Takashi Miike
Takashi Miike is a Japanese filmmaker and actor. He has directed over 100 films and television productions, in a variety of genres such as action, children's films, comedy, drama, horror, musicals, and jidaigeki period dramas.
He is best known for the horror films Audition, Ichi the Killer, Visitor Q, Gozu. He is also known for samurai and yakuza films such as Dead or Alive, Graveyard of Honor, 13 Assassins, and Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai. He has also acted in more than 20 films.
Miike spent much of his career as a controversial figure who had several of his films criticized for their extreme graphic violence and other transgressive content, especially Ichi the Killer, which was banned in several countries. However, in his later career, he shifted towards work more acceptable to the mainstream; his films Hara-Kiri and Straw Shield were both nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, while both Sukiyaki Western Django and 13 Assassins were nominated for the Venice Film Festival's Golden Lion. Several of his films have developed cult followings.
Early life
Miike was born in Yao, Osaka, on August 24, 1960. His mother was a seamstress and his father was a welder. His father was born in Seoul, which was then part of Japanese Korea, as his paternal grandfather was stationed in Korea and China during World War II. He was interested in motorcycles during his childhood, and considered racing professionally. At the age of 18, he joined the Yokohama Vocational School of Broadcast and Film, where he came under the guidance of the school's founder Shohei Imamura. When a local television company came looking for unpaid interns on a production, he was nominated by the school, despite his later claim that he only rarely attended classes.Career
Miike's first films were television productions, but he also began directing several direct-to-video V-Cinema releases. He still intermittently directs these due to the creative freedom afforded by the less stringent censorship of the medium and the riskier content that producers will allow.Miike's theatrical debut was the film The Third Gangster, but Shinjuku Triad Society was his first theatrical release to gain public attention. The film showcased his extreme style and his recurring themes, and its success allowed him to work on higher-budgeted pictures. Shinjuku Triad Society was the first film in what is labeled his "Black Society Trilogy", which also includes Rainy Dog and Ley Lines.
Miike gained international fame in the early 2000s when his horror film Audition, his violent yakuza epic Dead or Alive, and his controversial 2001 adaptation of the manga Ichi the Killer all played at international film festivals. He gained a strong cult following in the West that grew with the increase in DVD releases of his works. During the international premiere of Ichi the Killer at the 2001 Toronto International Film Festival, the audience received "barf bags" emblazoned with the film's logo as a promotional gimmick. The BBFC refused to allow the release of the film uncut in the United Kingdom, citing its extreme levels of sexual violence towards women, and it required just over three minutes of footage to be removed before its release. In Hong Kong, 17 minutes of footage were cut. The film was outright banned in Germany, Malaysia, and Norway.
In 2005, Miike was invited to direct an episode of the anthology series Masters of Horror, intended to provide horror directors with creative freedom and relaxed restrictions on violent and sexual content. However, when Showtime acquired the rights to the series, Miike's episode "Imprint" was deemed too disturbing for broadcast. Showtime cancelled it from the broadcast lineup even after extended negotiations, though it was retained as part of the series' DVD release. Mick Garris, creator and executive producer of the series, described the episode as "amazing hard to watch" and "definitely the most disturbing" production he had ever seen. "Imprint" has yet to air in the United States but was shown on Bravo in the United Kingdom, Nelonen in Finland, Rai Tre in Italy, and FX in multiple other countries. Anchor Bay Entertainment, which handled the American DVD releases for Masters of Horror, released the episode uncut on September 26, 2006.
In his later career, Miike has shifted towards work more acceptable to the mainstream; his samurai film Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai premiered in competition at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival and his spy thriller film Straw Shield was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.
Stage directing
In 2005, Miike directed a Kabuki-style play titled Demon Pond. The DVD recording of the performance was released by Cinema Epoch.Miike directed the play Zatoichi based on the eponymous character. The stage production was performed and filmed on December 12, 2007, and the DVD was released on May 30, 2008.
Artistry
Style
Miike achieved notoriety for depicting shocking scenes of extreme violence and sexual perversions. Many of his films contain graphic and lurid bloodshed, portrayed in an over-the-top and cartoonish manner. Much of his work depicts the activities of criminals, especially yakuza, or concern themselves with gaijin. He is known for his films' dark comedy and for pushing the boundaries of censorship.Miike has directed films in a range of genres. He has created lighthearted children's films, period pieces, a road movie, a teen drama, a farcical musical comedy horror, video game adaptations, manga adaptations and character driven crime dramas.
While Miike often creates films that are less accessible and target arthouse audiences and fans of extreme cinema, such as Izo and the "Box" segment in Three... Extremes, he has created several mainstream and commercial titles such as the horror film One Missed Call and the fantasy drama The Great Yokai War.
