Takashi Miike

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. 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 .

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.

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), 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 Formers, 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. 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.

Filmography Film

Theatrical films Year English title Japanese title Notes1995 The 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 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 Rainy Dog 極道黒社会 1998 The Bird People in China 中国の鳥人 Andromedia アンドロメディア Blues Harp Young Thugs: Nostalgia 岸和田少年愚連隊・望郷 1999 Ley Lines 日本黒社会 LEY LINES Audition オーディション Dead or Alive DEAD OR ALIVE: 犯罪者 Salaryman Kintaro サラリーマン金太郎 2000 The City of Lost Souls 漂流街 The Guys from Paradise 天国から来た男たち Dead or Alive 2: Birds DEAD OR ALIVE 2: 逃亡者 2001 Family 家族 Also cinematographer Visitor Q ビジターQ Ichi the Killer 殺し屋1 Agitator 荒ぶる魂たち The Happiness of the Katakuris カタクリ家の幸福 2002 Dead or Alive: Final Kumamoto 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 2003 The Man in White 許されざる者 Two-part film Gozu 極道恐怖大劇場 牛頭 GOZU One Missed Call 着信アリ 2004 Zebraman ゼブラーマン Three... Extremes 美しい夜、残酷な朝 Segment: "Box" Izo 2005 The Great Yokai War 妖怪大戦争 Also writer 2006 Big Bang Love, Juvenile A 46億年の恋 Waru 悪 Waru: The End 悪完結編 Sun Scarred 太陽の傷 2007 Like 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 writer Detective Story 探偵物語 Crows Zero クローズZERO 2008 Zatoichi 三池崇史 × 哀川翔 『座頭市』 God's Puzzle 神様のパズル 2009 Yatterman ヤッターマン 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 13 Assassins 十三人の刺客 2011 Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai 一命 Ninja Kids!!! 忍たま乱太郎 2012 Ace Attorney 逆転裁判 For Love's Sake 愛と誠 Lesson of the Evil 悪の教典 2013 Shield of Straw 藁の楯 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- 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 Yakuza Apocalypse 極道大戦争 2016 Terra Formars テラフォーマーズ 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 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 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！～ 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 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〜 Sham でっちあげ 2026 Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo Untitled film Direct-to-video Year English title Japanese title Notes 1991 Eyecatch Junction 突風!ミニパト隊 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 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2 1994 Shinjuku 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 1995 Bodyguard 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 1996 New Third Gangster 新・第三の極道 New Third Gangster II 新・第三の極道II Ambition 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 1997 Ambition Without Honor 2 仁義なき野望2 Full Metal Yakuza FULL METAL 極道 1999 Silver シルバー 2000 The Making of "Gemini" 塚本晋也が乱歩する 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; Also editor

Television

Live-action series and miniseries Year English title Japanese title Notes 1999 Man, 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 2000 MPD Psycho多重人格探偵サイコ/雨宮一彦の帰還 2005 Ultraman Maxウルトラマンマックス Episodes 15 and 16 2006 Masters of Horror Episode "Imprint" 2008 K-tai Investigator 7ケータイ捜査官7 3 episodes (Also supervising producer) 2011 QP (TV series)QP Directed 5 out of 12 episodes 2017 Idol × Warrior Miracle Tunes!アイドル×戦士 ミラクルちゅーんず!General director 2018 Magical × Heroine Magimajo Pures!魔法×戦士 マジマジョピュアーズ! 2019 Secret × Heroine Phantomirage!ひみつ×戦士 ファントミラージュ! 2020 Police × Heroine Lovepatrina!ポリス×戦士 ラブパトリーナ! 2021 Bittomo × Heroine Kirameki Powers!ビッ友×戦士 キラメキパワーズ! 2022 RizSta -Top of Artists!-リズスタ -Top of Artists!- Connect커넥트 OTT Drama 2023 Assistant Inspector: Daimajin 警部補ダイマジン Directed 6 out of 8 episodes 2025 Masked Ninja Akakage 仮面の忍者 赤影 Directed 4 out of 10 episodes 2026 Major 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

Anime series Onimusha (2023) (chief director) Nyaight of the Living Cat (2025) (chief director)

Commercials 地球兄弟 (Chikyu kyodai) (Blue Planet Brothers) (2013), ten 6-minute commercials for Japan Tobacco Midnight (2024), short online film for iPhone 15 Pro

Music videos Pandōra (2002)

Acting roles

Film

Television Year Title Role Notes 2009 Tenchijin Hyogo Kariyasu

Video games Year Title Voice role Notes 2010 No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle Himself 2021 No More Heroes III