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Tsutomu Yamazaki

Tsutomu Yamazaki

Actor · Born December 2, 1936 (89) · Matsudo, Chiba, Japan

Tsutomu Yamazaki (山崎 努 Yamazaki Tsutomu) (born December 2, 1936 in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese actor. He has been nominated for seven Japanese Academy Awards, winning Best Actor awards for the Juzo Itami comedies The Funeral and A Taxing Woman, and the Best Supporting Actor awards for Go and Departures. He also won the Blue Ribbon Award for Best Actor in 1984 for The Funeral and Farewell to the Ark. Description above from the Wikipedia article Tsutomu Yamazaki, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 2, 1936 (89)
From
Matsudo, Chiba, Japan
Works as
Actor
Titles
26 on MovieCove · 112 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 31% in 30 days

What are Tsutomu Yamazaki's films like?

Across their 20 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 95th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 88th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Fantasy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 82nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Fantasy movies
Mystery2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile
: browse their Mystery movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
29%
Self
19%
Bonds
18%
Society
15%
Power
8%
Survival
8%
Ideas
3%
Purpose5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeTradition vs change4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 19 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 5 · Serious 6 · Dark 8

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 7 · Stylized 10 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 5 · Charged 8 · Intense 6

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 10 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 11 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 2

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 13 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 2

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 5 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 4

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 3 · Affecting 10 · Heavy 6

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 13 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

14 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 4 of 14 analyzed roles.

Shadow
4 of 14
Mentor
4 of 14
Hero
3 of 14
Trickster
2 of 14
Ally
1 of 14
Show the 14 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
12
Warm
8
Tense
7
Contemplative
7
Dread
4
Other
12

How their films linger

Thought-provoking10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet12
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Tsutomu Yamazaki's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 11 of their 26 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Tsutomu Yamazaki's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

112 credits, 26 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • 映画『正直不動産』 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Actor

  • The Honest Realtor(2022)

    Show 2 episodes · as Tsutomu Ishida

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • A Long Goodbye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Shohei Higashi

  • As a Father of Murderer Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Yoshinaga Katsuhiko

  • Killing for the Prosecution(2018)

    as Yuma Shirakawa

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Crimes That Bind(2018)

    as Takamasa Kaga

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Mori, The Artist's Habitat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Morikazu Kumagai

  • Blade of the Immortal(2017)

    as Kensui Ibane

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • 'Kutabare' Bocchan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Actor

  • The Magnificent Nine(2016)

    as Juzaburo’s Father

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Emperor in August (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Prime Minister Kantaro Suzuki

  • Red Cross (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Kakekomi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Bakin Kyokutei

  • Roosevelt Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 9 episodes · Actor

  • Sleeping Forest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Takamasa Kaga

  • Miracle Apples (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Seiji Kimura

  • Shield of Straw(2013)

    as Ninagawa

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Hayabusa: The Long Voyage Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Hiroshi Higashide

  • The Woodsman and the Rain(2011)

    as Keijiro

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Wings of the Kirin(2011)

    as Takamasa Kaga

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Red Finger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Takamasa Kaga

  • Space Battleship Yamato(2010)

    as Jūzō Okita

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Departures(2008)

    as Ikuei Sasaki

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Ano Hi Bokura no Inochi wa Toiretto Pepa yori mo Karukatta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Kenichi Asakura

  • Climber's High (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Raizo Shirakawa

  • The Black Swindler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Toshio Katsuragi

  • The Ramen Girl(2008)

    as Grand Master

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Dolphin Blue: Soar Again, Fuji (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Actor

  • Crickets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Blind Man

  • Kurosagi(2006)

    Show 11 episodes · as Katsuragi Toshio

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • What the Snow Brings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Tanba

  • Blooming Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Makoto Kikushima

  • Crying Out Love in the Center of the World(2004)

    as Shigezou Matsumoto

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • 地球大進化 46億年・人類への旅 2004 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • FREESTYLE SHORT MOVIES (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Actor

  • Thirteen Steps (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Shoji Nango

  • Fan of Hong Kong star (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Actor

  • Copycat Killer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Yoshio Arima

  • Doing Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Hanawa

  • Go(2001)

    as Sugihara's Father

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Go Heat Man! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Mysterious Harley-Davidson Man

  • High School Girl's Friend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Actor

  • The Guys from Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Katsuaki Yoshida

  • The Goblin of Mt. Kurama (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Actor

  • Tsugumi e... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 11 episodes · Actor

  • White-Collar Worker Kintaro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Igo

  • Wait and See (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Sasaichi

  • Beautiful Sunday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Actor

  • The Last Song (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 11 episodes · as Professor Momose

  • 世にも奇妙な物語 秋の特別編 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Actor

  • Love Song of the Old Capital (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Actor

  • Kumokiri Nizaemon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 15 episodes · Actor

  • The Abe Clan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Abe Yaich'emon

  • A Quiet Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Father

  • Turning Point (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Prime Minister Tamura

  • Samurai Kids (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Sutonahiko Suminoe

  • We Are Not Alone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Actor

  • Nakibokuro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Actor

  • Catastrophe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Tadashi Suzuki

  • The Dancer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Count Amagata

  • Rikyu(1989)

    as Hideyoshi Toyotomi

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Harimao (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Major Jogasaki

  • A Taxing Woman(1987)

    as Hideki Gondo

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Tampopo(1985)

    as Goro

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Funeral(1984)

    as Wabisuke Inoue

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Farewell to the Ark(1984)

    as Sutekichi Tokito

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Brave Man Says Little (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

  • Sketchbook of Early Spring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 12 episodes · Actor

  • Lovers Lost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Tetsuo Takeuchi

  • The Unspoiled Diamond(1982)

    as Ichiro Mimura

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Dear Asuka and My Unborn Child... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Actor

  • Kemono Michi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • Play it, Boogie-Woogie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Mustang Man

  • The Trading Company (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 4 episodes · as Jiro Uesugi

  • Magnitude 7.9 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Actor

  • Kagemusha: The Shadow Warrior(1980)

    as Nobukado Takeda

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Demon Pond(1979)

    as Gaukuen Yamazaki

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Aftermath of Battles Without Honor and Humanity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Shingo Takagi

  • August Without Emperor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Tadashi Tojo

  • Village of Eight Gravestones(1977)

    as Hisashi Tajimi

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • I Can Hear the Sound of Festival (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Boss's Head(1975)

    as Tetsuya Kusunoki

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Tasukenin Hashiru (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 36 episodes · as Narrator

  • Hissatsu Shiokinin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 26 episodes · Actor

  • Onna Ikitemasu: Sakariba Wataridori (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Zengo Kakimoto

  • Cross-Currents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Actor

  • 愛と愛 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Human Target (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Yamabe

  • Kaoyaku (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Toshio Sugiura

  • The Summit of Mt. Fuji (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Takeshi Ishizuka

  • Tora-san's Cherished Mother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Fujimura

  • Where did Sharaku go? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Actor

  • Clouds at Sunset (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Actor

  • Three Sisters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 52 episodes · as Aoe Kingoro

  • Stairs of Evil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Iwao

  • The White Rose of Hong Kong (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Shiro Matsumoto

  • Sanshiro Sugata (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Genshiro

  • Red Beard(1965)

    as Sahachi

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The School of Flesh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Actor

  • Brand of Evil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Kikuchi Masaaki

  • Fright Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Actor

  • A Woman's Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Kohei Shimizu

  • The Sun is Calling You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

  • Legacy of the 500,000 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Tsukuda

  • High and Low(1963)

    as Ginjirô Takeuchi - Medical Intern

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Heso no taisho (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • 雪の降る街に (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • Till Tomorrow Is (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • Woman of Design (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Tatsuya Kurai

  • The Diplomat's Mansion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Shinichi, Diplomat's Son, the Bartender

  • The Angry Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Yakichi

  • University Bandits (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 112 titles from 1960 to 2026; peak year 1984.

Biggest box office

Crying Out Love in the Center of the World (2004)

$75M worldwide

Highest rated

Tampopo (1985)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Red Beard (1965)

Film career

19602026

Peak 1984 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 3 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1963Screen debut· High and Low
  • 1984First top-billed film· Farewell to the Ark
  • 1985Career best· Tampopo

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting112 of 112: 112 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score79th

By decade

1960s22 · acting1970s14 · acting1980s17 · acting1990s14 · acting2000s23 · acting2010s20 · acting2020s2 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 17% of 18 roles
6388

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Tsutomu Yamazaki's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 82nd percentile, the median of all 24; across their 19 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 86th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

86thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Approval · how many liked their films

81stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Reach · how many have seen their films

73rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Midcredits score across 26 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th2
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

13 of their 26 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Crowd Pleaser13
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · actor

Killing for the Prosecution (2018)

64th percentile spread · 23% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

High and Low (1963)

Midcredits 99th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 77/100 in their films, across 16 reviewed titles; fans 82, detractors 47. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Tsutomu Yamazaki's work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, 1 of the 5 categories sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 54 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity5 titles10–60 · median 23 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 4 · minimalMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 17 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 40 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Tsutomu Yamazaki work with?

People who share at least 2 of Tsutomu Yamazaki's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Hisashi Igawa shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles