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 internationally for the horror films Audition (1999), Ichi the Killer (2001), Visitor Q (2001), Gozu (2003), and One Missed Call (2003). He is also known for samurai and yakuza films such as Dead or Alive (1999), Graveyard of Honor (2002), 13 Assassins (2010), earning a Japan Academy Film Prize nomination for Director of the Year, and Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai (2011). 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 (2013) were both nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, while both Sukiyaki Western Django (2007) and 13 Assassins were nominated for the Venice Film Festival's Golden Lion. Several of his films have developed cult followings.
Early life and education Miike was born in Yao, Osaka, on August 24, 1960. His mother was a seamstress and his father was a welder.Mes, Tom. Agitator: The Cinema of Takashi Miike. Godalming: FAB Press, 2003. . p. 15. 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. He graduated from .Toho Publishing, "KAMINOGE" vol. 65, pp. 74-85
At the age of 18, he joined the Yokohama Vocational School of Broadcast and Film (now the Japan Institute of the Moving Image), 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.Mes, pp. 16–18.
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 (Daisan no gokudō),Mes, Tom. Agitator: The Cinema of Takashi Miike. Godalming: FAB Press, 2003. . p. 57. but Shinjuku Triad Society (1995) 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 (1997) and Ley Lines (1999).
Miike gained international fame in the early 2000s when his horror film Audition (1999), his violent yakuza epic Dead or Alive (1999), 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 [but] 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 (2011) premiered in competition at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival and his spy thriller film Straw Shield (2013) 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 (foreigners living in Japan). 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 (Ninja Kids!!!, The Great Yokai War), period pieces (Sabu), a road movie (The Bird People in China), a teen drama (Andromedia), a farcical musical comedy horror (The Happiness of the Katakuris), video game adaptations (Like a Dragon, Ace Attorney), manga adaptations (Blade of the Immortal, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable, Terra Formars, The Mole Song Trilogy) and character driven crime dramas (Ley Lines, Agitator).
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 filmmaking, Miike has said of his career:
Influences Miike cited the American science-fiction action film Starship Troopers (1997) as his favorite film.Interview Footage included in special features on American Region 1 DVD of Gozu 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 (who directed Starship Troopers) 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. He is in a long-term relationship with his longtime producing partner Misako Saka.
