Toru Takemitsu was a Japanese composer. He composed several hundred independent works of music, scored more than ninety films and published twenty books.
Biography from TMDB.
- October 8, 1930
- February 20, 1996 (aged 65)
- Tokyo, Japan
- Composer, also writer
- 17 on MovieCove · 112 credits in all
What are Tôru Takemitsu's films like?
Across their 17 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.
Genres
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
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 0 · Wry 0 · Earnest 17
Light 2 · Serious 3 · Dark 12
A split, not a type: Grounded 6 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 6
Gentle 2 · Charged 4 · Intense 11
Steady 7 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 2
Straight-faced 16 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 0
Slow burn 14 · Even-paced 3 · Relentless 0
Casual 3 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 5
Easy watch 2 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 12
A split, not a type: Resolved 7 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 4
Moods and endings
- Bittersweet6
- Tragic8
- Ambiguous3
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 Tôru Takemitsu's films?
As of October 24, 2026, 13 of their 17 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (11).
- Harakiri (1962) · composer
- Samurai Rebellion (1967) · composer
- Woman in the Dunes (1964) · composer
- The Face of Another (1966) · actor, composer
- Kwaidan (1964) · composer
- Double Suicide (1969) · writer, composer
- Ballad of Orin (1977) · composer
- Under the Blossoming Cherry Trees (1975) · composer
- Dodes'ka-den (1970) · composer
- Crazed Fruit (1956) · composer
- Empire of Passion (1978) · composer
Subscription and free streaming for Tôru Takemitsu'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, 17 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.
A Slippage in Five Movements (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)
Ludwigsburg Castle Festival 2022 - The Unfinished Revolution (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)
100 Years of Japanese Cinema (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)
Spiritual Voices (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)
Sharaku (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)
Rising Sun(1993)
Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
Dream Window: Reflections on the Japanese Garden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)
Basara: The Princess Goh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)
The Inland Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)
Rikyu(1989)
Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films
Black Rain(1989)
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
For the Whales(1989)
Wuthering Heights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)
An Early Autumn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)
A Boy Named Hiroshima (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)
Gonza the Spearman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)
The Empty Table (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)
Ran(1985)
Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films
Fire Festival (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)
A. K. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)
Änglaverket (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)
2084: Video Clip for the Trade Unions' Reflection and Pleasure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)
Antonio Gaudí (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)
Lanterns on Blue Waters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)
Tokyo Trial (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)
Prophecy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)
Rennyo and His Mother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)
The Minamata Mural (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)
Yumechiyo Nikki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)
Ki or Breathing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)
The Lovers' Exile (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)
An Ocean to Cross (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)
House of Flames (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)
The 47 Ronins of Ako (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)
The Japanese Part 3: Farm Song (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)
Glowing Autumn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)
Empire of Passion(1978)
Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films
Ballad of Orin(1977)
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
Flickering Flames (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)
The Fossil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)
Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
Himiko (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)
The Petrified Forest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)
Time Within Memory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)
Dear Summer Sister (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)
Summer Soldiers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)
Silence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)
Inn of Evil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)
The Ceremony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)
The Earth is Born Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)
Dodes'ka-den(1970)
Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films
The Man Who Left His Will on Film (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)
Bullet Wound (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)
Double Suicide(1969)
Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films
Kyoto (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)
Hymn to a Tired Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)
The Man Without a Map (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)
Nanami: The Inferno of First Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)
Two Hearts in the Rain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)
Two in the Shadow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)
Samurai Rebellion(1967)
Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
The Izu Dancer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)
Clouds at Sunset (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)
Once a Rainy Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)
The Face of Another(1966)
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
Captive's Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)
The Kii River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)
The Song of the Bwana Toshi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)
The Koumiko Mystery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)
Beast Alley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)
Illusion of Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)
Samurai Spy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)
The Last Judgment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)
Jose Torres II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)
With Beauty and Sorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)
Kwaidan(1964)
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
Car Thieves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)
The Call of Flesh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)
Ako (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)
That Tender Age (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)
Assassination (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)
Escape from Japan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)
Our Happiness Alone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)
Children Hand in Hand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)
Pale Flower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)
Woman in the Dunes(1964)
Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
Mon-Yo: Ornamental Motifs from Japan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)
Alone Across the Pacific (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)
She and He (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)
Pressure of Guilt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)
La Fée Diabolique (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)
Twin Sisters of Kyoto (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)
The Body (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)
A Flame at the Pier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)
Harakiri(1962)
Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
Human Zoo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)
Pitfall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)
Love at Twenty(1962)
Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films
The Inheritance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)
A Full Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)
Atami Blues (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)
Bad Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)
The Shrikes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)
Women of Tokyo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)
Youth in Fury (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)
X (Batsu) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)
Vagabond Lovers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)
Jose Torres (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)
People Waiting for Spring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)
When It Rains, It Pours (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)
Crazed Fruit(1956)
Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
Silver Wheel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)
Career shape
A full career of 111 titles from 1955 to 2023.
Film career
- 1966Screen debut· The Face of Another
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.
How do Tôru Takemitsu's films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 91st percentile, the median of the 16 of 17 with a score; across their 17 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 88th percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up15
- 25th to 49th1
Shape of the crowd
None of their 16 titles divides audiences: 8 are Universally Loved.
- Universally Loved8
- Crowd Pleaser7
- Broadly Agreed1
Reviewers score the sound and music 76/100 in their films, across 16 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 55. The element that speaks to their work as a composer.
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 Tôru Takemitsu's work okay for kids?
Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films and profanity and alcohol & drugs lighter.
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 Tôru Takemitsu work with?
People who share at least 2 of Tôru Takemitsu's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Masaki Kobayashi shares the most, 4.
Directors
- Masaki KobayashiShared titles: Dodes'ka-den (1970), Samurai Rebellion (1967), Kwaidan (1964), Harakiri (1962)See all 4 shared titles with Masaki Kobayashi
- Hiroshi TeshigaharaShared titles: Rikyu (1989), The Face of Another (1966), Woman in the Dunes (1964)See all 3 shared titles with Hiroshi Teshigahara
- Masahiro ShinodaShared titles: Ballad of Orin (1977), Under the Blossoming Cherry Trees (1975), Double Suicide (1969)See all 3 shared titles with Masahiro Shinoda
- Akira KurosawaShared titles: Ran (1985), Dodes'ka-den (1970)See all 2 shared titles with Akira Kurosawa
Writers
- Shinobu HashimotoShared titles: Dodes'ka-den (1970), Samurai Rebellion (1967), Harakiri (1962)See all 3 shared titles with Shinobu Hashimoto
- Hideo OguniShared titles: Ran (1985), Dodes'ka-den (1970)See all 2 shared titles with Hideo Oguni
- Taeko TomiokaShared titles: Under the Blossoming Cherry Trees (1975), Double Suicide (1969)See all 2 shared titles with Taeko Tomioka
- Yasuhiko TakiguchiShared titles: Samurai Rebellion (1967), Harakiri (1962)See all 2 shared titles with Yasuhiko Takiguchi
Actors
- Hisashi IgawaShared titles: Rikyu (1989), Ran (1985), The Face of Another (1966), Harakiri (1962)See all 4 shared titles with Hisashi Igawa
- Tatsuya NakadaiShared titles: Ran (1985), Samurai Rebellion (1967), The Face of Another (1966), Harakiri (1962)See all 4 shared titles with Tatsuya Nakadai
- Shima IwashitaShared titles: Ballad of Orin (1977), Under the Blossoming Cherry Trees (1975), Double Suicide (1969), Harakiri (1962)See all 4 shared titles with Shima Iwashita
- Etsuko IchiharaShared titles: Black Rain (1989), Samurai Rebellion (1967), The Face of Another (1966)See all 3 shared titles with Etsuko Ichihara
Cinematographers and editors
- Yoshio MiyajimaShared titles: Empire of Passion (1978), Kwaidan (1964), Harakiri (1962)See all 3 shared titles with Yoshio Miyajima
- Hisashi SagaraShared titles: Samurai Rebellion (1967), Kwaidan (1964), Harakiri (1962)See all 3 shared titles with Hisashi Sagara
- Takao SaitôShared titles: Ran (1985), Dodes'ka-den (1970)See all 2 shared titles with Takao Saitô
- Sachiko YamajiShared titles: Ballad of Orin (1977), Under the Blossoming Cherry Trees (1975)See all 2 shared titles with Sachiko Yamaji
Producers
- Kiichi IchikawaShared titles: Under the Blossoming Cherry Trees (1975), The Face of Another (1966), Woman in the Dunes (1964)See all 3 shared titles with Kiichi Ichikawa
- Tadashi ÔnoShared titles: The Face of Another (1966), Woman in the Dunes (1964)See all 2 shared titles with Tadashi Ôno