kenjiro Shimada | Average | Similar → |
| 1986 | Big Joys, Small Sorrows | - | Average | Similar → |
| 1983 | Tora-san Goes Religious? | Kazumichi | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1981 | The Imperial Navy | Masato Odagiri | Average | Similar → |
Kiichi Nakai - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Kiichi Nakai?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Kiichi Nakai is "Time Never Stops" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Kiichi Nakai acted in?
Kiichi Nakai has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Kiichi Nakai?
Other notable films include "YUKIKAZE", "Silence of the Sea", and "We Make Antiques! Kyoto Rendezvous".