Acting
Utaemon Ichikawa
JA cinema · 126 credits
Born
11 February 1904
Died
16 September 1999 (aged 95)
Birthplace
Marugame, Kagawa, Japan
Also known as Утаэмон Итикава
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.
Known for
Filmography
The Mysterious Cape
as Saotome Mondonosuke
A Prisoner in Search of Daughter
as Kumokiri Nizaemon
Kisaragi Sword
as Tsukinosuke Ryûtan
Showdown at Lightning Pass
as Takata Matabei Yoshitsugu
The Man Who Challenged 8,000,000-Koku
as Yamanouchi Iganosuke
The Cave of the Vampire Bats
as Saotome Mondonosuke
Lord of Steel Heart
as Matabei Goto
Ooka Seidan: Devil Image
as Ooka Tadasuke
The Samurai Markets
as Chûsuke Yamakawa
Queen of the Treasure Island
as Chusuke Yamakawa
Runway to Hell
as Sôshun Kôchiyama
Ninja Assassins
as Saotome Mondonosuke
Bored Hatamoto: Island of No Return
as Saotome Mondonosuke
A Spectacular Showdown
as Sasagawa no Shigezo
The Acrobats of Death
as Saotome Mondonosuke
Bored Hatamoto: The Daimonji Conspiracy
as Saotome Mondonosuke
Aoi Secret Book
as Uotaro Toge
Seven from Edo
as Katsukawa
A Chivalrous Spirit
as Nikichi
Bored Hatamoto: Idle Vassal Tribute
as Saotome Mondonosuke
The Lost Public Funds
as Asaka Keinosuke
Shadow Over Fuji
as Sato
Shimizu Port of Chivalry
as Boss Omaeda
The Mansion of Intrigue
as Saotome Mondonosuke
Rebellion
as Satahiko
Bored Hatamoto: The Imposter
as Saotome Mondonosuke
The Beggar General
as Gotō Mototsugu
Tsukigata Hanpeita
as Tsukigata Hanpeita
Five Men of Edo
as Jurozaemon Mizuno
The Killing of Otsuya
as Shinsuke
A Thousand Standards of Stone
as Sôkichi Fudôyama
Goblin Courier
as Haiyaku tengu no Chōta
The March of the Restoration
as Kogoro Katsura
The 47 Ronin
as Tsunatoyo Tokugawa
The Loyal 47 Ronin
as Awajinokami Wakisaka / Gorobei Kakimi
恐苦呂
1927
Skull
as Reinosuke Ushio