Utaemon Ichikawa

Born: 1904-02-11

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.


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The 47 Ronin

as Tsunatoyo Tokugawa
Released: 1941-12-08

In 1701, Lord Takuminokami Asano has a feud with Lord Kira and he tries to kill Kira in the...

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Kisaragi Sword

as Tsukinosuke Ryûtan
Released: 1962-04-08

The story concerns the efforts of seven master swordsman who join together to protect the new...

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A Spectacular Showdown

as Sasagawa no Shigezo
Released: 1959-08-09

One of the great stories from Japan’s rich history comes to life in this true tale of the bloody...

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Lords of Oppression

as uncredited
Released: 1957-03-13

Period drama directed by Yasushi Sasaki.

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Seven from Edo

as Katsukawa
Released: 1958-04-30

When Katsukawa, a low ranking vassal, learns that his greedy superior, Tatewaki, has hatched a...

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The Mysterious Cape

as Saotome Mondonosuke
Released: 1963-01-09

Ryujin Misaki, located at the edge of the Genkai Sea, is known as an isolation ward for leprosy...

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Lord Mito: All Star Version

as uncredited
Released: 1960-08-07

In 1691 a terrible fire broke out in Denmacho, Yotsuya, burning down the towns around it, up to...

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The Acrobats of Death

as Saotome Mondonosuke
Released: 1959-01-09

Saotome, a sword master and guard of the Shogunate, pursues the mystery of a deadly aerial...

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旗本退屈男 謎の決闘状

as uncredited
Released: 1955-12-28

1955 Japanese movie

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Virtue in Spades

as uncredited
Released: 1956-05-03

Adaptation of the novel by Kan Shimozawa.

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The Lost Public Funds

as Asaka Keinosuke
Released: 1958-11-11

Four thousand gold coins were stolen from the vault of Nijo Castle in Kyoto, which were...

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Shimizu Port of Chivalry

as Boss Omaeda
Released: 1957-01-03

An all-star cast highlights this Jidai-Geki classic. Set in the samurai era, this is the tale of...

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The Loyal 47 Ronin

as Awajinokami Wakisaka / Gorobei Kakimi
Released: 1932-03-01

This 1932 adaptation is the earliest sound version of the ever-popular and much-filmed...

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旗本退屈男 謎の幽霊船

as uncredited
Released: 1956-07-12

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Lord of Red Banner

as uncredited
Released: 1960-02-14

A young lord lives against the will of his father Lord Tokugawa.

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Knightly Advice

as uncredited
Released: 1962-01-31

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A Chivalrous Spirit

as Nikichi
Released: 1958-01-03

An all-star cast highlights this Jidai-Geki classic. Set in the samurai era, this is the tale of...

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Hatamoto taikutsu otoko torimono hikae: Dokusatsu maden

as uncredited
Released: 1950-10-07

1950 Japanese movie

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The Man Who Challenged 8,000,000-Koku

as Yamanouchi Iganosuke
Released: 1961-09-13

A story of an orphan boy who wanted the love of parents so badly, another orphan sincerely...

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Turbulent Highways

as uncredited
Released: 1959-03-25

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Road of Chivalry

as uncredited
Released: 1960-01-03

While on the road, famed Yakuza Boss Jirocho is falsely accused of starting a peasant's uprising...

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Showdown at Lightning Pass

as Takata Matabei Yoshitsugu
Released: 1962-10-27

A story about a spear master’s spiritual and martial discipline.

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The Killing of Otsuya

as Shinsuke
Released: 1951-02-17

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The Ako Retainers

as uncredited
Released: 1961-03-28

Toei’s 10th anniversary film, featuring an all-star cast from the golden movie era of the 1960s....

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Lord Mito

as uncredited
Released: 1957-08-11

This most celebrated all-star movie version of the popular series features Tsukigata Ryunosuke...

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Bloody Record of the Shinsengumi

as uncredited
Released: 1963-05-12

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Street of Wandering Men

as uncredited
Released: 1963-02-17

When a group of men from the Hanya clan search his town for a missing geisha, a brave ronin...

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疾風愛憎峠

as uncredited
Released: 1954-03-10

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Eight Views of Samurai

as uncredited
Released: 1958-05-27

Bright samurai movie innovatively adapted from a classic story. A traveling masterless samurai...

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Bored Hatamoto: Idle Vassal Tribute

as Saotome Mondonosuke
Released: 1958-08-12

Master swordsman and loya 'Hatamoto' (direct vassal to the Shogun), Saotome Mondonosuke, is sent...

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Epic Crash

as uncredited
Released: 1958-09-23

Utaemon Ichikawa plays the role of Hikoshiro Navate, who has a strong sense of justice and...

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No Stronger Swords

as uncredited
Released: 1959-05-05

Featuring some of the finest swordsmen ever to grace the silver screen, this Toei classic tells...

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The Mansion of Intrigue

as Saotome Mondonosuke
Released: 1957-12-28

A swordsman must foil a minister's sinister plan to assassinate the shogun.

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Bloody Battle at Dawn

as uncredited
Released: 1959-10-10

A story of revenge between two samurai families on the Igagoe Road. Araki Mataemon born in the...

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Lords of Oppression 2

as uncredited
Released: 1957-03-27

Period drama directed by Yasushi Sasaki.

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The Unleashed Lord

as uncredited
Released: 1959-02-10

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Runway to Hell

as Sôshun Kôchiyama
Released: 1960-05-03

When Kaneko Ichinosuke aims to avenge his father who was wrongly accused of embezzlement, the...

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Travels of Gonkuro

as uncredited
Released: 1961-12-06

Sugimoto Gonkuro is travelling along from Tosa to Edo. On his journey he will meet both good and...

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旗本退屈男 謎の怪人屋敷

as uncredited
Released: 1954-12-27

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The Cave of the Vampire Bats

as Saotome Mondonosuke
Released: 1961-08-01

A maiden is murdered by a mysterious ninja, unfortunately two young ladies witness this, good...

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The Swordsman In The Golden Valley

as uncredited
Released: 1960-08-28

Jidaigeki film from 1960

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Hatamoto taikutsu otoko: nazo no sango yashiki

as uncredited
Released: 1962-01-23

1962 Japanese movie

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Ooka Seidan: Devil Image

as Ooka Tadasuke
Released: 1960-05-22

Magistrate Ooka and a samurai fight against evil forces.

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Bored Hatamoto: The Daimonji Conspiracy

as Saotome Mondonosuke
Released: 1959-06-28

Master swordsman and loyal vassal Saotome Mondonosuke goes on a mission to find a missing princess.

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旗本退屈男謎の伏魔殿

as uncredited
Released: 1955-12-25

In Kyoto, a samurai named Boredom Otoko, Sosuke Saotome, appears and helps a woman being chased...

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Tokaido Fullhouse

as uncredited
Released: 1963-01-03

When Kanbe Nagakichi has his turf taken over by Ano-Toku, the father-in-law of his sworn brother...

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Five Men of Edo

as Jurozaemon Mizuno
Released: 1951-11-22

During the 17th Century roving bands of hatamoto were causing trouble in the new capital city of...

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Ninja Assassins

as Saotome Mondonosuke
Released: 1960-06-29

Saotome Mondonosuke pursues the culprit who placed a malicious curse upon Shogun Tsunekichi.

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The Lord's spy

as uncredited
Released: 1964-01-26

Maeda Tsunanori, the lord of Kaga Domain, had two young princes - Katsumaru, the son of his...

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Kojiki Taishô

as Gotō Mototsugu
Released: 1952-04-03

Gotō Matabei is the most able and fierce samurai of the Kuroda clan. However, he gradually...

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Fencing Master

as uncredited
Released: 1950-08-26

Swordfighting instructor Danpei works at a local theater in Tokyo, instructing the actors how to...

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A Thousand Standards of Stone

as Sôkichi Fudôyama
Released: 1950-12-31

A film about the rivalry and friendship between firefighter Chоji and sumo wrestler Sokichi...

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Otoko dokyō no ayame kasa

as uncredited
Released: 1962-06-24

1962 Japanese movie

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

as uncredited
Released: 1950-01-03

The second part of an action-packed action movie about the struggle between smugglers, the...

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Tsukigata Hanpeita

as Tsukigata Hanpeita
Released: 1952-05-29

During the ultra-violent era of the downfall of the Tokugawa Shogunate one man rose above the...

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Lord of Steel Heart

as Matabei Goto
Released: 1961-01-09

A Tokugawa Daimyo rebels against an his lord after the battle of Sekigahara. Samurai Matabei, a...

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Goblin Courier

as Haiyaku tengu no Chōta
Released: 1949-01-04

Jida-geki by Santaro Marune.

