archytele The Vault

Kinya Kitaoji

Acting Born Feb 23, 1943 Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan 177 credits
177
Total Credits
2026
71 Years Career Span
15
Vault Titles
10
Key Co-Stars

Biography

Kinya Kitaoji was born in Kyoto, Japan, on February 23, 1943. He is the son of jidaigeki film star Ichikawa Utaemon and graduated from Waseda University School of Letters, Arts and Sciences II in Tokyo. He made his acting debut alongside his father in the 1956 Toei film Oyakodaka, playing the role of Katsu Kaishu. Kitaoji is a contemporary of Hiroki Matsukata, another famous actor's son, with whom he was considered a rival. In 1964, Kitaoji made his first stage appearance in Cyrano de Bergerac. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, he appeared in numerous contemporary roles, including appearances in Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima, Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Final Episode, and Karei naru Ich.

Sources & verification Kinya Kitaoji — The Movie Database (TMDB) How Archytele verifies pages
Advertisement
Career

Career overview

Kinya Kitaoji was born in Kyoto on February 23, 1943, as the son of jidaigeki film star Ichikawa Utaemon. He graduated from Waseda University School of Letters, Arts and Sciences II in Tokyo. He made his acting debut alongside his father in the 1956 Toei film Oyakodaka, playing the role of Katsu Kaishū. During his career, he was a contemporary of and considered a rival to Hiroki Matsukata, who was also the son of a famous actor named Jūshirō Konoe. In 1964, Kitaoji made his first appearance on stage in Cyrano de Bergerac.

The 1960s and 1970s featured him in many contemporary roles. His film credits from this period include appearances in Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima, Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Final Episode, and Karei naru Ich. Throughout his extensive career, he accumulated a known credit total of 176 on the database platform, working across film, television, and stage productions.

Ask the Vault

Ask anything about Kinya Kitaoji.

Known for

Film

Trouble with the Curve

2012
Film

One Piece Film: GOLD

as Raise Max (voice)

Seven Detectives

as Shuntaro Domoto

Hanzawa Naoki

as Ken Nakanowatari

Doctor-X: Surgeon Michiko Daimon

as Yoshito Tendo（天堂 義人）

Absolute Zero

as Hideo Nagashima

Atsuhime

2008
Film

Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song

as Skit Guest
Film

Super Atragon

as 伊達輝宗
Film

Spring Bell

as Rokuheita Narumi

Golden Globe Awards

as Wataru Mikumo (voice)
Film

Winter's Flower

as Michio Sakata

Frequent co-stars

Kotaro Yoshida 2 shared titles
Masahiro Takashima 2 shared titles
Ainosuke Kataoka 2 shared titles
Gin Maeda 2 shared titles
Kenichi Yajima 2 shared titles
Aya Ueto 2 shared titles
Ikki Sawamura 2 shared titles
Kanako Higuchi 2 shared titles
Kyōzō Nagatsuka 2 shared titles
Yumiko Nogawa 2 shared titles

Career timeline

BORDERLESS -72 Hours
Believe: A Bridge to YouAlice in Wonderful KitchenToyama Shōgawa kai satsujin jiken
Kazama Kimichika: Kyojo ZeroTHE LEGEND & BUTTERFLY
さすらい署長風間昭平スペシャル　塩屋岬いわき殺人事件
In His Chart
Alive: Dr. Kokoro, The Medical OncologistThe Confidence Man JP – Episode of the Princess –三屋清左衛門残日録 新たなしあわせ
Kioku Sousa ~Shinjuku Higashi-sho Jiken Fairu~WhistleblowerCastle of Sand
三屋清左衛門残日録 三十年ぶりの再会がん消滅の罠～完全寛解の謎～
Virtual Detective Tabito Higurashi三屋清左衛門残日録 完結篇
One Piece Film: GOLDSeizaemon Remaining DiaryFragile三屋清左衛門残日録Monster Strike The Movie: To The Place of Beginnings
Seven DetectivesI'm Home
Sanbiki no OssanSeicho Matsumoto's Black GospelSakura HousaraKenkaku Shōbai: Onikuma Izakaya
Hanzawa NaokiLegal High SP淋しい狩人
Doctor-X: Surgeon Michiko DaimonBlackboardBlackboardBreathless SummerMan of Destiny
Princess GoThe Last Revenge
Absolute ZeroThe Incite MillSakurada Gate IncidentChushingura〜Sono Otoko, Oishi KuranosukeEternal First Love
TriangleGenjuro's Deadly Sword: The Return of Shinigami
AtsuhimePhantom AssassinSushi King Goes to New York刑事シュート しゅうと&ムコの事件日誌
The FamilyKuwayama Jubei travels to eight provinces
Magistrate Ooka EchizenThe Story of Dominating Countries
忠臣蔵Roving Police Chief Kazama Shohei 2 - Lake Tazawa Murder Case
さすらい署長 風間昭平
Lone Wolf and Cub生存 愛する娘のために
Hojo Tokimune
Secret Magistrate AsahinaWarlord of the Underworld
The Peking Man
SMAP×SMAPFurther Tales of Musashi
Another 47 Ronins: Genroku TaiheikiAssassin's Target: Iemitsu
The Notorious Bored Samurai 9The Notorious Bored Samurai 9
Bored Hatamoto: Letter of DeathYakuza Ladies Revisited 2Bored Hatamoto: The Kaga ConspiracyThe Notorious Bored Samurai 8Date Masamune: The One-Eyed Dragon

