Known For
Acting
Born
Feb 11, 1904
Died
Sep 16, 1999
Place of Birth
Marugame, Kagawa, Japan
Credits
130 titles
Utaemon Ichikawa
Biography
Utaemon Ichikawa was a Japanese film actor famous for starring roles in Jidaigeki from the 1920s to the 1960s. Trained in kabuki from childhood, he made his film debut in 1925 at Makino Film Productions under Shōzō Makino. Quickly gaining popularity, he followed the example of Makino stars such as Tsumasaburō Bandō in starting his own independent production company, Utaemon Ichikawa Productions, in 1927. It was there he first began the "Idle Vassal" (Hatamoto taikutsu otoko) series, which would become his signature role. When his company folded in 1936 as sound film came to the fore, he moved to Shinkō Kinema and then Daiei Studios before helping form the Toei Company after World War II. He served on the board of directors along with fellow samurai star Chiezō Kataoka. Utaemon appeared in over 300 films during his career. His son, Kin'ya Kitaōji, is also a famous actor in film and television.
Known For
Filmography
The Diary of Chuji's Travels
Sanada Yukimura
Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches
Mito Mitsukuni
The Bored Samurai
The Lord's spy
A Prisoner in Search of Daughter
Kumokiri Nizaemon
Bloody Record of the Shinsengumi
Street of Wandering Men
The Mysterious Cape
Saotome Mondonosuke
Tokaido Fullhouse
Showdown at Lightning Pass
Takata Matabei Yoshitsugu
Drunken Sword
Otoko dokyō no ayame kasa
Kisaragi Sword
Tsukinosuke Ryûtan
Knightly Advice
Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Coral Mansion
Travels of Gonkuro
The Man Who Challenged 8,000,000-Koku
Yamanouchi Iganosuke
The Cave of the Vampire Bats
Saotome Mondonosuke
Samurai Knights
The Ako Retainers
Samurai Hawk
Lord of Steel Heart
Matabei Goto
Queen of the Treasure Island
Chusuke Yamakawa
The Swordsman In The Golden Valley
Lord Mito: All Star Version
Ninja Assassins
Saotome Mondonosuke
Ooka Seidan: Devil Image
Ooka Tadasuke
Runway to Hell
Sôshun Kôchiyama
The Samurai Markets
Chûsuke Yamakawa
Lord of Red Banner
Bored Hatamoto: Island of No Return
Saotome Mondonosuke
Road of Chivalry
Bloody Battle at Dawn
A Spectacular Showdown
Sasagawa no Shigezo
Bored Hatamoto: The Daimonji Conspiracy
Saotome Mondonosuke
No Stronger Swords
Turbulent Highways
The Unleashed Lord
The 47 Masterless Samurai
The Acrobats of Death
Saotome Mondonosuke
The Lost Public Funds
Asaka Keinosuke
Drenched Swallow Gonpachi
Epic Crash
Bored Hatamoto: Idle Vassal Tribute
Saotome Mondonosuke
Eight Views of Samurai
Seven from Edo
Katsukawa
Aoi Secret Book
Uotaro Toge
A Chivalrous Spirit
Nikichi
The Mansion of Intrigue
Saotome Mondonosuke