Reflecting his unusual approach to filmmkaing, Miike has said of his career:
Influences
Miike cited the American science-fiction action film Starship Troopers as his favorite film. He has expressed admiration for fellow Japanese filmmakers Akira Kurosawa and Hideo Gosha. He named American filmmaker David Lynch as his favorite director from the English-speaking world, and cited Dutch filmmaker Paul Verhoeven as the director who fascinates him the most. He also said that he likes Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg.Personal life
Miike rarely discusses his private life.Filmography
Director
Film
Direct-to-video| Year | Title | Japanese title | Notes |
| 1991 | Eyecatch Junction | 突風!ミニパト隊 | |
| 1991 | Lady Hunter: Prelude to Murder | レディハンター 殺しのプレリュード | |
| 1992 | A Human Murder Weapon | 人間兇器 愛と怒りのリング | |
| 1993 | Bodyguard Kiba | ボディガード牙 | |
| 1993 | We're No Angels | 俺達は天使じゃない | |
| 1993 | We're No Angels 2 | 俺達は天使じゃない2 | |
| 1994 | Shinjuku Outlaw | 新宿アウトロー | |
| 1994 | Bodyguard Kiba: Apocalypse of Carnage | 修羅の黙示録 ボディーガード牙 | |
| 1995 | Bodyguard Kiba: Apocalypse of Carnage 2 | 修羅の黙示録2 ボディーガード牙 | |
| 1995 | Osaka Tough Guys | なにわ遊侠伝 | |
| 1996 | New Third Gangster | 新・第三の極道 | |
| 1996 | New Third Gangster II | 新・第三の極道II | |
| 1996 | Ambition Without Honor | 仁義なき野望 | |
| 1996 | Peanuts | 落華星 ピイナッツ | |
| 1996 | The Way to Fight | 喧嘩の花道 | |
| 1997 | Ambition Without Honor 2 | 仁義なき野望2 | |
| 1997 | Full Metal Yakuza | FULL METAL 極道 | |
| 1999 | Silver | シルバー | |
| 2000 | The Making of 'Gemini' | Tsukamoto Shin'ya ga Ranpo suru | |
| 2001 | Family 2 | 家族2 | |
| 2003 | Kikoku | 鬼哭 | |
| 2005 | Demon Pond | 夜叉ヶ池 | Filmed stage production |
| 2007 | Pledge to Peace | 平和への誓い | Animated short |
Feature film
| Year | Title | Japanese title | Notes |
| 1995 | The Third Gangster | 第三の極道 | |
| 1995 | Shinjuku Triad Society | 新宿黒社会 チャイナ マフィア戦争 | |
| 1996 | Fudoh: The New Generation | 極道戦国志 不動 | |
| 1997 | Young Thugs: Innocent Blood | 岸和田少年愚連隊 血煙り純情篇 | |
| 1997 | Rainy Dog | 極道黒社会 | |
| 1998 | The Bird People in China | 中国の鳥人 | |
| 1998 | Andromedia | アンドロメディア | |
| 1998 | Blues Harp | ||
| 1998 | Young Thugs: Nostalgia | 岸和田少年愚連隊・望郷 | |
| 1999 | Ley Lines | 日本黒社会 LEY LINES | |
| 1999 | Audition | オーディション | |
| 1999 | Dead or Alive | DEAD OR ALIVE: 犯罪者 | |
| 1999 | Salaryman Kintaro | サラリーマン金太郎 | |
| 2000 | The City of Lost Souls | 漂流街 | |
| 2000 | The Guys from Paradise | 天国から来た男たち | |
| 2000 | Dead or Alive 2: Birds | DEAD OR ALIVE 2: 逃亡者 | |
| 2001 | Family | 家族 | |
| 2001 | Visitor Q | ビジターＱ | |
| 2001 | Ichi the Killer | 殺し屋１ | |
| 2001 | Agitator | 荒ぶる魂たち | |
| 2001 | The Happiness of the Katakuris | カタクリ家の幸福 | |
| 2002 | Dead or Alive: Final | ||
| 2002 | Kumamoto Stories | 熊本物語 | |
| 2002 | Graveyard of Honor | 新・仁義の墓場 | |
| 2002 | Shangri-La | 金融破滅ニッポン 桃源郷の人々 | |
| 2002 | Deadly Outlaw: Rekka | 実録・安藤昇侠道伝 烈火 | |
| 2003 | The Man in White | 許されざる者 | Two-part film |
| 2003 | Gozu | 極道恐怖大劇場 牛頭 ＧＯＺＵ | |
| 2003 | One Missed Call | 着信アリ | |
| 2004 | Zebraman | ゼブラーマン | |
| 2004 | Three... Extremes | 美しい夜、残酷な朝 | Segment: "Box" |
| 2004 | Izo | ||
| 2005 | The Great Yokai War | 妖怪大戦争 | |
| 2006 | Big Bang Love, Juvenile A | 46億年の恋 | |
| 2006 | Waru | 悪 | |
| 2006 | Waru: The End | 悪完結編 | |
| 2006 | Sun Scarred | 太陽の傷 | |
