Utaemon Ichikawa
Born: 1904-02-11 in Marugame, Kagawa, Japan
Died: 1999-09-16
Known For: Acting
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.
Filmography
1989
1986
- Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches as Mito Mitsukuni
1973
1964
1963
- A Prisoner in Search of Daughter as Kumokiri Nizaemon
- Tokaido Fullhouse
- Bloody Record of the Shinsengumi
- The Mysterious Cape as Saotome Mondonosuke
- Street of Wandering Men
1962
- Knightly Advice
- Drunken Sword
- Kisaragi Sword as Tsukinosuke Ryûtan
- Showdown at Lightning Pass as Takata Matabei Yoshitsugu
- Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Coral Mansion
- Otoko dokyō no ayame kasa
1961
- The Man Who Challenged 8,000,000-Koku as Yamanouchi Iganosuke
- Lord of Steel Heart as Matabei Goto
- The Ako Retainers
- The Cave of the Vampire Bats as Saotome Mondonosuke
- Travels of Gonkuro
- Samurai Knights
- Samurai Hawk
1960
- Runway to Hell as Sôshun Kôchiyama
- Lord of Red Banner
- Lord Mito: All Star Version
- Queen of the Treasure Island as Chusuke Yamakawa
- Road of Chivalry
- The Swordsman In The Golden Valley
- Bored Hatamoto: Island of No Return as Saotome Mondonosuke
- Ooka Seidan: Devil Image as Ooka Tadasuke
- The Samurai Markets as Chûsuke Yamakawa
- Ninja Assassins as Saotome Mondonosuke
1959
- Turbulent Highways
- The 47 Masterless Samurai
- The Acrobats of Death as Saotome Mondonosuke
- A Spectacular Showdown as Sasagawa no Shigezo
- Bored Hatamoto: The Daimonji Conspiracy as Saotome Mondonosuke
- Bloody Battle at Dawn
- The Unleashed Lord
- No Stronger Swords
1958
- Drenched Swallow Gonpachi
- Seven from Edo as Katsukawa
- Eight Views of Samurai
- Aoi Secret Book as Uotaro Toge
- A Chivalrous Spirit as Nikichi
- The Lost Public Funds as Asaka Keinosuke
- Epic Crash
- Bored Hatamoto: Idle Vassal Tribute as Saotome Mondonosuke
1957
- Rebellion as Satahiko
- Lords of Oppression
- Flowers on the Trail
- Shadow Over Fuji as Sato
- The Mansion of Intrigue as Saotome Mondonosuke
- Lords of Oppression 2
- Shimizu Port of Chivalry as Boss Omaeda
- Lord Mito
- Bored Hatamoto: Mysterious Crimson Tower
1956
1955
1954
1952
- Kojiki Taishô as Gotō Mototsugu
- 花吹雪男祭り
- Travels of Lord Mito Pt.1
- Tsukigata Hanpeita as Tsukigata Hanpeita
- Bored Hatamoto: The Imposter as Saotome Mondonosuke
- Travels of Lord Mito Pt.2
1951
- Five Men of Edo as Jurozaemon Mizuno
- The Killing of Otsuya as Shinsuke
- Bored Hatamoto: The Demon of Chinatown
- 豪快三人男
1950
1949
- Goblin Courier as Haiyaku tengu no Chōta
- Monsters Catcher Oedo Seven Changes
1948
1945
1944
1942
- The March of the Restoration as Kogoro Katsura
- Oedo no asagiri
- Masujiro Omura
1941
- The 47 Ronin as Tsunatoyo Tokugawa
1939
1932
- The Loyal 47 Ronin as Awajinokami Wakisaka / Gorobei Kakimi
- Chûshingura - Zempen: Akahokyô no maki
1927
- Skull as Reinosuke Ushio