Filmography Film Theatrical films Year English title Japanese title Notes1995The Third Gangster第三の極道Shinjuku Triad Society新宿黒社会 チャイナ マフィア戦争1996Fudoh: The New Generation極道戦国志 不動1997Young Thugs: Innocent Blood岸和田少年愚連隊 血煙り純情篇Rainy Dog極道黒社会1998The Bird People in China中国の鳥人AndromediaアンドロメディアBlues HarpYoung Thugs: Nostalgia岸和田少年愚連隊・望郷1999Ley Lines日本黒社会 LEY LINESAuditionオーディションDead or AliveDEAD OR ALIVE: 犯罪者Salaryman Kintaroサラリーマン金太郎2000The City of Lost Souls漂流街The Guys from Paradise天国から来た男たちDead or Alive 2: BirdsDEAD OR ALIVE 2: 逃亡者2001 Family家族Also cinematographerVisitor QビジターQIchi the Killer殺し屋1Agitator荒ぶる魂たちThe Happiness of the Katakurisカタクリ家の幸福2002Dead or Alive: FinalKumamoto Stories熊本物語Graveyard of Honor新・仁義の墓場Shangri-La金融破滅ニッポン 桃源郷の人々Deadly Outlaw: Rekka実録・安藤昇侠道伝 烈火2003The Man in White許されざる者Two-part filmGozu極道恐怖大劇場 牛頭 GOZUOne Missed Call着信アリ2004ZebramanゼブラーマンThree... Extremes美しい夜、残酷な朝Segment: "Box"Izo2005The Great Yokai War妖怪大戦争Also writer2006Big Bang Love, Juvenile A46億年の恋Waru悪Waru: The End悪完結編Sun Scarred太陽の傷2007Like a Dragon龍が如く 劇場版Sukiyaki Western Djangoスキヤキ・ウエスタン ジャンゴAlso writerDetective Story探偵物語Crows ZeroクローズZERO2008Zatoichi三池崇史 × 哀川翔 『座頭市』God's Puzzle神様のパズル2009YattermanヤッターマンCrows Zero 2クローズZERO II2010Zebraman 2: Attack on Zebra Cityゼブラーマン -ゼブラシティの逆襲13 Assassins十三人の刺客2011Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai一命Ninja Kids!!!忍たま乱太郎2012Ace Attorney逆転裁判For Love's Sake愛と誠Lesson of the Evil悪の教典2013Shield of Straw藁の楯The Mole Song: Undercover Agent Reiji土竜の唄 潜入捜査官 REIJI2014Over Your Dead Body喰女-クイメ-As the Gods Will神さまの言うとおり2015The Lion Standing in the Wind風に立つライオンYakuza Apocalypse極道大戦争2016Terra FormarsテラフォーマーズThe Mole Song: Hong Kong Capriccio土竜の唄 香港狂騒曲2017Blade of the Immortal無限の住人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2018Laplace's Witchラプラスの魔女2019First Love初恋That Moment, My Heart Criedその瞬間、僕は泣きたくなったSegment: "Beautiful"2020Secret × 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～2021Police 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！～The Great Yokai War: Guardians妖怪大戦争 ガーディアンズThe Mole Song: Final土竜の唄 FINAL2023Lumberjack the Monster怪物の木こり2024MidnightミッドナイトShort film2025 ShamでっちあげBlazing FistsBlue Fight 〜蒼き若者たちのブレイキングダウン〜2026Bad Lieutenant: TokyoUntitled film
Direct-to-video Year English title Japanese title Notes1991Lady Hunter: Prelude to Murderレディハンター 殺しのプレリュードEyecatch Junction突風!ミニパト隊1992A Human Murder Weapon人間兇器 愛と怒りのリング1993Bodyguard Kibaボディガード牙We're No Angels俺達は天使じゃないWe're No Angels 2俺達は天使じゃない21994Shinjuku Outlaw新宿アウトローBodyguard Kiba: Apocalypse of Carnage修羅の黙示録 ボディーガード牙1995Bodyguard Kiba: Apocalypse of Carnage 2修羅の黙示録2 ボディーガード牙Osaka Tough Guysなにわ遊侠伝1996New Third Gangster新・第三の極道New Third Gangster II新・第三の極道IIAmbition Without Honor仁義なき野望Peanuts落華星 ピイナッツThe Way to Fight喧嘩の花道1997Ambition Without Honor 2仁義なき野望2Full Metal YakuzaFULL METAL 極道1999Silverシルバー2000The Making of "Gemini"塚本晋也が乱歩する2001Family 2家族22003Kikoku鬼哭2005Demon Pond夜叉ヶ池Filmed stage production2007Pledge to Peace平和への誓いAnimated short, Also editor
Television Live-action series and miniseries Year English title Japanese title Notes1999Man, A Natural Girl天然少女 萬Man, Next Natural Girl: 100 Nights in Yokohama 天然少女萬NEXT-横浜百夜篇2000MPD Psycho多重人格探偵サイコ/雨宮一彦の帰還2005Ultraman MaxウルトラマンマックスEpisodes 15 and 162006Masters of HorrorEpisode "Imprint"2008K-tai Investigator 7ケータイ捜査官73 episodes (Also supervising producer)2011QP (TV series)QPDirected 5 out of 12 episodes2017Idol × Warrior Miracle Tunes!アイドル×戦士 ミラクルちゅーんず!General director2018Magical × Heroine Magimajo Pures!魔法×戦士 マジマジョピュアーズ!General director2019Secret × Heroine Phantomirage!ひみつ×戦士 ファントミラージュ!General director2020Police × Heroine Lovepatrina!ポリス×戦士 ラブパトリーナ!General director2021Bittomo × Heroine Kirameki Powers!ビッ友×戦士 キラメキパワーズ!General director2022RizSta -Top of Artists!-リズスタ -Top of Artists!-General directorConnect커넥트OTT Drama2023Assistant Inspector: Daimajin警部補ダイマジンDirected 6 out of 8 episodes2025Masked Ninja Akakage仮面の忍者 赤影Directed 4 out of 10 episodes2026Major Eruption of Mount Fuji: The Coming "Gray Nightmare"富士山大噴火 迫る"灰色の悪夢"2-part miniseries, directed the drama segments
TV movies