Takeshi Kitano to announce shock retirement?

Sad news for Kitano fans. Speculation had been rife that the Japanese director best known for his role in Sonatine, will announce his retirement from all public activities, at age 79, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 20/03/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a director isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a director-actor-comedian just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouTakeshi

For a little while on Thursday evening, #ThankYouTakeshi was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“You’ve accomplished everything I ever dreamed of #ThankYouTakeshi.”
— @DesireePlum, 19 Mar 2026

“Didn't Takeshi Kitano retire about 3 years ago?”
— @samy2love, 19 Mar 2026

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