Japanese actor and singer (died 2014)

Ken Takakura

Ken Takakura , born Takeichi Oda , was a Japanese actor and singer who appeared in over 200 films. Affectionately referred to as "Ken-san" by audiences, he was best known for his brooding style and the stoic presence he brought to his roles. He won the Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role four times, tied with Koji Yakusho for the most ever. Takakura additionally received the Japanese Medal of Honor with purple ribbon in 1998, the Person of Cultural Merit award in 2006, and the Order of Culture in 2013.

Born

1931

February 16

Died

Living

Era

1930s

Country

—

About

Ken, in brief

Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Life timeline

Key dates

1931 Born

Also on February 16

What else happened on this day, through history

1249 Andrew of Longjumeau is dispatched by Louis IX of France as his ambassador to meet with the Khagan of the Mongol Empire.
1270 The Grand Duchy of Lithuania defeats the Livonian Order in the Battle of Karuse.
1630 Dutch forces led by Hendrick Lonck capture Olinda in what was to become part of Dutch Brazil.
1646 Battle of Torrington, Devon: The last major battle of the First English Civil War.

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The world in 1931

When Ken arrived

april 14 The Second Spanish Republic is proclaimed and King Alfonso XIII goes into exile. Meanwhile, in Barcelona, Francesc Macià proclaims the Catalan Republic.
april 17 After negotiations between Catalan and Spanish provisional governments, the Catalan Republic proclaimed in April 14 becomes the Generalitat de Catalunya, the autonomous government of Catalonia within the Spanish Republic.
august 24 Resignation of the United Kingdom's Second Labour Government. Formation of the UK National Government.
august 5 Judge and Nazi Party member Werner Best drews the Boxheim Documents, which described a violent takeover of the government by the NSDAP.

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Same-day contemporaries

Also born on February 16

Adolfo Azcuna 1939– Filipino lawyer and judge Ahman Green 1977– American football player Carl Icahn 1936– American businessman and investor Carlos Yulo 2000– Filipino artistic gymnast Ernst Haeckel 1834– German biologist, physician, and philosopher (died 1919) Gaspard II de Coligny 1519–1572 French admiral (born 1519) Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer 1922– German soldier and pilot (died 1950) James Colosimo 1878–1920 Italian-American mob boss (died 1920) Jean-Charles Pichegru 1761–1804 French general (born 1761)

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Same-year contemporaries

Also born in 1931

Albert DeSalvo 1931– American serial killer known as the Boston Strangler (died 1973) Alex Delvecchio 1931–2025 Canadian ice hockey player, coach, and manager (died 2025) Allen Klein 1931–2009 American businessman and music publisher (died 2009) Bernard Francis Law 1931– Mexican-American cardinal (died 2017) Bob Johnson 1931–1991 American ice hockey player and coach (died 1991) Buddy Ryan 1931–2016 American football coach (died 2016) Cardiss Collins 1931–2013 American politician (born 1931) Cecil Parkinson 1931–2016 English politician (born 1931) Chalmers Johnson 1931–2010 American scholar and author (died 2010)

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More to explore

Ken's birthday February 16 Ken's zodiac Aquarius When Ken arrived 1931