Original Chanbara (Sword Fighting) Archives

Utaemon Ichikawa

Stage name

Utaemon Ichikawa
Real name

Zennosuke Asai
Nickname

The great man of Kitaoji, Uta-san
Date of birth

February 25, 1907
Date of death

Died on September 16, 1999, at age 92
Debut starring work

December 25, 1925
Kurokami Jigoku (The Hell of Black Hair) – filmed by Makino Production Omuro
Best works
  • Jubei Ogata in Issatsu Tasho Ken (1929, Ichikawa Utaemon Production)
  • Mondonosuke Saotome in Hatamoto Taikutsu Otoko (1930, Ichikawa Utaemon Production)
  • Mondonosuke Saotome in Hatamoto Taikutsu Otoko (1958), a special film to celebrate his 300th production
  • Kuranosuke Oishi in Ako Roshi: Ten no Maki, Chi no Maki (1956, Toei)
  • Shigezo Sasagawa in Kettou Suikoden Dotou no Taiketsu (The River of Fury) (1959, Toei)
History
  • 1913: Became an apprentice of Udanji Ichikawa II and took the stage name Uichi Ichikawa.
  • 1919: Became a member of Kansai Seinen Kabuki under the leadership of Senjaku Nakamura (later named Ganjiro Nakamura II).
  • 1923: Joined Shuro Kataoka Kansai Kabuki Troupe.
  • 1925: Joined Makino Production Omuro Studio. Changed his name to Utaemon Ichikawa, made a big hit debut as a lead actor, and became a star.
  • February 1927: Left Makino Production.
  • April 1927: With the support of Ryoichi Sasakawa, established Ichikawa Utaemon Production Studio in Ayameike, Nara Prefecture.
  • 1928: Distribution partner changed from Toa Kinema to Shochiku Kinema.
  • 1930: Produced and starred in Hatamoto Taikutsu Otoko, which became a blockbuster series.
  • 1936: Ichikawa Utaemon Production was merged into Shochiku, and Ayameike Studio was closed. Utaemon joined Shochiku Shimogamo Second Studio.
  • 1937: Transferred to Shinko Kinema Kyoto Uzumasa Studio.
  • 1942: Due to wartime integration, Shinko Kinema merged with Nikkatsu and Daito Eiga, and reorganized as Daiei.
  • 1949: Left Daiei and moved to Toyoko Eiga as a director.
  • 1951: Toyoko Eiga was merged to form Toei. Appointed as a director.
  • 1966: Retired from Toei.

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