Acting
Kenichi Enomoto
JA, JV cinema · 91 credits
Born
11 October 1904
Died
7 January 1970 (aged 65)
Birthplace
Aoyama, Tokyo
Also known as Ken'ichi Enomoto · エノケン · Enoken
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Kenichi Enomoto (October 11, 1904 – January 7, 1970) was a popular Japanese singing comedian, mostly known by his stage name Enoken. A major innovator during his heyday, Enoken's stage shows, radio appearances, and film roles were a major influence within Tokyo theatre before World War II, and was a catalyst for the revival of comedy in the postwar period. Born in Aoyama, Tokyo, the son of rice cracker shop owners, Enomoto fell under the spell of such stars of the Asakusa Opera as Taya Rikizo and Fujiwara Yoshie, and in 1922 he made his stage debut at age 18 as a chorus member of the Asakusa Kinryukan Theatre. The Great Kanto Earthquake of the following year dealt a great blow to the opera world in Tokyo, at which time Enomoto shifted to comic theatre. Playing small roles in various comedy productions, he returned to the Asakusa stage in 1929 as part of the troupe Casino Folly. The following year saw him launch his own troupe, Enoken Gekidan, which would firmly establish him as a leading figure in Tokyo theatrical circles. In 1934, he starred in the movie Enoken no Seishun Suikoden (Enoken’s Tale of Youth’s Folly), and gained national popularity. His subsequent film career saw him parody a whole parade of Japanese historical personages, including Kondo Isami and Sakamoto Ryoma, in a series of "jidai-geki" (historical dramas) and "chanbara" (samurai drama) films, including some directed by Kajirō Yamamoto, Nobuo Nakagawa and Akira Kurosawa. Enomoto became afflicted with necrosis of the right leg in the 1950s, which required amputation, curtailing his film and stage career. He did, however, make a legendary comeback at the Shinjuku Koma Theatre 1963 wearing a prosthetic leg. He died in 1970, and is entombed in Hase Temple in Nishi-Azabu, Minato, Tokyo, on whose tombstone is inscribed "The King of Comedy". Description above from the Wikipedia article Kenichi Enomoto, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known for
Filmography
A Country Boss
as Ryunosuke Edohara
The Three Treasures
as God of Yaoyorozu
Elephant from "Zoo Story"
as Zen-san (Elephant Officer)
Excursion to Treasure Isle
as Sarukichi
Fighting Cha Cha Girl
as Iwasuke Egawa
Diary of the First Incredible Laughing Trip
as Furaibo Kinta
Tomboy Daughter Diary
as Ken'ichi Enomoto
Bridal Candidates
as Yoshiro Ishibashi
Fighting Yasubei
as Ginji Tateya
Grease Paint Serenade
as Kenichi Hanemoto
Enoken the Hero
as Onihime Yakurota
The Adventures of Tobisuke
as Tobisuke
Sagohei the Three-footer
as 'Three-Footer' Sagohei
Hyoroku's Dream Tale
as Hyoroku Oishi
The Monkey King
as Son Goku
Enoken’s Shrewd Period
as Enoken
エノケンの近藤勇
1935
Enoken's Kondo Isami
as Kondo Isami / Sakamoto Ryoma
Romantic and Crazy
as Enoken