Full Filmography

177 titles
  • BORDERLESS -72 Hours (2026) as Midorikawa Soichiro
  • Believe: A Bridge to You (2024) as Goro Bando
  • Alice in Wonderful Kitchen (2024) as Gojo Michitaka
  • Toyama Shōgawa kai satsujin jiken (2024)
  • Kazama Kimichika: Kyojo Zero (2023)
  • THE LEGEND & BUTTERFLY (2023) as Saitō Dōsan
  • さすらい署長風間昭平スペシャル　塩屋岬いわき殺人事件 (2022)
  • In His Chart (2021) as Itagaki Genzo [Director]
  • Alive: Dr. Kokoro, The Medical Oncologist (2020) as Kyotaro Onda
  • The Confidence Man JP – Episode of the Princess – (2020) as Raymond Fuu
  • 三屋清左衛門残日録 新たなしあわせ (2020)
  • Kioku Sousa ~Shinjuku Higashi-sho Jiken Fairu~ (2019)
  • Whistleblower (2019) as Ikuo Yakuyama
  • Castle of Sand (2019)
  • 三屋清左衛門残日録 三十年ぶりの再会 (2018)
  • がん消滅の罠～完全寛解の謎～ (2018) as 西條征士郎(さいじょう せいしろう)
  • Virtual Detective Tabito Higurashi (2017) as Wataru Enoki
  • 三屋清左衛門残日録 完結篇 (2017) as Mitsuya Seizaemon
  • One Piece Film: GOLD (2016) as Raise Max (voice)
  • Seizaemon Remaining Diary (2016)
  • Fragile (2016) as Kaoru Nakaguma
  • 三屋清左衛門残日録 (2016) as Mitsuya Seizaemon
  • Monster Strike The Movie: To The Place of Beginnings (2016) as Kentaro Ishibashi (voice)
  • Sayonara Debussy - Pianist Tantei Misaki Yosuke (2016) as 香月玄太郎
  • Case 17 (2016) as Shuichi Itami
  • Seven Detectives (2015) as Shuntaro Domoto
  • I'm Home (2015) as Yozo Ieji
  • Sanbiki no Ossan (2014) as 清田清一
  • Seicho Matsumoto's Black Gospel (2014)
  • Sakura Housara (2014)
  • Kenkaku Shōbai: Onikuma Izakaya (2014)
  • Hanzawa Naoki (2013) as Ken Nakanowatari
  • Legal High SP (2013) as Isao Teshigawara
  • 淋しい狩人 (2013)
  • Doctor-X: Surgeon Michiko Daimon (2012) as Yoshito Tendo（天堂 義人）
  • Blackboard (2012) as Akinori Shioda
  • Blackboard (2012) as Shioda Akinori
  • Breathless Summer (2012) as 夏目周作
  • Man of Destiny (2012) as Keisaku Sahashi
  • Asura (2012) as Monk
  • I Don't Want to Kidnap Anyone Anymore (2012) as Hanazono Shugoro
  • Princess Go (2011)
  • The Last Revenge (2011) as Tesshu Yamaoka
  • Absolute Zero (2010) as Hideo Nagashima
  • The Incite Mill (2010) as Yoshi Ando
  • Sakurada Gate Incident (2010)
  • Chushingura〜Sono Otoko, Oishi Kuranosuke (2010)
  • Eternal First Love (2010) as Yuichi Makibara
  • Triangle (2009) as Kuroki Shinzo
  • Genjuro's Deadly Sword: The Return of Shinigami (2009)
  • Atsuhime (2008)
  • Phantom Assassin (2008) as Koyama Genjuro
  • Sushi King Goes to New York (2008) as Gengoro
  • 刑事シュート しゅうと&ムコの事件日誌 (2008)
  • The Family (2007) as Daisuke Manpyo
  • Kuwayama Jubei travels to eight provinces (2007) as Kuwayama Jubei
  • Magistrate Ooka Echizen (2005)
  • The Story of Dominating Countries (2005)
  • 忠臣蔵 (2004)
  • Roving Police Chief Kazama Shohei 2 - Lake Tazawa Murder Case (2004) as Shohei Kazama
  • さすらい署長 風間昭平 (2003)
  • Lone Wolf and Cub (2002) as Ogami Ittô
  • 生存 愛する娘のために (2002)
  • Hojo Tokimune (2001) as Sha Kokumei
  • Secret Magistrate Asahina (1998) as Asahina Kawachinokami Masakiyo
  • Warlord of the Underworld (1998) as Jirocho Shimizu
