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