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Beat Takeshi's Real Name: Takeshi Kitano
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Beat Takeshi (ビートたけし) 本名: Takeshi Kitano (北野武)
Answer: Beat Takeshi's real name is Takeshi Kitano (北野武). He uses "Beat Takeshi" for comedy and TV, and his real name for directing films.
Takeshi Kitano was born on January 18, 1947, in Tokyo. He started out at a strip-club comedy theater in Asakusa and in the 1970s formed the manzai duo Two Beat (ツービート) with Beat Kiyoshi. Both took "Beat" from the duo's name. Their fast, rude style made them stars in the 1980 manzai boom.
As Beat Takeshi he became one of Japan's biggest TV personalities, hosting variety shows such as Takeshi's Castle, which aired abroad. Under his real name he became an internationally praised film director; his film Hana-bi won the Golden Lion at the 1997 Venice Film Festival.
The split is deliberate: Kitano credits himself as "Beat Takeshi" when acting and "Takeshi Kitano" as director.
FAQ
Are Beat Takeshi and Takeshi Kitano the same person? Yes. He uses Beat Takeshi for comedy and acting, and Takeshi Kitano as a director.
What comedy duo was Beat Takeshi in? Two Beat, with Beat Kiyoshi.