Utaemon Ichikawa

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.

Known For

Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches

The Diary of Chuji's Travels

Sanada Yukimura

The 47 Ronin

Bored Hatamoto: The Demon of Chinatown

Road of Chivalry

A Chivalrous Spirit

Lord Mito: All Star Version

All Movies (115)

• The Lord's spy1964
• A Prisoner in Search of Daughter1963 · as Kumokiri Nizaemon
• Bloody Record of the Shinsengumi1963
• Street of Wandering Men1963
• The Mysterious Cape1963 · as Saotome Mondonosuke
• Tokaido Fullhouse1963
• Showdown at Lightning Pass1962 · as Takata Matabei Yoshitsugu
• Drunken Sword1962
• Otoko dokyō no ayame kasa1962
• Kisaragi Sword1962 · as Tsukinosuke Ryûtan
• Knightly Advice1962
• Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Coral Mansion1962
• Travels of Gonkuro1961
• The Man Who Challenged 8,000,000-Koku1961 · as Yamanouchi Iganosuke
• The Cave of the Vampire Bats1961 · as Saotome Mondonosuke
• Samurai Knights1961
• The Ako Retainers1961
• Samurai Hawk1961
• Lord of Steel Heart1961 · as Matabei Goto
• Queen of the Treasure Island1960 · as Chusuke Yamakawa
• The Swordsman In The Golden Valley1960
• Lord Mito: All Star Version1960
• Ninja Assassins1960 · as Saotome Mondonosuke
• Ooka Seidan: Devil Image1960 · as Ooka Tadasuke
• Runway to Hell1960 · as Sôshun Kôchiyama
• The Samurai Markets1960 · as Chûsuke Yamakawa
• Lord of Red Banner1960
• Bored Hatamoto: Island of No Return1960 · as Saotome Mondonosuke
• Road of Chivalry1960
• Bloody Battle at Dawn1959
• A Spectacular Showdown1959 · as Sasagawa no Shigezo
• Bored Hatamoto: The Daimonji Conspiracy1959 · as Saotome Mondonosuke
• No Stronger Swords1959
• Turbulent Highways1959
• The Unleashed Lord1959
• The 47 Masterless Samurai1959
• The Acrobats of Death1959 · as Saotome Mondonosuke
• The Lost Public Funds1958 · as Asaka Keinosuke
• Drenched Swallow Gonpachi1958
• Epic Crash1958
• Bored Hatamoto: Idle Vassal Tribute1958 · as Saotome Mondonosuke
• Eight Views of Samurai1958
• Seven from Edo1958 · as Katsukawa
• Aoi Secret Book1958 · as Uotaro Toge
• A Chivalrous Spirit1958 · as Nikichi
• The Mansion of Intrigue1957 · as Saotome Mondonosuke
• Shadow Over Fuji1957 · as Sato
• Lord Mito1957
• Rebellion1957 · as Satahiko
• Lords of Oppression 21957
• Lords of Oppression1957
• Flowers on the Trail1957
• Bored Hatamoto: Mysterious Crimson Tower1957
• Shimizu Port of Chivalry1957 · as Boss Omaeda
• Red-Lacquered Sword1956
• やくざ大名1956
• Ancient Coins1956
• Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Ghost Ship1956
• Virtue in Spades1956
• 快剣士・笑いの面1956
• Bored Hatamoto: Mysterious Letter of Challenge1955
• Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Demon Palace1955
• 牢獄の花嫁1955
• Four Swordsmen of Ashura1955
• Golden Valley1955
• Goblin Warrior1955
• Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Phantom Mansion1954
• 続変化大名1954
• Bored Hatamoto: The Million-ryo Mystery1954
• 疾風愛憎峠1954
• Bored Hatamoto: House of Skulls1954
• The Sun1953
• Bored Hatamoto Passes By1953
• 花吹雪男祭り　1952
• Tsukigata Hanpeita1952 · as Tsukigata Hanpeita
• Kojiki Taishô1952 · as Gotō Mototsugu
• Travels of Lord Mito Pt.21952
• Travels of Lord Mito Pt.11952
• Bored Hatamoto: The Imposter1952 · as Saotome Mondonosuke
• Five Men of Edo1951 · as Jurozaemon Mizuno
• Bored Hatamoto: The Demon of Chinatown1951
• 豪快三人男1951
• The Killing of Otsuya1951 · as Shinsuke
• A Thousand Standards of Stone1950 · as Sôkichi Fudôyama
• Bored Hatamoto Detective, Part 2: Poisoning of the Demon Lord1950
• Bored Hatamoto Detective, Part 1: The Seven Brides1950
• Fencing Master1950
• Jiruba no Tetsu1950
• G-men of Japan 2: Bloody Duel at Shipwreck Cape1950
• Monsters Catcher Oedo Seven Changes1949
• Goblin Courier1949 · as Haiyaku tengu no Chōta
• The Terror of Z1948
• Tōkai suikoden1945
• 紅顏鼓笛隊1945
• Thus the Divine Wind Blows1944
• Kokusai Mitsuyudan1944
• Oedo no asagiri1942
• The March of the Restoration1942 · as Kogoro Katsura
• Masujiro Omura1942
• The 47 Ronin1941 · as Tsunatoyo Tokugawa
• A Color Print of Edo1939
• Bored Hatamoto Enters the Mountain of Treasure1938
• Mito Kōmon Manyu-ki1938
• Bored Hatamoto on Mt. Fuji1937
• Bored Hatamoto Judges 100,000-koku1935
• Bored Hatamoto on the Nakasendo1935
• Bored Hatamoto on a Rampage1933
• Chûshingura - Zempen: Akahokyô no maki1932
• The Loyal 47 Ronin1932 · as Awajinokami Wakisaka / Gorobei Kakimi
• Bored Hatamoto Returns to Edo1931
• Bored Hatamoto Appears in Sendai1931
• Bored Hatamoto in Kyoto1930
• Bored Hatamoto1930
• Skull1927 · as Reinosuke Ushio
• Botan dôrô1926

All TV Shows (4)

• The Diary of Chuji's Travels1992
• Sanada Yukimura1989
• Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches1986 · as Mito Mitsukuni
• The Bored Samurai1973