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