Tatsuya Nakadai, one of Japan’s most respected actors, known globally for his powerful performances in the ‘Ran’, ‘Harakiri’ and ‘The Human Condition’ trilogies, has died at the age of 92.

His death was first reported japan newsHowever, the reason was not immediately disclosed.

Born in Tokyo on December 13, 1932, Nakadai – whose real name was Motohisa Nakadai – began his career on the stage before becoming one of the most respected and enduring figures in Japanese cinema. With over a hundred film credits to his name, Nakadai’s versatility and impressive screen presence have brought him recognition in Japan and internationally, particularly for his roles in samurai and historical dramas.

Nakadai’s portrayal of Lord Hidetora Ichimonji in Akira Kurosawa’s 1985 masterpiece ‘Ran’ is one of his most iconic roles. Set in medieval Japan, the film follows an aging warlord who divides his kingdom among his sons, only to find that they betray him in a tragic cycle of power and corruption.

Before ‘Ran’, Nakadai gave career-defining performances in Masaaki Kobayashi’s ‘The Human Condition’ trilogy – ‘No Greater Love’ (1959), ‘Road to Eternity’ (1959), and ‘A Soldier’s Prayer’ (1961). The films depicted Kaji, a pacifist who denounced the brutality of World War II-era Japan. Nakadai’s collaboration with Kobayashi spanned 11 films, including the 1962 classic ‘Harakiri’, in which he played ronin Hanshiro Tsugumo, whose act of seppuku exposes the hypocrisy of a feudal clan’s rigid honor system.

In his six-decade-long career, Nakadai appeared in many other famous films such as ‘Kagemusha’ (1980), ‘Yojimbo’ (1961), ‘Sanjuro’ (1962), and ‘The Sword of Doom’ (1966), working with legendary filmmakers such as Akira Kurosawa and Masaaki Kobayashi.

In recognition of his extraordinary contributions to Japanese arts and culture, Nakadai was awarded the prestigious Order of Culture in 2015 – Japan’s highest honor for achievements in the arts, literature and science.