Utaemon Ichikawa
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- February 11, 1904 in Marugame, Kagawa, Japan
- Died
- September 16, 1999
- Active Years
- 1926–1992 (67 Years)
- Total Credits
- 130 credits in database
Biography
Utaemon Ichikawa was a Japanese film actor born on February 11, 1904, in Marugame, Kagawa, Japan. Trained in kabuki from childhood, he made his film debut in 1925 at Makino Film Productions under Shōzō Makino. He gained popularity and started his own independent production company, Utaemon Ichikawa Productions, in 1927, where he began the Idle Vassal series that became his signature role. As sound film emerged and his company folded in 1936, he moved to Shinkō Kinema and Daiei Studios, later helping form the Toei Company after World War II. He served on the board of directors with Chiezō Kataoka, appeared in over 300 films during his career, and had a son, Kin'ya Kitaōji, who became a famous actor. Utaemon Ichikawa died on September 16, 1999.
Career overview
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 Shozo Makino. Quickly gaining popularity, he followed the example of Makino stars such as Tsumasaburo Bando in starting his own independent production company, Utaemon Ichikawa Productions, in 1927. It was there he first began the Idle Vassal series, which would become his signature role. When his company folded in 1936 as sound film came to the fore, he moved to Shinko Kinema and then Daiei Studios before helping form the Toei Company after World War II.
During his career, Utaemon appeared in over 300 films and had 130 known credits on the Movie Database. He also served on the board of directors along with fellow samurai star Chiezo Kataoka. His personal details include a birth date of February 11, 1904, in Marugame, Kagawa, Japan, and a date of death of September 16, 1999, at the age of 95. Additionally, his son, Kin'ya Kitaoji, is a famous actor in film and television.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
130 titles- The Diary of Chuji's Travels (1992)
- Sanada Yukimura (1989)
- Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches (1986) as Mito Mitsukuni
- The Bored Samurai (1973)
- The Lord's spy (1964)
- A Prisoner in Search of Daughter (1963) as Kumokiri Nizaemon
- Tokaido Fullhouse (1963)
- Street of Wandering Men (1963)
- The Mysterious Cape (1963) as Saotome Mondonosuke
- Bloody Record of the Shinsengumi (1963)
- Drunken Sword (1962)
- Showdown at Lightning Pass (1962) as Takata Matabei Yoshitsugu
- Knightly Advice (1962)
- Kisaragi Sword (1962) as Tsukinosuke Ryûtan
- Otoko dokyō no ayame kasa (1962)
- Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Coral Mansion (1962)
- Travels of Gonkuro (1961)
- Samurai Knights (1961)
- Lord of Steel Heart (1961) as Matabei Goto
- The Ako Retainers (1961)
- The Man Who Challenged 8,000,000-Koku (1961) as Yamanouchi Iganosuke
- The Cave of the Vampire Bats (1961) as Saotome Mondonosuke
- Samurai Hawk (1961)
- Lord of Red Banner (1960)
- Runway to Hell (1960) as Sôshun Kôchiyama
- Road of Chivalry (1960)
- Lord Mito: All Star Version (1960)
- Ninja Assassins (1960) as Saotome Mondonosuke
- Bored Hatamoto: Island of No Return (1960) as Saotome Mondonosuke
- Queen of the Treasure Island (1960) as Chusuke Yamakawa
- The Swordsman In The Golden Valley (1960)
- The Samurai Markets (1960) as Chûsuke Yamakawa
- Ooka Seidan: Devil Image (1960) as Ooka Tadasuke
- Turbulent Highways (1959)
- A Spectacular Showdown (1959) as Sasagawa no Shigezo
- Bloody Battle at Dawn (1959)
- The 47 Masterless Samurai (1959)
- The Acrobats of Death (1959) as Saotome Mondonosuke
- No Stronger Swords (1959)
- The Unleashed Lord (1959)
- Bored Hatamoto: The Daimonji Conspiracy (1959) as Saotome Mondonosuke
- Drenched Swallow Gonpachi (1958)
- The Lost Public Funds (1958) as Asaka Keinosuke
- Seven from Edo (1958) as Katsukawa
- A Chivalrous Spirit (1958) as Nikichi
- Eight Views of Samurai (1958)
- Bored Hatamoto: Idle Vassal Tribute (1958) as Saotome Mondonosuke
- Epic Crash (1958)
- Aoi Secret Book (1958) as Uotaro Toge
- Flowers on the Trail (1957)
- Lords of Oppression (1957)
- Shadow Over Fuji (1957) as Sato
- Lord Mito (1957)
- The Mansion of Intrigue (1957) as Saotome Mondonosuke
- Bored Hatamoto: Mysterious Crimson Tower (1957)
- Lords of Oppression 2 (1957)
- Rebellion (1957) as Satahiko
- Shimizu Port of Chivalry (1957) as Boss Omaeda
- Ancient Coins (1956)
- Virtue in Spades (1956)
- 快剣士・笑いの面 (1956)
- Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Ghost Ship (1956)
- Red-Lacquered Sword (1956)
- やくざ大名 (1956)
- Four Swordsmen of Ashura (1955)
- Golden Valley (1955)
- 牢獄の花嫁 (1955)
- Bored Hatamoto: Mysterious Letter of Challenge (1955)
- Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Demon Palace (1955)
- Goblin Warrior (1955)
- Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Phantom Mansion (1954)
- Bored Hatamoto: House of Skulls (1954)
- Bored Hatamoto: The Million-ryo Mystery (1954)
- 疾風愛憎峠 (1954)
- 続変化大名 (1954)
- Bored Hatamoto Passes By (1953)
- The Sun (1953)
- Kojiki Taishô (1952) as Gotō Mototsugu
- Tsukigata Hanpeita (1952) as Tsukigata Hanpeita
- Bored Hatamoto: The Imposter (1952) as Saotome Mondonosuke
- Travels of Lord Mito Pt.1 (1952)
- 花吹雪男祭り (1952)
- Travels of Lord Mito Pt.2 (1952)
- Five Men of Edo (1951) as Jurozaemon Mizuno
- The Killing of Otsuya (1951) as Shinsuke
- Bored Hatamoto: The Demon of Chinatown (1951)
- 豪快三人男 (1951)
- Jiruba no Tetsu (1950)
- G-men of Japan 2: Bloody Duel at Shipwreck Cape (1950)
- Fencing Master (1950)
- Bored Hatamoto Detective, Part 2: Poisoning of the Demon Lord (1950)
- A Thousand Standards of Stone (1950) as Sôkichi Fudôyama
- Bored Hatamoto Detective, Part 1: The Seven Brides (1950)
- Hida no abarenbō (1949)
- Goblin Courier (1949) as Haiyaku tengu no Chōta
- Guren bosatsu (1949)
- Monsters Catcher Oedo Seven Changes (1949)
- Chobei the Rogue (1949)
- Black Cloud Road (1948)
- The Terror of Z (1948)
- Yoimatsuri happyaku yachō (1947)
- The Sea Wolf (1947)
- Yari-odori gojūsantsugi (1946)
- Onatsu Seijurō (1946)
- Tōkai suikoden (1945)
- 紅顏鼓笛隊 (1945)
- Thousand Spears of Kikuchi: Sydney Special Attack Unit (1944)
- Kokusai Mitsuyudan (1944)
- Thus the Divine Wind Blows (1944)
- María Luz Incident: Slave Ship (1943)
- The March of the Restoration (1942) as Kogoro Katsura
- Oedo no asagiri (1942)
- Masujiro Omura (1942)
- The 47 Ronin (1941) as Tsunatoyo Tokugawa
- A Color Print of Edo (1939)
- Bored Hatamoto Enters the Mountain of Treasure (1938)
- Mito Kōmon Manyu-ki (1938)
- Bored Hatamoto on Mt. Fuji (1937)
- Bored Hatamoto Judges 100,000-koku (1935)
- Bored Hatamoto on the Nakasendo (1935)
- Bored Hatamoto on a Rampage (1933)
- The Loyal 47 Ronin (1932) as Awajinokami Wakisaka / Gorobei Kakimi
- Chûshingura - Zempen: Akahokyô no maki (1932)
- Bored Hatamoto Appears in Sendai (1931)
- Bored Hatamoto Returns to Edo (1931)
- Bored Hatamoto (1930)
- Bored Hatamoto in Kyoto (1930)
- Skull (1927) as Reinosuke Ushio
- Botan dôrô (1926)
- Nagurareta o tonosama
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Utaemon Ichikawa best known for?
Utaemon Ichikawa is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Runway to Hell (1960).
When and where was Utaemon Ichikawa born?
Utaemon Ichikawa was born on February 11, 1904 in Marugame, Kagawa, Japan. They passed away on September 16, 1999.
How many credits does Utaemon Ichikawa have?
Utaemon Ichikawa has accumulated over 130 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1926 to 1992.
What is Utaemon Ichikawa's background in cinema and television?
Utaemon Ichikawa was a Japanese film actor born on February 11, 1904, in Marugame, Kagawa, Japan. Trained in kabuki from childhood, he made his film debut in 1925 at Makino Film Productions under Shōzō Makino. He gained popularity and started his own independent production company, Utaemon Ichikawa Productions, in 1927...
Utaemon Ichikawa by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Runway to Hell (1960) as Sôshun Kôchiyama — aged about 56
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