Yoshitaka Zushi
Actor · Born March 19, 1955 (71) · Osaka, Japan
Yoshitaka Zushi (頭師佳孝, born March 19, 1955 in Osaka, Japan) was discovered when he was eight years old by one of Akira Kurosawa's partners and debuted in the role of young Toshio in Kaneto Shindô's "Haha" (Mother, 1963). Since then he has appeared first and foremost in Kurosawa's pictures, beginning with "Akahige" (Red Beard, 1965). His most outstanding role is undeniably that of Rokkuchan, the insane young man who drives a trolley through the slums, in the wonderful "Dodesukaden" (1970).
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Biography from TMDB.
- March 19, 1955 (71)
- Osaka, Japan
- Actor
- 5 on MovieCove · 27 credits in all
Known for
What are Yoshitaka Zushi's films like?
Across a limited sample of 4 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Self.
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 0 · Wry 0 · Earnest 4
A split, not a type: Light 1 · Serious 1 · Dark 2
A split, not a type: Grounded 3 · Stylized 0 · Heightened 1
Gentle 1 · Charged 3 · Intense 0
Steady 3 · Shifting 1 · Whiplash 0
Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 0
Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 0 · Relentless 0
Casual 1 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 1
Easy watch 0 · Affecting 1 · Heavy 3
A split, not a type: Resolved 2 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1
Roles they play
- Heroas Roku-chan in Dodes'ka-den (1970)
Moods and endings
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 Yoshitaka Zushi's films?
As of October 24, 2026, 4 of their 5 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (3).
Subscription and free streaming for Yoshitaka Zushi'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
27 credits, 5 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.
SOAR: I Wish You Were Here (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)
Best Wishes for Tomorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)
Prodigy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)
Closed Ward (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)
Madadayo(1993)
Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
Chizuko's Younger Sister (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)
The Edo Murders: Sasachi's First Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)
Dreams(1990)
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
Special Rescue Police Winspector (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)
The Silk Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)
Ran(1985)
Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films
Sound of the Tide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)
Kyojin-gun monogatari: Susume eikô e (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)
Human Revolution II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)
The Roads Men Travel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)
Dodes'ka-den(1970)
Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films
The Human Bullet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)
Silver Boots (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)
Punch Guy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)
A Comedy in Front of the Station: Manga (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)
When the Flowers Bloom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)
Life of Matsu the Untamed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)
Red Beard(1965)
Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
Mother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)
The Lucky General (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)
Heso no taisho (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)
Sazae And Aunt Apron (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)
Career shape
Star power in the 89th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 27 titles from 1960 to 2015; peak year 1969.
Film career
Peak 1969 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. 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.
- 1965Screen debut· Red Beard
- 1970First top-billed film· Dodes'ka-den
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.
How do Yoshitaka Zushi's films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 97th percentile, the median of all 5; across a limited sample of 4 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 93rd percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up5
Shape of the crowd
None of their 5 titles divides audiences: 3 are Universally Loved.
- Universally Loved3
- Crowd Pleaser2
Reviewers score the acting 77/100 in their films, across 4 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 50. 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 Yoshitaka Zushi work with?
People who share at least 2 of Yoshitaka Zushi's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Akira Kurosawa shares the most, 4.
Directors
- Akira KurosawaShared titles: Madadayo (1993), Dreams (1990), Dodes'ka-den (1970), Red Beard (1965)See all 4 shared titles with Akira Kurosawa
Writers
- Hideo OguniShared titles: Dodes'ka-den (1970), Red Beard (1965)See all 2 shared titles with Hideo Oguni
- Shûgorô YamamotoShared titles: Dodes'ka-den (1970), Red Beard (1965)See all 2 shared titles with Shûgorô Yamamoto
Actors
- Akira TeraoShared titles: Madadayo (1993), Dreams (1990)See all 2 shared titles with Akira Terao
- Hisashi IgawaShared titles: Madadayo (1993), Dreams (1990)See all 2 shared titles with Hisashi Igawa
- Kyōko KagawaShared titles: Madadayo (1993), Red Beard (1965)See all 2 shared titles with Kyōko Kagawa
Composers and cinematographers
- Takao SaitôShared titles: Madadayo (1993), Dreams (1990), Dodes'ka-den (1970), Red Beard (1965)See all 4 shared titles with Takao Saitô
- Shinichiro IkebeShared titles: Madadayo (1993), Dreams (1990)See all 2 shared titles with Shinichiro Ikebe
- Shoji UedaShared titles: Madadayo (1993), Dreams (1990)See all 2 shared titles with Shoji Ueda
Producers
- Hisao KurosawaShared titles: Madadayo (1993), Dreams (1990)See all 2 shared titles with Hisao Kurosawa