Ken Tanaka

Acting

Ken Tanaka

Born 1951-03-06 · Chikugo, Fukuoka, Japan

Acting credits

The Return of Godzilla poster
7.2

After a fishing boat is attacked, the sole surviving crew member realizes it is none other than a resurrected Godzilla. However, efforts to bring the story to light are suppressed by the Japanese government amid growing political tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union, who are both willing to bomb Japan to stop the monster.

The Return of Godzilla

1984

Godzilla 1985 poster
6.8

Originally released in Japan as "The Return of Godzilla" in 1984, this is the heavily re-edited, re-titled "Godzilla 1985". Adding in new footage of Raymond Burr, this 16th Godzilla film ignores all previous sequels and serves as a direct follow-up to the 1956 "Godzilla King of the Monsters", which also featured scenes with Burr edited into 1954's "Godzilla". This film restores the darker tone of the original, as we witness the nuclear destruction of giant lizard terrorizing Japan.

Godzilla 1985

1985

Sandakan No. 8 poster
7.7

A young journalist interviews an elderly woman about being forced into prostitution in Borneo at a brothel called Sandakan No. 8.

Sandakan No. 8

1974

Final Take: The Golden Age of Movies poster
6.6

Director Ogata discovers a new female star in Koharu Tanaka, who works selling candy at a studio theater and she is given a part as a bit player. After the studio's top leading lady is embroiled in a scandal, Koharu is suddenly thrust into the limelight when she replaces her in a film and gains instant fame and fortune. But the going is not always easy, and she soon seeks help from unexpected quarters.

Final Take: The Golden Age of Movies

1986

Bonds poster
5.6

Tetsuro Haga is a troubled gangster, living under the assumed identity Ise for ten years, to escape jail for gunning down his cruel adoptive father. His life begins to unravel when a journalist following him takes an interest in the wife of a boyhood chum, and the wife of another close friend takes an interest in Ise. A couple of murders later, Ise/Haga goes on the run and also sets out for revenge.

Bonds

1998

The Gate of Youth Part 2 poster
7.5

Mid 50s: the trials and tribulations of Shinsuke Ibuki, freshly arrived in Tokyo from Kyushu.

The Gate of Youth Part 2

1977

Monument to Holy Service poster
8.0

A rural high school takes part in a mountain-climbing exercise and are caught in a sudden typhoon.

Monument to Holy Service

1978

Oh, My Son! poster
6.1

A man whose son has been murdered pushes to create laws to financially protect victims' families.

Oh, My Son!

1979

Godzilla Resurrection poster
10.0

This is a hybrid cut of both the original Japanese version The Return of Godzilla and Godzilla 1985, meant to combine the best aspects of both. This re-edit seeks to accomplish a happy medium between the two versions. The film will still be highly critical of both the United States and the Soviet Union, and will work to marginalize the more humorous aspects of the added Pentagon scenes. Their inclusion will fit better with the bureaucratic behind-the-scenes narrative of the original cut, and most additional music from the American cut will be included. All Japanese dialogue will remain intact, with English subtitles. Finally, this cut will feature a brand new opening to the film, one that seeks to definitely tie the new Godzilla to the original beast in an eerie and unforgettable way. In short, Godzilla: Resurrection will aim to be my definitive version of the return of the King of the Monsters.

Godzilla Resurrection

2018

Taxi Driver's Mystery Diary 37 - Mystery of Double Homicides from Tokyo to Hamamatsu poster
4.3

No synopsis available yet.

Taxi Driver's Mystery Diary 37 - Mystery of Double Homicides from Tokyo to Hamamatsu

2015

Bokyo poster
9.0

In 1940, Kubota Shoten, which has been in business for generations, goes bankrupt due to the debauched lifestyle of its president, Kunimitsu Kubota. Subsequently, Kunimitsu moves back to his hometown and his children are sent to live with other relatives.

Bokyo

1993

Aspiration poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Aspiration

1977

Silence of the Sea poster
8.5

The day before his exhibition, world-renowned painter Tamura discovers that his own work contains a forgery. Meanwhile, the body of a woman with countless ukiyo-e tattoos is discovered at the sea. From the two incidents, the name of Ryuji emerges.

Silence of the Sea

2024

THE LAST GOZE poster
NR

A "Goze" is a blind entertainer who travels to various places singing stories while playing the shamisen (Japanese three-stringed lute). Becoming a goze due to her blindness at seven-years-old, Haru was strictly trained with a parent's affection by her once kind mother, Tome.

THE LAST GOZE

2020

There Goes Benio, the Smart Girl poster
6.0

Benio, a peppy tomboy, is surprised to learn that she has been secretly betrothed by her grandfather to a young officer named Shinobu Ijuin. Because of his family’s noble status, Benio must first undergo rigorous training to learn how to be a proper bride and wife before she can marry. However, because of her vivacious personality, this proves to me more challenging than anyone imagined.

There Goes Benio, the Smart Girl

1987

The Setting Sun poster
6.0

No synopsis available yet.

The Setting Sun

2022

Aoi sanmyaku poster
NR

Remake of 1949 film

Aoi sanmyaku

1975

One Last Throw poster
7.0

Shintaro Yokota, at 18, fulfilled his childhood dream with a dazzling pro debut. Embraced by a loving family and his team, he had a bright career lay ahead—until something felt wrong with his vision. A medical examination delivered a diagnosis no young athlete should ever hear: a brain tumor. Driven by a single desire to play baseball and supported by those who never stopped believing in his comeback, he fought on until his final game, which saw a miracle no one had imagined. The true story of Yokota that continues to move and inspire us all.

One Last Throw

2025

A Tale of Young Elopement poster
9.0

A 30-year-old man's life gets up-ended when his girlfriend accepts an arranged marriage meeting with a more successful man.

A Tale of Young Elopement

1987

The Phoenix poster
6.1

This extraordinarily complex film is not only a send-up of every samurai film ever made, it is also an extrapolation of the value of life. The Yamatai, represented by Prince Susano-O and elderly advisor Sumuke, hire Yumihiko of Matsuro to hunt the phoenix so that Queen Himiko, sister of Susano-O can have eteranal life.

The Phoenix

1978

The King and His Vassal poster
NR

This is a story of "Takechiyo," the previous name of Iemitsu Tokunaga, the third Shogun (General). Takechiyo got sick of daily run-of-the-mill tasks, and it put him off being the Shogun, saying "there is no truth". Then, Hikozaemon Ookubo took him to Tasuke Isshin to bring him up into a full-fledged and admirable man.

The King and His Vassal

1981

The Gate of Youth poster
8.3

Mainly the story of Shinsuke and his stepmother, ranging from Shinsuke's infanthood to his mid-teens. Coal workers and the mines dominate nearly every aspect of the life of the characters. Shinsuke's father dies while bravely using dynamite to rescue a group of trapped Korean miners. Several older men attempt to help he and his mother cope, including a kind Korean and a Harley-riding yakuza.

The Gate of Youth

1975

Yakuza Ladies: Revenge poster
6.0

13th installment of the 16-film franchise.

Yakuza Ladies: Revenge

2000

America ni Makenakatta Otoko - Bakayaro Souri Yoshida Shigeru poster
4.0

No synopsis available yet.

America ni Makenakatta Otoko - Bakayaro Souri Yoshida Shigeru

2020