Utaemon Ichikawa
Acting
Born: 1904-02-11 in Marugame, Kagawa, Japan
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
The March of the Restoration
Kogoro Katsura
Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches
Mito Mitsukuni
Sanada Yukimura
Oedo no asagiri
Jiruba no Tetsu
牢獄の花嫁
The 47 Masterless Samurai
Runway to Hell
Sôshun Kôchiyama
Kojiki Taishô
Gotō Mototsugu
Bloody Record of the Shinsengumi
Lord Mito
The 47 Ronin
Tsunatoyo Tokugawa
Shadow Over Fuji
Sato
Drenched Swallow Gonpachi
Lord of Red Banner
Guren bosatsu
Drunken Sword
Flowers on the Trail
Hida no abarenbō
The Loyal 47 Ronin
Awajinokami Wakisaka / Gorobei Kakimi
Bored Hatamoto: The Demon of Chinatown
Bored Hatamoto Judges 100,000-koku
Bored Hatamoto Enters the Mountain of Treasure
The Diary of Chuji's Travels
The Samurai Markets
Chûsuke Yamakawa
Chobei the Rogue
Lord of Steel Heart
Matabei Goto
G-men of Japan 2: Bloody Duel at Shipwreck Cape
Ancient Coins
María Luz Incident: Slave Ship
Chûshingura - Zempen: Akahokyô no maki
Turbulent Highways
The Ako Retainers
Eight Views of Samurai
Masujiro Omura
Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Demon Palace
The Bored Samurai
Lord Mito: All Star Version
Virtue in Spades
