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Minoru Chiaki

Minoru Chiaki

Actor · Died November 1, 1999, aged 82 · Hokkaido, Japan

Minoru Chiaki (April 28, 1917 - November 1, 1999) was a Japanese actor who appeared in such films as Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai and The Hidden Fortress. In Seven Samurai he was the good-natured samurai Heihachi. Later in his career he appeared as a secondary actor in many Toei films. In 1986 he was given the Best Actor prize at the Japan Academy Prize ceremony for his performance in Toei's Gray Sunset (1985). Description above from the Wikipedia article Minoru Chiaki, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 28, 1917
Died
November 1, 1999 (aged 82)
From
Hokkaido, Japan
Works as
Actor
Titles
17 on MovieCove · 140 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 26Up 17% in 30 days

What are Minoru Chiaki's films like?

Across their 13 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Self.

Genres

Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 90th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile
: browse their Action 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
Survival
23%
Self
18%
Morality
17%
Bonds
15%
Power
13%
Society
10%
Ideas
5%
Survival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeMortality2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 13 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 1 · Dark 11

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

Grounded 5 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 0 · Charged 7 · Intense 6

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

Steady 7 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 7 · 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 2 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 2

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

Easy watch 2 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 8

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 7 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles
Mentor
1 of 4
Ally
1 of 4
Shadow
1 of 4
Shapeshifter
1 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
9
Melancholic
10
Thrilling
3
Bittersweet
3
Hopeful
3
Other
6

How their films linger

Bittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet8
  • 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 Minoru Chiaki's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 16 of their 17 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (14).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Minoru Chiaki'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

140 credits, 17 with a MovieCove page.

  • Don Matsugoro's Big Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Amenomori Seikai

  • Gray Sunset (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Fuyukichi Takano

  • Tokugawa Ichizoku no Houkai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Actor

  • Kyojin-gun monogatari: Susume eikô e (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Actor

  • Karafuto 1945 Summer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Actor

  • Chiba Shusaku: Kendo Masshigura (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 44 episodes · as 浦山寿貞（千葉幸右衛門）

  • Innocent Sinner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Actor

  • Japan's No. 1 Disconnected Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Shimizu

  • Inu to Asachan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Actor

  • Libido (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Actor

  • Song of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as The Ship-master

  • Koto—The Lake of Tears (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Kitao Momose

  • The Face of Another(1966)

    as Apartment Superintendent

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Zero Fighter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Actor

  • Yakuza Vassal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Actor

  • Cold Rice, Osan, Chan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Actor

  • Taking the Castle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Actor

  • Black Thief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Actor

  • Kono sora no aru kagiri (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Actor

  • The Sharks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Actor

  • Sasuke and His Comedians (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Yukimura Sanada

  • Jolly Barbers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Ebina Ginpei

  • A House in the Quarter(1963)

    as Jinzo Takesue

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • 20 Duels of Young Shingo: Conclusion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

  • Cases of Umon: The Woman with an Umbrella (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Kakurai Yosuke

  • Five Ronins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

  • Uogashi no senpū musume (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

  • High and Low(1963)

    as First Reporter

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Street of Wandering Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

  • Travels of Hibari and Chiemi 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

  • The Paper Crane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • The Body (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • Lion Festival of Echigo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • Drunken Sword (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • Tokyo's Business District (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • The Phantom Goblin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • A Carpenter and Children (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • Love Under the Crucifix (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • The Ambitious Youth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • The Christian Revolt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • The Princess and the Bearded Lord (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • The Inheritance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Junichi Fujii

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

    Actor

  • Jirocho' s Days of Youth: Whirlwind on the Tokaido (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • Travels of Hibari and Chiemi: The Tumultuous Journey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • Run, Genta, Run! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • Young Lord and Second Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • Case of a Young Lord 9: Black Camellia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • The Youth and His Amulet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • 20 Duels of Young Shingo, Part 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • Young Lord Yakuza (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • Futaridake no taiyō (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • 20 Duels of Young Shingo, Part 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • Case of a Young Lord 8 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • If You're Man Enough (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • Scarier than the Devil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • Mighty Shosuke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • Shinran, Part II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • What Price Love? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Matashiro

  • Hero of the Red Light District (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Jôsuke

  • Lord Mito: All Star Version (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • Shinran (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • Won't Stand for Dying (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Brother Ryota

  • Official with a Tattoo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • Yakuza of Ina (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Kichitaro

  • Samurai Vagabonds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity(1959)

    as Onodera Heichô

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Pilgrimage at Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Nobuyuki

  • Chikamatsu's Love in Osaka (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Actor

  • Saga of the Vagabonds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Jibu

  • The Bell of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Actor

  • Gigantis: The Fire Monster(1959)

    as Kobayashi (as Mindru Chiaki)

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Three 'Black Crow' Wives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Actor

  • Talkative Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Actor

  • Our Mother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Actor

  • Unmarried (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Actor

  • The Unleashed Lord (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Actor

  • Goblin in Stirrups (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Actor

  • The Hidden Fortress(1958)

    as Tahei

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Flower's Yearning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Yanami Fukuzo

  • The Bride In Uguisu Castle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Actor

  • Eight Views of Samurai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Actor

  • Little Peach (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Saburo Yoshida

  • Fearless Opposition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Actor

  • A Bridge for Two Alone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Actor

  • The Scarlet Cherry Lord (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Actor

  • The Scroll’s Secret (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Actor

  • Skin-Colored Moon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Umekichi Ishikura

  • The Lower Depths(1957)

    as Former Samurai

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Men of Toho-ku (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Tasuke Zummu

  • The Shadow Daughter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Eri Kiku Owner

  • Turtledove (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Actor

  • The 36 Passengers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Actor

  • Ujō (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Kenkichi Tanabe

  • Throne of Blood(1957)

    as Yoshiaki Miki

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Talkative Company President (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Omaeda (President)

  • The Mandarin Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Minagawa

  • A Strong Wind Blows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Zentarō (Takako’s brother)

  • The Hoodlum and the Young Master (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Actor

  • Gendai no yokubô (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Actor

  • Scoundrel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Actor

  • A Wife's Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Zenichi

  • The Vampire Moth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Sango Kawase

  • All Sold Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Actor

  • Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island(1956)

    as Sasuke the boatman

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • I Live in Fear(1955)

    as Jiro Nakajima

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Tactics of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Actor

  • Godzilla Raids Again(1955)

    as Kôji Kobayashi

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • The Immortal Pitcher (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Actor

  • Bodyguard from Hell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Actor

  • A Girl Who Delivers Happiness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Actor

  • Hatsu sugata ushimatsu gōshi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Actor

  • Mother's First Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Actor

  • Jirocho in Disgrace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Actor

  • 乾杯！女学生 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Actor

  • The Story of Shunkin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Actor

  • Seven Samurai(1954)

    as Heihachi Hayashida

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Mole Alley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Actor

  • Sunflower Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Actor

  • Yōsei wa hana no nioi gasuru (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Actor

  • Ikiru(1952)

    as Noguchi

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Today is Payday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as General Manager of General Affairs Department

  • Beauty and the Thief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Takeichi no Takamaru

  • Daigaku no kotengu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Actor

  • Mōjū Tsukai no Shōjo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Actor

  • Riverside Fish Market Empire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Actor

  • Vendetta of a Samurai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Actor

  • Sekidô matsuri (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Actor

  • Wakôdo no uta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Hayashi

  • Saijoke no kyoen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Actor

  • The Idiot(1951)

    as Mutsuo Kayama, the secretary

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Koi no Oranda-zaka (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Actor

  • Cordon at Midnight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Actor

  • The Emperor's Hat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Actor

  • Golden Beast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Eiji Yabuki

  • The Rainbow-Colored Flower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Actor

  • Rashomon(1950)

    as Priest

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Beyond the Hills (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Actor

  • Scandal(1950)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Stray Dog(1949)

    as Girlie Show director

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 140 titles from 1949 to 1987; peak year 1962.

Biggest box office

Seven Samurai (1954)

$1.1M worldwide

Highest rated

Seven Samurai (1954)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Ikiru (1952)

Film career

19491987

Peak 1962 · steadily prominent in film for years. 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.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting140 of 140: 140 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score97th

By decade

1940s1 · acting1950s73 · acting1960s59 · acting1970s4 · acting1980s3 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 17 roles
495459

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 Minoru Chiaki's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 97th percentile, the median of all 17; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 90th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

90thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Approval · how many liked their films

93rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Reach · how many have seen their films

89thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Midcredits score across 17 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th1
  • 25th to 49th1
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

10 of their 17 titles are Universally Loved.

  • Universally Loved10
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser5
  • Broadly Agreed1

Most divisive · actor

Gigantis: The Fire Monster (1959)

52nd percentile spread · 52% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity (1959)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 79/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 83, detractors 46. 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 Minoru Chiaki's work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles22–53 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity7 titles5–35 · median 20 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles6–30 · median 26 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles5–36 · median 24 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles30–57 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian 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 Minoru Chiaki work with?

People who share at least 2 of Minoru Chiaki's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Takashi Shimura shares the most, 10.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers