Utaemon Ichikawa
Acting
Born February 11, 1904 · Marugame, 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.
Films (113)
The Lord's spy
1964
A Prisoner in Search of Daughter
1963
Bloody Record of the Shinsengumi
1963
Street of Wandering Men
1963
The Mysterious Cape
1963
Tokaido Fullhouse
1963
Showdown at Lightning Pass
1962
Drunken Sword
1962
Otoko dokyō no ayame kasa
1962
Kisaragi Sword
1962
Knightly Advice
1962
Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Coral Mansion
1962
Travels of Gonkuro
1961
The Man Who Challenged 8,000,000-Koku
1961
The Cave of the Vampire Bats
1961
Samurai Knights
1961
The Ako Retainers
1961
Samurai Hawk
1961
Lord of Steel Heart
1961
Queen of the Treasure Island
1960
The Swordsman In The Golden Valley
1960
Lord Mito: All Star Version
1960
Ninja Assassins
1960
Ooka Seidan: Devil Image
1960
Runway to Hell
1960
The Samurai Markets
1960
Lord of Red Banner
1960
Bored Hatamoto: Island of No Return
1960
Road of Chivalry
1960
Bloody Battle at Dawn
1959
A Spectacular Showdown
1959
Bored Hatamoto: The Daimonji Conspiracy
1959
No Stronger Swords
1959
Turbulent Highways
1959
The Unleashed Lord
1959
The 47 Masterless Samurai
1959
The Acrobats of Death
1959
The Lost Public Funds
1958
Drenched Swallow Gonpachi
1958
Epic Crash
1958
Bored Hatamoto: Idle Vassal Tribute
1958
Eight Views of Samurai
1958
Seven from Edo
1958
Aoi Secret Book
1958
A Chivalrous Spirit
1958
The Mansion of Intrigue
1957
Shadow Over Fuji
1957
Lord Mito
1957
Rebellion
1957
Lords of Oppression 2
1957
Lords of Oppression
1957
Flowers on the Trail
1957
Bored Hatamoto: Mysterious Crimson Tower
1957
Shimizu Port of Chivalry
1957
Red-Lacquered Sword
1956
やくざ大名
1956
Ancient Coins
1956
Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Ghost Ship
1956
Virtue in Spades
1956
快剣士・笑いの面
1956
Bored Hatamoto: Mysterious Letter of Challenge
1955
Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Demon Palace
1955
牢獄の花嫁
1955
Four Swordsmen of Ashura
1955
Golden Valley
1955
Goblin Warrior
1955
Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Phantom Mansion
1954
続変化大名
1954
Bored Hatamoto: The Million-ryo Mystery
1954
疾風愛憎峠
1954
Bored Hatamoto: House of Skulls
1954
The Sun
1953
Bored Hatamoto Passes By
1953
花吹雪男祭り
1952
Tsukigata Hanpeita
1952
Kojiki Taishô
1952
Travels of Lord Mito Pt.2
1952
Travels of Lord Mito Pt.1
1952
Bored Hatamoto: The Imposter
1952
Five Men of Edo
1951
Bored Hatamoto: The Demon of Chinatown
1951
豪快三人男
1951
The Killing of Otsuya
1951
A Thousand Standards of Stone
1950
Bored Hatamoto Detective, Part 2: Poisoning of the Demon Lord
1950
Bored Hatamoto Detective, Part 1: The Seven Brides
1950
Fencing Master
1950
Jiruba no Tetsu
1950
G-men of Japan 2: Bloody Duel at Shipwreck Cape
1950
Monsters Catcher Oedo Seven Changes
1949
Goblin Courier
1949
The Terror of Z
1948
東海水滸伝
1945
紅顏鼓笛隊
1945
Thus the Divine Wind Blows
1944
Kokusai Mitsuyudan
1944
Masujiro Omura
1942
The 47 Ronin
1941
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
Chûshingura - Zempen: Akahokyô no maki
1932
The Loyal 47 Ronin
1932
Bored Hatamoto Returns to Edo
1931
Bored Hatamoto Appears in Sendai
1931
Bored Hatamoto in Kyoto
1930
Bored Hatamoto
1930
Skull
1927
Botan dôrô
1926