Naoto Takenaka

Naoto Takenaka (竹中 直人, Takenaka Naoto, born March 20, 1956) is a Japanese actor, comedian, singer, and director from Yokohama. One of his most notable roles was Hideyoshi in the 1999 NHK Taiga drama of the same name. A veteran of almost a hundred films, he has been nominated for ten Japanese Academy Awards, winning Best Supporting Actor awards for Shiko funjatta (Sumo Do, Sumo Don't), East Meets West, and Shall we Dansu?. He also did the voice of... more

Naoto Takenaka (竹中 直人, Takenaka Naoto, born March 20, 1956) is a Japanese actor, comedian, singer, and director from Yokohama. One of his most notable roles was Hideyoshi in the 1999 NHK Taiga drama of the same name. A veteran of almost a hundred films, he has been nominated for ten Japanese Academy Awards, winning Best Supporting Actor awards for Shiko funjatta (Sumo Do, Sumo Don't), East Meets West, and Shall we Dansu?. He also did the voice of Puss in Boots in the Japanese dub of the Shrek films. less