Actor Tsuda Kanji Reflects on Fateful Meeting with Director Takeshi Kitano and His Acting Career

Japanese actor Tsuda Kanji shared the story of his unlikely path to becoming a successful performer, beginning when he moved to Tokyo at age 18 with dreams of working in film. After joining theater companies and talent agencies that he found fraudulent—where he was charged high fees for minimal work and had fabricated credits added to his profile—Tsuda became disillusioned. A turning point came when a manager dismissed his interest in cinema, prompting Tsuda to reset his approach and dedicate himself to studying Japanese film by frequenting rental video shops and theaters.

During this self-directed education, Tsuda became deeply impressed by director Takeshi Kitano's work and began actively seeking out filmmakers whose films moved him. He would deliver his profile directly to directors' offices and mailboxes, expressing his passion in his own words. This persistence gradually yielded results, with some directors inviting him to audition. His breakthrough came through a serendipitous connection: while working at a café in Azabu-Juban's Aoi Studio (a recording and editing facility), Tsuda discovered that Kitano frequented the space. When the director arrived for post-production work on a film, Tsuda seized the moment to speak with him near a restroom, handing over a letter and profile despite the awkwardness of the situation.

Though Kitano did not immediately respond, fate intervened a year later when the director returned to the same café on the day before filming began on "Sonatine" (1993). The café manager, moved by Tsuda's dedication, boldly protested to Kitano that he had never given the young actor an audition opportunity. Moved by her intervention, Kitano agreed and created a role for Tsuda as a café waiter. On set, what began as a single line of dialogue expanded through Tsuda's authentic ad-libbed performance, eventually earning him additional scenes in the Okinawa sequences of the film.

Tsuda's experience on "Sonatine" connected him with veteran actor Daiji Sugimoto, who became an influential mentor. Sugimoto, impressed by Tsuda's passionate film knowledge, introduced him to director Naohito Takemitsu and ultimately helped him land a role in Takemitsu's 1994 film "119." This chain of connections, built on Tsuda's genuine love for cinema and willingness to express that passion authentically, established the foundation for a prolific career spanning over 700 film and television appearances.

More recently, Tsuda has achieved a new milestone with the 2026 release of "Tsuda Kanji Has No Days Off," a unique film where he plays himself, directed by someone who wanted to capture Tsuda performing his own identity. During filming, Tsuda found the experience disorienting as his personal life and fictional role blended together, a testament to the immersive nature of his craft and his continued commitment to authentic performance.