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Ken Tanaka

Ken Tanaka

Actor · Born March 6, 1951 (75) · Chikugo, Fukuoka, Japan

Ken Tanaka was born on 6 March 1951. He is an actor, known for Bokyo (1993), The Return of Godzilla (1984) and Godzilla 1985 (1985). He was previously married to Yûko Kotegawa.

Biography from IMDb.

Born
March 6, 1951 (75)
From
Chikugo, Fukuoka, Japan
Works as
Actor
Titles
4 on MovieCove · 67 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 38 days to Oct 27Up 27% in 30 days

What are Ken Tanaka's films like?

Across a limited sample of 4 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Power.

Themes

share of theme weight
Survival
44%
Power
33%
Morality
15%
Society
8%
Survival2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 4 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 1 · Serious 0 · Dark 3

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

Grounded 0 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 0 · Charged 2 · Intense 2

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

A split, not a type: Steady 2 · Shifting 1 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 0 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 2 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 0 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 2

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

Resolved 4 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings shown from 5 titles

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Thrilling
3
Tense
2
Melancholic
1
Absurd
1
Dread
1
Other
3

How their films linger

Thought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

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 Ken Tanaka's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 2 of their 4 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (2).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ken Tanaka'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

67 credits, 4 with a MovieCove page.

  • Kenzo Kitakata: SUIKODEN (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Show 7 episodes · as Shirei

  • 五十年目の俺たちの旅 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as オメダ

  • One Last Throw (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Numata Toru

  • Silence of the Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Actor

  • Sunday Horror Series Best Selection 3 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Actor

  • Toyama Shōgawa kai satsujin jiken (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Actor

  • Tomorrow in the Finder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Actor

  • The Setting Sun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Wada

  • THE LAST GOZE (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Actor

  • America ni Makenakatta Otoko - Bakayaro Souri Yoshida Shigeru (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Takeshi Yamazaki

  • Mentai Piriri (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Yoshikawa

  • Godzilla Resurrection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Goro Maki

  • Cold Case: Door of Truth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Minamoto Naoto

  • Great evil does not go to sleep: The counterattack of the special investigation unit prosecutor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Ippei Komatsu

  • Tax Inspector Madogiwa Taro: Case File 29 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Actor

  • Taxi Driver's Mystery Diary 37 - Mystery of Double Homicides from Tokyo to Hamamatsu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Actor

  • Blood on the Tracks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 4 episodes · as Kazuto Uchida

  • Itsukaichi Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Actor

  • In the City of Dawn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Manager

  • Mission To Kill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Road to Sirius (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Tomoyuki Hanzawa

  • Hanaikusa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Actor

  • Nogaremono Orin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Morikawa Tosanokuni

  • Toshiie and Matsu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 51 episodes · as Nobumori Sakuma

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

    Actor

  • Yakuza Ladies: Revenge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Actor

  • The Woman of S.R.I. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 19 episodes · as Makoto Sakuma

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

    Show 11 episodes · Actor

  • Bonds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Haga

  • Hotel Rose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Actor

  • The Fangs of the Beast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Actor

  • Blood Stained Crest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Actor

  • Bokyo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Kunimitsu

  • What a Wonderful Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 12 episodes · as Kunio Nagasawa

  • Shinsengumi, Ikedaya's blood fight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Saito Dosan: Rage of Power (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Yoriaki Toki

  • ママ母戦争 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • Heaven and Earth: Dawn Episode (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • 13 Assassins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • There Goes Benio, the Smart Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Actor

  • Kaibyō Koi-ga-fuchi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Actor

  • Hissatsu Kengekinin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • A Tale of Young Elopement (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Saotome

  • Final Take: The Golden Age of Movies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Actor

  • Godzilla 1985(1985)

    as Goro Maki

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Tokimeki no Gogo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Actor

  • ときめきの午後 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Return of Godzilla(1984)

    as Goro Maki

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • F2 Grand Prix (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Imoto

  • The King and His Vassal 2 - The Great Riot of Edo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Actor

  • The King and His Vassal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Actor

  • Violent Fighters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Actor

  • Oh, My Son! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Takeshi Kawase

  • 蝶たちは今・・・冥土からの手紙 死者からの電話 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Pink Lady's Motion Picture (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Actor

  • Monument to Holy Service (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Actor

  • Hi no tori(1978)

    as Takeru

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Falcons of Edo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 38 episodes · as Shinnosuke Wakasugi

  • Aspiration (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Actor

  • The Gate of Youth Part 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Actor

  • 遺書 白い少女 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Actor

  • Elegy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Mikio Hisada

  • Oretachi no Tabi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Aoi sanmyaku (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Yasukichi Tominaga

  • Oh Seagull, Have You Seen the Sparkling Ocean? An Encounter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Actor

  • The Gate of Youth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Actor

  • Sandakan No. 8(1974)

    as Hideo Takeuchi

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 78th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 67 titles from 1974 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Godzilla 1985 (1985)

$4.1M worldwide

Highest rated

Sandakan No. 8 (1974)

Midcredits 92nd

Most popular right now

Godzilla 1985 (1985)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting67 of 67: 67 only acting, 0 with another role

By decade

1970s16 · acting1980s12 · acting1990s13 · acting2000s7 · acting2010s9 · acting2020s10 · acting

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it.

How do Ken Tanaka's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 62nd percentile, the median of all 4; across a limited sample of 4 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 63rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 4

Approval · how many liked their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 4

Reach · how many have seen their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 4

Midcredits score across 4 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up2
  • 25th to 49th2

Shape of the crowd

2 of their 4 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Crowd Pleaser2
  • Mixed1

Most divisive · actor

Hi no tori (1978)

59th percentile spread · 23% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Sandakan No. 8 (1974)

Midcredits 92nd · 81% liked

Reviewers score the acting 63/100 in their films, across 3 reviewed titles; fans 68, detractors 35. 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.

Who does Ken Tanaka work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ken Tanaka's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Eitarō Ozawa shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers