Actor · Acting

Utaemon Ichikawa

Born 1904-02-11

Died 1999-09-16

📍 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.

Filmography 99

The Diary of Chuji's Travels

Sanada Yukimura

Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches

as Mito Mitsukuni

A Prisoner in Search of Daughter

as Kumokiri Nizaemon

Bloody Record of the Shinsengumi

Street of Wandering Men

The Mysterious Cape

as Saotome Mondonosuke

Tokaido Fullhouse

Showdown at Lightning Pass

as Takata Matabei Yoshitsugu

Otoko dokyō no ayame kasa

as Tsukinosuke Ryûtan

Knightly Advice

Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Coral Mansion

Travels of Gonkuro

The Man Who Challenged 8,000,000-Koku

as Yamanouchi Iganosuke

The Cave of the Vampire Bats

as Saotome Mondonosuke

Samurai Knights

The Ako Retainers

Lord of Steel Heart

as Matabei Goto

Queen of the Treasure Island

as Chusuke Yamakawa

The Swordsman In The Golden Valley

Lord Mito: All Star Version

Ninja Assassins

as Saotome Mondonosuke

Ooka Seidan: Devil Image

as Ooka Tadasuke

as Sôshun Kôchiyama

The Samurai Markets

as Chûsuke Yamakawa

Lord of Red Banner

Bored Hatamoto: Island of No Return

as Saotome Mondonosuke

Road of Chivalry

A Spectacular Showdown

as Sasagawa no Shigezo

Bored Hatamoto: The Daimonji Conspiracy

as Saotome Mondonosuke

No Stronger Swords

Turbulent Highways

The Unleashed Lord

The 47 Masterless Samurai

The Acrobats of Death

as Saotome Mondonosuke

The Lost Public Funds

as Asaka Keinosuke

Bored Hatamoto: Idle Vassal Tribute

as Saotome Mondonosuke

Eight Views of Samurai

Aoi Secret Book

A Chivalrous Spirit

The Mansion of Intrigue

as Saotome Mondonosuke

Shadow Over Fuji

Lords of Oppression 2

Lords of Oppression

Flowers on the Trail

Bored Hatamoto: Mysterious Crimson Tower

Shimizu Port of Chivalry

Red-Lacquered Sword

やくざ大名

Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Ghost Ship

Virtue in Spades

快剣士・笑いの面

Bored Hatamoto: Mysterious Letter of Challenge

Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Demon Palace

牢獄の花嫁

Four Swordsmen of Ashura

Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Phantom Mansion

続変化大名

Bored Hatamoto: The Million-ryo Mystery

疾風愛憎峠

Bored Hatamoto: House of Skulls

Bored Hatamoto Passes By

花吹雪男祭り　

Tsukigata Hanpeita

as Tsukigata Hanpeita

as Gotō Mototsugu

Travels of Lord Mito Pt.2

Travels of Lord Mito Pt.1

Bored Hatamoto: The Imposter

as Saotome Mondonosuke

Five Men of Edo

as Jurozaemon Mizuno

Bored Hatamoto: The Demon of Chinatown

豪快三人男

The Killing of Otsuya

A Thousand Standards of Stone

as Sôkichi Fudôyama

Bored Hatamoto Detective, Part 2: Poisoning of the Demon Lord

Bored Hatamoto Detective, Part 1: The Seven Brides

Jiruba no Tetsu

G-men of Japan 2: Bloody Duel at Shipwreck Cape

Monsters Catcher Oedo Seven Changes

as Haiyaku tengu no Chōta

東海水滸伝

Thus the Divine Wind Blows

as Tsunatoyo Tokugawa

A Color Print of Edo

Bored Hatamoto Enters the Mountain of Treasure

Mito Kōmon Manyu-ki

Bored Hatamoto on Mt. Fuji

Chûshingura - Zempen: Akahokyô no maki

The Loyal 47 Ronin

as Awajinokami Wakisaka / Gorobei Kakimi