Min Tanaka (born in 1945) is a renowned Japanese butoh dancer and actor whose film career has earned him international recognition for his unique stage presence and profound physicality.

He made his film debut in Akira Kurosawa's *Ran* (1985), playing Lord Shingo, a role that highlighted his imposing figure.

He went on to work with Takeshi Kitano in *Zatoichi* (2003), where he played a formidable blind samurai. A notable role was that of the wise and calm funeral director in *Departures* (2008), an Oscar-winning film.

His versatility extends to more enigmatic or menacing characters, such as in Koji Fukada's *Harmonium* (2016) and in several collaborations with Sion Sono (*The Kingdom*, 2018-2019). Thanks to his background in dance, Tanaka is often cast in roles that require a powerful nonverbal presence; his characters are often authority figures, mentors, or mysterious individuals whose intensity stems from penetrating gazes and controlled movements.