Utaemon Ichikawa

Utaemon Ichikawa

2/11/1904 – 9/16/1999Marugame, Kagawa, Japan

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.

Filmography (125 titles)

The Diary of Chuji's TravelsShow

The Diary of Chuji's Travels

1992

Sanada YukimuraShow

Sanada Yukimura

1989

Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 BranchesShow

Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches

Mito Mitsukuni · 1986

Show

The Bored Samurai

1973

The Lord's spy7.0Movie

The Lord's spy

1964

A Prisoner in Search of Daughter9.0Movie

A Prisoner in Search of Daughter

Kumokiri Nizaemon · 1963

Bloody Record of the Shinsengumi10.0Movie

Bloody Record of the Shinsengumi

1963

Street of Wandering Men8.0Movie

Street of Wandering Men

1963

The Mysterious Cape6.0Movie

The Mysterious Cape

Saotome Mondonosuke · 1963

Tokaido Fullhouse7.0Movie

Tokaido Fullhouse

1963

Showdown at Lightning Pass10.0Movie

Showdown at Lightning Pass

Takata Matabei Yoshitsugu · 1962

Drunken Sword6.0Movie

Drunken Sword

1962

Otoko dokyō no ayame kasaMovie

Otoko dokyō no ayame kasa

1962

Kisaragi Sword5.5Movie

Kisaragi Sword

Tsukinosuke Ryûtan · 1962

Knightly Advice7.0Movie

Knightly Advice

1962

Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Coral MansionMovie

Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Coral Mansion

1962

Travels of Gonkuro5.0Movie

Travels of Gonkuro

1961

The Man Who Challenged 8,000,000-KokuMovie

The Man Who Challenged 8,000,000-Koku

Yamanouchi Iganosuke · 1961

The Cave of the Vampire Bats6.0Movie

The Cave of the Vampire Bats

Saotome Mondonosuke · 1961

Samurai Knights8.0Movie

Samurai Knights

1961

The Ako Retainers6.0Movie

The Ako Retainers

1961

6.2Movie

Samurai Hawk

1961

Lord of Steel Heart7.8Movie

Lord of Steel Heart

Matabei Goto · 1961

Queen of the Treasure Island7.0Movie

Queen of the Treasure Island

Chusuke Yamakawa · 1960

The Swordsman In The Golden Valley8.0Movie

The Swordsman In The Golden Valley

1960

Lord Mito: All Star Version8.3Movie

Lord Mito: All Star Version

1960

Ninja Assassins6.0Movie

Ninja Assassins

Saotome Mondonosuke · 1960

Ooka Seidan: Devil ImageMovie

Ooka Seidan: Devil Image

Ooka Tadasuke · 1960

Runway to Hell7.0Movie

Runway to Hell

Sôshun Kôchiyama · 1960

The Samurai Markets8.0Movie

The Samurai Markets

Chûsuke Yamakawa · 1960