各国名人英文介绍-Kitano Takeshi（在线收听）

The multi-talented Kitano Takeshi, a.k.a. Beat Takeshi, is a Japanese comedian, actor, TV presenter, author, poet, painter, video game designer, award-winning film director and academic. He is one of the few Japanese entertainers to be famous around the world. His highly unique style and creative genius have kept him at the forefront of film and television for decades.

Kitano’s career is so varied it’s difficult to know where to begin. In his native Japan, he is best known as a TV host and comedian. Switch on Japanese TV and you’re likely to see Takeshi in one of his many zany roles. He started in comedy in the 1970s as half of the manzai comic duo Two Beats. Their TV debut made them both household names.

Takeshi decided to go it alone in the 1980s and his resume greatly broadened. In 1983, he appeared in the movie ‘Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence’ and became world famous. He starred in and directed ‘Violent Cop’ in 1989, which was the beginning of his career as a filmmaker. His 1997 ‘HANA-BI’ established his international status as one of Japan's top directors.

Kitano won the prestigious Silver Lion award at the Vienna Film Festival for 2003’s ‘Zatoichi’. Since April 2005, he has been a professor at Tokyo’s National University of Fine Arts and Music. He continues to paint, write, be funny, and make movies. There’s no telling in which direction his career will move next.