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Rebellion

as Satahiko
Released: 1957-04-30

In the mist of the warring age (Sengoku Era), the Kyushu based Hayato Clan is faced with a...

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Flowers on the Trail

as uncredited
Released: 1957-01-29

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The Imposter

as 早乙女主水之助
Released: 1952-01-14

Around the Genroku era, there was a man named Saotome Shusui-no-Suke, nephew to the senior...

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A Sword Against Intrigue

as uncredited
Released: 1959-10-23

During the reign of 5th Shogun Tokugawa Tsuneyoshi a troupe of Chinese acrobats travel to Japan...

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牢獄の花嫁

as uncredited
Released: 1955-08-29

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朱鞘罷り通る

as uncredited
Released: 1956-11-20

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Chûshingura - Zempen: Akahokyô no maki

as uncredited
Released: 1932-12-01

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Mito Kōmon Manyu-ki

as uncredited
Released: 1938-01-22

This is the only surviving "Mito Komon Manyu-ki" film. This release also known as Adrift Tour...

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Bored Hatamoto: Island of No Return

as Saotome Mondonosuke
Released: 1960-01-09

Part of the Bored Hatamoto series. The most popular samurai in Edo, Saotome Mondonosuke, known...

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Travels of Lord Mito Pt.1

as uncredited
Released: 1952-02-14

The deputy shogun of the realm, accompanied by his loyal and capable aides, makes a stop at...

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続変化大名

as uncredited
Released: 1954-11-15

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豪快三人男

as uncredited
Released: 1951-05-05

In the midst of the Siege of Osaka in the Sengoku period, a thrilling tale unfolds featuring a...

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Drunken Sword

as uncredited
Released: 1962-09-01

Tetsunosuke, an eccentric doctor and an owner of a fencing school, takes aim against corrupt...

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Four Swordsmen of Ashura

as uncredited
Released: 1955-04-26

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The Sun

as uncredited
Released: 1953-11-18

Adaptation of the Riichi Yokomitsu novel.

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旗本退屈男 謎の百万両

as uncredited
Released: 1954-08-31

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Goblin Warrior

as uncredited
Released: 1955-01-21

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Shadow Over Fuji

as Sato
Released: 1957-10-29

The year is 1805. Napoleon ruled Europe. Ienari is the 11th Tokugawa Shogun. An incident, which...

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The Samurai Markets

as Chûsuke Yamakawa
Released: 1960-03-22

The success story of a group of ronin who fights against traffickers during the Edo Tenpo period.

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The 47 Masterless Samurai

as uncredited
Released: 1959-01-15

While the story of the Ako Clan's vendetta has been told countless times, never before has there...

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A Prisoner in Search of Daughter

as Kumokiri Nizaemon
Released: 1963-08-27

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Samurai Knights

as uncredited
Released: 1961-05-11

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Aoi Secret Book

as Uotaro Toge
Released: 1958-03-25

A Golden Age drama depicting the exploits of passionate patriot Uotaro Toge in the midst of a...

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Thus the Divine Wind Blows

as uncredited
Released: 1944-08-11

Set in the late thirteenth century, this film depicts the defense of southern Japan led by the...

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Hatamoto taikutsu otoko torimono hikae: Shichinin no hanayome

as uncredited
Released: 1950-09-23

1950 Japanese movie

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東海水滸伝

as uncredited
Released: 1945-07-12

1945 Japanese movie

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Jiruba no Tetsu

as uncredited
Released: 1950-08-12

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花吹雪男祭り 

as uncredited
Released: 1952-11-29

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素浪人百万石

as uncredited
Released: 1960-11-15

At a tavern in Shimoda, Ronin Tadakazu Yamakawa saved a samurai girl named Mino from the...

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Travels of Lord Mito Pt.2

as uncredited
Released: 1952-03-06

At the transformed Fumaden (Demon Subduing) Temple, with the dynamic efforts of Sukesan and...

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Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches

as Mito Mitsukuni
First aired: 1986-01-02

The story of the battles between the 3 related families Kishu, Mito, and Owari, as each vies for...

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Sanada Yukimura

as uncredited
First aired: 1989-01-01

Lord Sanada along with his deadly ninja assassins Kirigakure Saizo and Sarutobi Sasuke attempt...

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The Diary of Chuji's Travels

as uncredited
First aired: 1992-02-24

A historical drama about the days of youth of the famous yakuza boss, the protector of ordinary...

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