Utaemon Ichikawa

Utaemon Ichikawa

Born February 11, 1904 (Age: 122) Marugame, Kagawa, Japan

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.
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.
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Filmography

The Lord's spy

The Lord's spy

1964 as Age: 59
A Prisoner in Search of Daughter

A Prisoner in Search of Daughter

1963 as Kumokiri Nizaemon Age: 59
Bloody Record of the Shinsengumi

Bloody Record of the Shinsengumi

1963 as Age: 59
Street of Wandering Men

Street of Wandering Men

1963 as Age: 59
The Mysterious Cape

The Mysterious Cape

1963 as Saotome Mondonosuke Age: 58
Tokaido Fullhouse

Tokaido Fullhouse

1963 as Age: 58
Showdown at Lightning Pass

Showdown at Lightning Pass

1962 as Takata Matabei Yoshitsugu Age: 58
Drunken Sword

Drunken Sword

1962 as Age: 58
Otoko dokyō no ayame kasa

Otoko dokyō no ayame kasa

1962 as Age: 58
Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Coral Mansion

Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Coral Mansion

1962 as Age: 57
Travels of Gonkuro

Travels of Gonkuro

1961 as Age: 57
The Man Who Challenged 8,000,000-Koku

The Man Who Challenged 8,000,000-Koku

1961 as Yamanouchi Iganosuke Age: 57
The Cave of the Vampire Bats

The Cave of the Vampire Bats

1961 as Saotome Mondonosuke Age: 57
Samurai Knights

Samurai Knights

1961 as Age: 57
The Ako Retainers

The Ako Retainers

1961 as Age: 57
No Image

Samurai Hawk

1961 as Age: 57
Lord of Steel Heart

Lord of Steel Heart

1961 as Matabei Goto Age: 56
Queen of the Treasure Island

Queen of the Treasure Island

1960 as Chusuke Yamakawa Age: 56
The Swordsman In The Golden Valley

The Swordsman In The Golden Valley

1960 as Age: 56
Lord Mito: All Star Version

Lord Mito: All Star Version

1960 as Age: 56
Ninja Assassins

Ninja Assassins

1960 as Saotome Mondonosuke Age: 56
Ooka Seidan: Devil Image

Ooka Seidan: Devil Image

1960 as Ooka Tadasuke Age: 56
Runway to Hell

Runway to Hell

1960 as Sôshun Kôchiyama Age: 56
The Samurai Markets

The Samurai Markets

1960 as Chûsuke Yamakawa Age: 56
Lord of Red Banner

Lord of Red Banner

1960 as Age: 56
Bored Hatamoto: Island of No Return

Bored Hatamoto: Island of No Return

1960 as Saotome Mondonosuke Age: 55
Road of Chivalry

Road of Chivalry

1960 as Age: 55
No Image

Bloody Battle at Dawn

1959 as Age: 55
Bored Hatamoto: The Daimonji Conspiracy

Bored Hatamoto: The Daimonji Conspiracy

1959 as Saotome Mondonosuke Age: 55
No Stronger Swords

No Stronger Swords

1959 as Age: 55
Turbulent Highways

Turbulent Highways

1959 as Age: 55
The Unleashed Lord

The Unleashed Lord

1959 as Age: 54
The 47 Masterless Samurai

The 47 Masterless Samurai

1959 as Age: 54
The Acrobats of Death

The Acrobats of Death

1959 as Saotome Mondonosuke Age: 54
The Lost Public Funds

The Lost Public Funds

1958 as Asaka Keinosuke Age: 54
No Image

Drenched Swallow Gonpachi

1958 as Age: 54
Epic Crash

Epic Crash

1958 as Age: 54
Bored Hatamoto: Idle Vassal Tribute

Bored Hatamoto: Idle Vassal Tribute

1958 as Saotome Mondonosuke Age: 54
Eight Views of Samurai

Eight Views of Samurai

1958 as Age: 54
Seven from Edo

Seven from Edo

1958 as Katsukawa Age: 54
Aoi Secret Book

Aoi Secret Book

1958 as Uotaro Toge Age: 54
A Chivalrous Spirit

A Chivalrous Spirit

1958 as Nikichi Age: 53
Red-Lacquered Sword

Red-Lacquered Sword

1956 as Age: 52
やくざ大名

やくざ大名

1956 as Age: 52
No Image

Ancient Coins

1956 as Age: 52
Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Ghost Ship

Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Ghost Ship

1956 as Age: 52
Virtue in Spades

Virtue in Spades

1956 as Age: 52
快剣士・笑いの面

快剣士・笑いの面

1956 as Age: 52
Bored Hatamoto: Mysterious Letter of Challenge

Bored Hatamoto: Mysterious Letter of Challenge

1955 as Age: 51
Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Demon Palace

Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Demon Palace

1955 as Age: 51
牢獄の花嫁

牢獄の花嫁

1955 as Age: 51
Four Swordsmen of Ashura

Four Swordsmen of Ashura

1955 as Age: 51
Golden Valley

Golden Valley

1955 as Age: 51
Goblin Warrior

Goblin Warrior

1955 as Age: 50
Bored Hatamoto: House of Skulls

Bored Hatamoto: House of Skulls

1954 as Age: 49
Bored Hatamoto Passes By

Bored Hatamoto Passes By

1953 as Age: 48
Bored Hatamoto Detective, Part 2: Poisoning of the Demon Lord

Bored Hatamoto Detective, Part 2: Poisoning of the Demon Lord

1950 as Age: 46
Bored Hatamoto Detective, Part 1: The Seven Brides

Bored Hatamoto Detective, Part 1: The Seven Brides

1950 as Age: 46
G-men of Japan 2: Bloody Duel at Shipwreck Cape

G-men of Japan 2: Bloody Duel at Shipwreck Cape

1950 as Age: 45
東海水滸伝

東海水滸伝

1945 as Age: 41
No Image

紅顏鼓笛隊

1945 as Age: 41
No Image

Masujiro Omura

1942 as Age: 37
The 47 Ronin

The 47 Ronin

1941 as Tsunatoyo Tokugawa Age: 37
Chûshingura - Zempen: Akahokyô no maki

Chûshingura - Zempen: Akahokyô no maki

1932 as Age: 28
The Loyal 47 Ronin

The Loyal 47 Ronin

1932 as Awajinokami Wakisaka / Gorobei Kakimi Age: 28
No Image

Bored Hatamoto Returns to Edo

1931 as Age: 27
No Image

Bored Hatamoto Appears in Sendai

1931 as Age: 27
No Image

Bored Hatamoto

1930 as Age: 26