| 2007 | Like a Dragon | 龍が如く 劇場版 | |
| 2007 | Sukiyaki Western Django | スキヤキ・ウエスタン ジャンゴ | |
| 2007 | Detective Story | 探偵物語 | |
| 2007 | Crows Zero | クローズZERO | |
| 2008 | Zatoichi | 三池崇史 × 哀川翔 『座頭市』 | |
| 2008 | God's Puzzle | 神様のパズル | |
| 2009 | Yatterman | ヤッターマン | |
| 2009 | Crows Zero 2 | クローズZERO II | |
| 2010 | Zebraman 2: Attack on Zebra City | ゼブラーマン -ゼブラシティの逆襲 | |
| 2010 | 13 Assassins | 十三人の刺客 | |
| 2011 | Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai | 一命 | |
| 2011 | Ninja Kids!!! | 忍たま乱太郎 | |
| 2012 | Ace Attorney | 逆転裁判 | |
| 2012 | For Love's Sake | 愛と誠 | |
| 2012 | Lesson of the Evil | 悪の教典 | |
| 2013 | Shield of Straw | 藁の楯 | |
| 2013 | The Mole Song: Undercover Agent Reiji | 土竜の唄 潜入捜査官 REIJI | |
| 2014 | Over Your Dead Body | 喰女-クイメ- | |
| 2014 | As the Gods Will | 神さまの言うとおり | |
| 2015 | The Lion Standing in the Wind | 風に立つライオン | |
| 2015 | Yakuza Apocalypse | 極道大戦争 | |
| 2016 | Terra Formars | テラフォーマーズ | |
| 2016 | The Mole Song: Hong Kong Capriccio | 土竜の唄 香港狂騒曲 | |
| 2017 | Blade of the Immortal | 無限の住人 | |
| 2017 | JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable – Chapter 1 | ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 ダイヤモンドは砕けない 第一章 | |
| 2018 | Laplace's Witch | ラプラスの魔女 | |
| 2019 | First Love | 初恋 | |
| 2019 | That Moment, My Heart Cried | その瞬間、僕は泣きたくなった | Segment: "Beautiful" |
| 2020 | Secret × Heroine Phantomirage! ~We've Become a Movie~ | 劇場版 ひみつ×戦士 ファントミラージュ！ ～映画になってちょーだいします～ | |
| 2021 | Police x Heroine Lovepatrina! ~Challenge from a Phantom Thief! Let's Arrest with Love and a Pat!~ | 劇場版 ポリス×戦士 ラブパトリーナ！ ～怪盗からの挑戦！ ラブでパパッとタイホせよ！～ | |
| 2021 | The Great Yokai War: Guardians | 妖怪大戦争 ガーディアンズ | - |
| 2021 | The Mole Song: Final | 土竜の唄 FINAL | |
| 2023 | Lumberjack the Monster | 怪物の木こり | |
| 2024 | Midnight | ミッドナイト | Short film |
| 2025 | Blazing Fists | Blue Fight 〜蒼き若者たちのブレイキングダウン〜 | Also known as Blue Fight: The Breaking Down of Young Blue Warriors |
| 2025 | Sham | でっちあげ | |
| 2026 | Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo | ||
| Untitled charli xcx/Takashi Miike project |
Television
Live-action series and miniseries| Year | Title | Notes |
| 1999 | Man, A Natural Girl | |
| 1999 | Man, Next Natural Girl: 100 Nights in Yokohama | |
| 2000 | MPD Psycho | |
| 2005 | Ultraman Max | Episodes 15 and 16 |
| 2006 | Masters of Horror | Episode "Imprint" |
| 2008 | K-tai Investigator 7 | 3 episodes |
| 2011 | QP (TV series) | Directed 5 out of 12 episodes |
| 2017 | Idol × Warrior Miracle Tunes! | General director |
| 2018 | Magical × Heroine Magimajo Pures! | General director |
| 2019 | Secret × Heroine Phantomirage! | General director |
| 2020 | Police × Heroine Lovepatrina! | General director |
| 2021 | Bittomo × Heroine Kirameki Powers! | General director |
| 2022 | RizSta -Top of Artists!- | General director |
| 2022 | Connect | OTT Drama |
| 2023 | Assistant Inspector: Daimajin | Directed 6 out of 8 episodes |
| 2025 | Masked Ninja Akakage | Directed 4 out of 10 episodes |
TV moviesLast Run: 100 Million Yen's Worth of Love & Betrayal Sabu Part-Time Detective Negotiator Part-Time Detective 2 Shin Abarenbō Shōgun
Anime seriesOnimusha Nyaight of the Living Cat
Music videosPandōra
CommercialsChikyu kyodai, ten 6-minute commercials for Japan TobaccoMidnight, short online film for iPhone 15 Pro