Utaemon Ichikawa
Known For
Acting
Born
1904-02-11 in Marugame, Kagawa, Japan
Died
1999-09-16
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.
Most Known For
G-men of Japan 2: Bloody Duel at Shipwreck Cape
Sanada Yukimura
Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches
as Mito Mitsukuni
The Bored Samurai
The Diary of Chuji's Travels
The 47 Ronin
as Tsunatoyo Tokugawa
Fencing Master
A Spectacular Showdown
as Sasagawa no Shigezo
Road of Chivalry
Seven from Edo
as Katsukawa
Bloody Record of the Shinsengumi
Bored Hatamoto: Idle Vassal Tribute
as Saotome Mondonosuke
Bloody Battle at Dawn
The Mansion of Intrigue
as Saotome Mondonosuke
Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Ghost Ship
A Thousand Standards of Stone
as Sôkichi Fudôyama
Shimizu Port of Chivalry
as Boss Omaeda
Eight Views of Samurai
Shadow Over Fuji
as Sato
Ninja Assassins
as Saotome Mondonosuke