  • The Peking Man (1997) as Kin'ya Kitaôji
  • SMAP×SMAP (1996) as Skit Guest
  • Further Tales of Musashi (1996) as Miyamoto Musashi
  • Another 47 Ronins: Genroku Taiheiki (1995)
  • Assassin's Target: Iemitsu (1995)
  • The Notorious Bored Samurai 9 (1994) as Saotome Mondonosuke
  • The Notorious Bored Samurai 9 (1994)
  • Bored Hatamoto: Letter of Death (1993)
  • Yakuza Ladies Revisited 2 (1993)
  • Bored Hatamoto: The Kaga Conspiracy (1993)
  • The Notorious Bored Samurai 8 (1993) as Sawatari Mondonosuke
  • Date Masamune: The One-Eyed Dragon (1993)
  • Rainbow Bridge (1993)
  • 事件 (テレビ朝日のテレビドラマ) (1993)
  • The Diary of Chuji's Travels (1992) as Chuji
  • Tokugawa Ieyasu: The Conqueror of Japan (1992)
  • The Notorious Bored Samurai 7 (1992) as Sawatari Shusui
  • Dohten (1991)
  • 遊の人‐天下の御意見番 大久保彦左衛門‐ (1991)
  • The Notorious Bored Samurai 6 (1991) as Sawatari Shusui
  • The Mysterious Lightning Beauty (1990) as Kogoro Akechi
  • Miyamoto Musashi (1990) as Miyamoto Musashi
  • Detective Heiji (1990) as Heiji Zenigata
  • The Notorious Bored Samurai 5 (1990) as Sawatari Shusui
  • Sanada Yukimura (1989)
  • The Phantom Beauty of Kobe Rokko (1989) as Kogoro Akechi
  • Sensei (1989) as Chairman of the town
  • The Notorious Bored Samurai 3 (1989) as Sawatari Shusui
  • The Beauty of the Sundial Mansion (1988) as Kogoro Akechi
  • The Notorious Bored Samurai 2 (1988) as Mondonosuke Saotome
  • The Notorious Bored Samurai (1988) as Mondosuke
  • Masamune Shogun (1987) as 伊達輝宗
  • The Beauty in the Red Riding Outfit (1987) as Kogoro Akechi
  • The Beauty in the Black Mask (1987) as Kogoro Akechi
  • Crisis at Edo Castle - Angry Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu (1987)
  • Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches (1986) as Genroku Kano (Tokugawa Yoshimune)
  • The Beauty with the Enchanting Melody (1986) as Kogoro Akechi
  • Spring Bell (1985) as Rokuheita Narumi
  • The Second Is a Christian (1985) as Eiji
  • Yume-Chiyo (1985)
  • Fire Festival (1985) as Tatsuo
  • Zero (1984) as Jiro Horikoshi
  • Kukai (1984) as Kukai
  • The Story of a Man Among Men (1984)
  • Future War 198X (1982) as Wataru Mikumo (voice)
  • The Highest Honour (1982) as Major Tachibana
  • Lake of Illusions (1982) as Nobunaga Oda
  • 南十字星 (1982)
  • Shadow Conspirator (1982)
  • Abandoned (1981)
  • Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga (1980)
  • Glowing Autumn (1978)
  • Winter's Flower (1978) as Michio Sakata
  • Dynamite Don-Don (1978) as Ginji Tachibana
  • Shag (1978)
  • Monument to Holy Service (1978)
  • Mount Hakkoda (1977) as Captain Kanda
  • The Alaska Story (1977) as Frank Yasuda
  • The Corporation (1976)
  • Love and Separation in Sri Lanka (1976)
  • Path of Japanese Chivalry: Story of All-Out Attack (1975)
  • Shimane Prison Riot (1975) as Yuji Kawamura
  • Takehisa Yumeji monogatari: koi suru (1975) as Yumeji Takehisa
  • Gambling Den Heist (1975) as Takeshi Kiyomoto
  • Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Final Episode (1974) as Tamotsu Matsumura
  • Father of the Kamikaze (1974)
  • Akumyo: Notorious Dragon (1974)
  • Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima (1973) as Shoji Yamanaka
  • The Blossom and the Sword (1973) as Captain Sakagami
  • Men and War III: The Final Chapter (1973) as Shunsuke Godai
  • Rise, Fair Sun (1973) as Asao
  • A Woman Called En (1971)
  • Mominoki wa Nokotta (1970) as Sakai Tadakiyo
  • Will to Conquer (1970)
  • Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor (1969) as Soji Okita
  • Tsugaru zessho (1969)
  • Admiral Borneo: Betting at the Equator (1969) as Takeo
  • Ryoma ga Yuku (1968) as Sakamoto Ryoma
  • The Day the Sun Rose (1968)
  • One Day at Summer's End (1968) as Shigeo Ugari
  • Cry of the Mountain (1968)
  • River of Forever (1967)
  • Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu (1965) as 松平三郎元信（後の徳川家康）
  • Love on the Rainbow (1965) as Tatsuya Kitakami
  • Wolves, Pigs & Men (1964) as Sabu, the third brother
  • The Navy (1963) as Shinji
  • 53 Stages of Action (1963)
  • Tokaido Fullhouse (1963) as Okeya-no-oni
  • A Revengeful Raid (1962)
  • Knightly Advice (1962)
  • Keepers of Order (1962)
  • Genkuro Yoshitsune (1962)
  • Yoka chigo zakura Make no wakamusha (1962)
  • Law in Ghost Island (1961) as Yusaku
  • Lord Mito: Struggle of Suke and Kaku (1961)
  • The Orphan Brother (1961)
  • Fine Man (1961)
  • Whistling Drifter (1961) as Tsukinowa Gentaro
  • Young Lord and Second Son (1961)
  • Traveling of Two Young Men (1961) as Gentaro
  • Bored Hatamoto: Island of No Return (1960)
  • Bloody Battle at Dawn (1959)
  • The Acrobats of Death (1959)
  • Bored Hatamoto: The Daimonji Conspiracy (1959)
  • Bored Hatamoto: Idle Vassal Tribute (1958)
  • Kingdom of Youth (1958) as Yamanaka Shikanoske
  • Shadow Over Fuji (1957)
  • The Mansion of Intrigue (1957) as Kyoya Kirishima
  • Avenging Father (1956) as Minamoto no Yoriie
  • Virtue in Spades (1956)
  • 白虎隊～敗れざる者たち

Frequently Asked Questions

What movies or TV shows is Kinya Kitaoji best known for?

Kinya Kitaoji is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Trouble with the Curve (2012), One Piece Film: GOLD (2016), Seven Detectives (2015), Hanzawa Naoki (2013).

When and where was Kinya Kitaoji born?

Kinya Kitaoji was born on February 23, 1943 in Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan.

How many credits does Kinya Kitaoji have?

Kinya Kitaoji has accumulated over 177 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1956 to 2026.

What is Kinya Kitaoji's background in cinema and television?

Kinya Kitaoji was born in Kyoto, Japan, on February 23, 1943. He is the son of jidaigeki film star Ichikawa Utaemon and graduated from Waseda University School of Letters, Arts and Sciences II in Tokyo. He made his acting debut alongside his father in the 1956 Toei film Oyakodaka, playing the role of Katsu Kaishu. Kita...