Masato Harada

Known for

Directing

Born

July 3, 1949

Birthplace

Numazu, Prefettura di Shizuoka, Giappone

Died

December 8, 2025 (aged 76)

Biography

Masato Harada is a Japanese film director, film critic, and sometimes an actor; he is best known to foreign audiences as Omura in The Last Samurai and as Mr Mita in Fearless.

Best known work

The Last Samurai

2003

Fearless

2006

Ring 2

1999

The Spiral

1998

Hell Dogs

2022

Sekigahara

2017

Inugami

2001

Gunhed

1989

Bad Lands

2023

Bounce Ko Gals

1997

Filmography

2023
Bad Lands
Director, Producer, Screenplay
2022
Hell Dogs
Director, Screenplay
2021
Baragaki: Unbroken Samurai
Director, Screenplay
2018
Killing for the Prosecution
Director, Screenplay
2017
Sekigahara
Director, Screenplay
2015
The Emperor in August
Screenplay, Director
2015
Kakekomi
Director, Screenplay
2012
Chronicle of My Mother
Screenplay, Director
2011
Early Autumn
Director, Writer
2008
Climber's High
Director, Screenplay
2007
The Shadow Spirit
Director, Writer
2007
The Suicide Song
Director, Writer
2006
Fearless
as Mita
2005
Beat Kids
Writer
2005
Bluestockings
Director, Writer
2003
The Last Samurai
as Omura
2002
The Choice of Hercules
Director, Screenplay
2001
Inugami
Director, Writer, Screenplay
1999
Jubaku: Spellbound
Director
1999
Ring 2
Producer
1998
The Spiral
Producer
1997
Bounce Ko Gals
Director, Writer
1996
The President's Christmas Tree
Adaptation
1996
Rowing Through
Director
1995
Trouble-Shooters
Director, Writer