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
- Street of Wandering Men
- Bloody Record of the Shinsengumi
- The Mysterious Cape as Saotome Mondonosuke
- Tokaido Fullhouse
1962
- Drunken Sword
- Kisaragi Sword as Tsukinosuke Ryûtan
- Knightly Advice
- Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Coral Mansion
- Showdown at Lightning Pass as Takata Matabei Yoshitsugu
- Otoko dokyō no ayame kasa
1961
- Travels of Gonkuro
- The Ako Retainers
- The Cave of the Vampire Bats as Saotome Mondonosuke
- Lord of Steel Heart as Matabei Goto
- Samurai Knights
- The Man Who Challenged 8,000,000-Koku as Yamanouchi Iganosuke
- Samurai Hawk
1960
- Runway to Hell as Sôshun Kôchiyama
- Lord of Red Banner
- Lord Mito: All Star Version
- Road of Chivalry
- Ninja Assassins as Saotome Mondonosuke
- The Swordsman In The Golden Valley
- Queen of the Treasure Island as Chusuke Yamakawa
- The Samurai Markets as Chûsuke Yamakawa
- Bored Hatamoto: Island of No Return as Saotome Mondonosuke
- Ooka Seidan: Devil Image as Ooka Tadasuke
1959
- The 47 Masterless Samurai
- Turbulent Highways
- Bored Hatamoto: The Daimonji Conspiracy as Saotome Mondonosuke
- A Spectacular Showdown as Sasagawa no Shigezo
- No Stronger Swords
- The Unleashed Lord
- Bloody Battle at Dawn
- The Acrobats of Death as Saotome Mondonosuke
1958
- Eight Views of Samurai
- The Lost Public Funds as Asaka Keinosuke
- Seven from Edo as Katsukawa
- Bored Hatamoto: Idle Vassal Tribute as Saotome Mondonosuke
- Epic Crash
- A Chivalrous Spirit as Nikichi
- Aoi Secret Book as Uotaro Toge
- Drenched Swallow Gonpachi
1957
- Flowers on the Trail
- Lords of Oppression 2
- Shimizu Port of Chivalry as Boss Omaeda
- The Mansion of Intrigue as Saotome Mondonosuke
- Lord Mito
- Shadow Over Fuji as Sato
- Lords of Oppression
- Bored Hatamoto: Mysterious Crimson Tower
- Rebellion as Satahiko
1956
1955
1954
1952
- Tsukigata Hanpeita as Tsukigata Hanpeita
- Kojiki Taishô as Gotō Mototsugu
- Travels of Lord Mito Pt.2
- 花吹雪男祭り
- Bored Hatamoto: The Imposter as Saotome Mondonosuke
- Travels of Lord Mito Pt.1
1951
- Five Men of Edo as Jurozaemon Mizuno
- 豪快三人男
- Bored Hatamoto: The Demon of Chinatown
- The Killing of Otsuya as Shinsuke
1950
1949
- Hida no abarenbō
- Guren bosatsu
- Chobei the Rogue
- Goblin Courier as Haiyaku tengu no Chōta
- Monsters Catcher Oedo Seven Changes
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