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Utaemon Ichikawa

Utaemon Ichikawa

Actor · Born 1904-02-11 · Marugame, Kagawa, Japan

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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.

Movies & TV Shows

  1. The 47 Ronin (1941) — Tsunatoyo Tokugawa
  2. Road of Chivalry (1960)
  3. Seven from Edo (1958) — Katsukawa
  4. A Spectacular Showdown (1959) — Sasagawa no Shigezo
  5. Samurai Hawk (1961)
  6. The 47 Masterless Samurai (1959)
  7. Runway to Hell (1960) — Sôshun Kôchiyama
  8. Lord Mito (1957)
  9. The Acrobats of Death (1959) — Saotome Mondonosuke
  10. The Ako Retainers (1961)
  11. Bloody Battle at Dawn (1959)
  12. Lord of Steel Heart (1961) — Matabei Goto
  13. Skull (1927) — Reinosuke Ushio
  14. Bored Hatamoto: Idle Vassal Tribute (1958) — Saotome Mondonosuke
  15. A Color Print of Edo (1939)
  16. Kisaragi Sword (1962) — Tsukinosuke Ryûtan
  17. Fencing Master (1950)
  18. Shimizu Port of Chivalry (1957) — Boss Omaeda
  19. Lord Mito: All Star Version (1960)
  20. Drenched Swallow Gonpachi (1958)
  21. Five Men of Edo (1951) — Jurozaemon Mizuno
  22. Rebellion (1957) — Satahiko
  23. Drunken Sword (1962)
  24. No Stronger Swords (1959)
  25. Street of Wandering Men (1963)
  26. Eight Views of Samurai (1958)
  27. The Samurai Markets (1960) — Chûsuke Yamakawa
  28. Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Ghost Ship (1956)
  29. Chûshingura - Zempen: Akahokyô no maki (1932)
  30. Travels of Lord Mito Pt.1 (1952)
  31. Shadow Over Fuji (1957) — Sato
  32. Kojiki Taishô (1952) — Gotō Mototsugu
  33. The Lord's spy (1964)
  34. Queen of the Treasure Island (1960) — Chusuke Yamakawa
  35. Tsukigata Hanpeita (1952) — Tsukigata Hanpeita
  36. A Chivalrous Spirit (1958) — Nikichi
  37. Ninja Assassins (1960) — Saotome Mondonosuke
  38. The Mysterious Cape (1963) — Saotome Mondonosuke
  39. Showdown at Lightning Pass (1962) — Takata Matabei Yoshitsugu
  40. Samurai Knights (1961)