Acting
Kenichi Enomoto
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Kenichi Enomoto (October 11, 1904 – January 7, 1970) was a popular Japanese singing comedian, mostly known by his stage name Enoken. A major innovator during his heyday, Enoken's stage shows, radio appearances, and film roles were a major influence within Tokyo theatre before World War II, and was a catalyst for the revival of comedy in the postwar period. Born in Aoyama, Tokyo, the son of rice cracker shop owners, Enomoto fell under the spell of such stars of the Asakusa Opera as Taya Rikizo and Fujiwara Yoshie, and in 1922 he made his stage debut at age 18 as a chorus member of the Asakusa Kinryukan Theatre. The Great Kanto Earthquake of the following year dealt a great blow to the opera world in Tokyo, at which time Enomoto shifted to comic theatre. Playing small roles in various comedy productions, he returned to the Asakusa stage in 1929 as part of the troupe Casino Folly. The following year saw him launch his own troupe, Enoken Gekidan, which would firmly establish him as a leading figure in Tokyo theatrical circles. In 1934, he starred in the movie Enoken no Seishun Suikoden (Enoken’s Tale of Youth’s Folly), and gained national popularity. His subsequent film career saw him parody a whole parade of Japanese historical personages, including Kondo Isami and Sakamoto Ryoma, in a series of "jidai-geki" (historical dramas) and "chanbara" (samurai drama) films, including some directed by Kajirō Yamamoto, Nobuo Nakagawa and Akira Kurosawa. Enomoto became afflicted with necrosis of the right leg in the 1950s, which required amputation, curtailing his film and stage career. He did, however, make a legendary comeback at the Shinjuku Koma Theatre 1963 wearing a prosthetic leg. He died in 1970, and is entombed in Hase Temple in Nishi-Azabu, Minato, Tokyo, on whose tombstone is inscribed "The King of Comedy". Description above from the Wikipedia article Kenichi Enomoto, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Filmography
A Monk in the Big City of Edo
Film · 1965
Niji o tsukamu odoriko
Film · 1963
Dangoro's 'Above the Clouds' Group' Sequel
Film · 1963
次郎長社長と石松社員 威風堂々
Film · 1962
The Dangoro Party in the Sky
Film · 1962
A Country Boss
Film · 1962
Pleasant Company
Film · 1962
The Happy-Go-Lucky Guy
Film · 1961
誰よりも金を愛す
Film · 1961
Zoku bantōhan to detchidon
Film · 1960
Heavenly Comic Story of a Gentleman
Film · 1960
The Three Treasures
Film · 1959
Big Laugh Festival of the Edo-ites
Film · 1959
The Beloved Imposters
Film · 1958
Nitōhei monogatari: Aa senyū no maki
Film · 1958
Dai Abare Tokaido
Film · 1958
Big Edo's 1,000 Ryo Festival
Film · 1958
Zenigata Heiji torimono hikae: hachi-nin no hanayome
Film · 1958
The Paradise Island Story
Film · 1957
とんちんかん八百八町
Film · 1957
Elephant from "Zoo Story"
Film · 1957
らくだの馬さん
Film · 1957
Excursion to Treasure Isle
Film · 1956
Masura o hashutsu fukai
Film · 1956
Fighting Cha Cha Girl
Film · 1956
The Band in Paradise: Acharaka's Big Hit
Film · 1956
The More-You-Fall-In-Love Story
Film · 1956
The Band in Paradise: Acharaka Is Born
Film · 1956
Masura no Hashitsu Sequel: It's Hard to Be a Company
Film · 1956
A Doting Parent’s Lullaby
Film · 1955
Nonki saiban
Film · 1955
Diary of the First Incredible Laughing Trip
Film · 1955
Muttsuri Umon's Detective Stories: The Demon Mask Mansion
Film · 1955
Tomboy Daughter Diary
Film · 1955
Bridal Candidates
Film · 1955
Comical Detective Story: Hatchan's First Adventure
Film · 1955
Zenigata heiji torimono hikae: Dokuro kago
Film · 1955
Enomoto's Heaven and Hell
Film · 1954
Love Express
Film · 1954
A Long Comic Story-Houses' Ghost Affairs
Film · 1954
A Long, Comic Story of Houses in Their Prime
Film · 1954
A Long, Comic Story — Houses at the Summer Festival
Film · 1954
Kin no tamago: Golden Girl
Film · 1952
The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail
Film · 1952
Fighting Yasubei
Film · 1952
Grease Paint Serenade
Film · 1952
Nonsense Detective Story: The Phantom Woman
Film · 1952
The Well-known Magistrate
Film · 1951
Umon's Detective Stories: The One-Eyed Wolf
Film · 1951
Enoken roppa no yajikita bugiugi dōchū
Film · 1950
Enoken ohako rakuda no Ma-san
Film · 1950
Enoken the Hero
Film · 1950
The Tokyo Kid
Film · 1950
Enoken’s Boxing Generation
Film · 1949
The Adventures of Tobisuke
Film · 1949
Enoken's Singing Detective Story
Film · 1948
Enoken's Home Run King
Film · 1948
Enoken no bikkuri shakkuri jidai
Film · 1948
A Luxurious Ship for the Bridegroom
Film · 1947
Four Love Stories
Film · 1947
These Foolish Times
Film · 1947
The 99th Bride
Film · 1947
Life Is like a Somersault
Film · 1946
Until Victory Day
Film · 1945
The Admirable Isshin Tasuke!
Film · 1945
Uta e! Taiyō
Film · 1945
Idaten Kaido
Film · 1944
Sagohei the Three-footer
Film · 1944
Hyoroku's Dream Tale
Film · 1943
The Man Who Waited
Film · 1942
Exploits of Heisuke Isokawa
Film · 1942
Enoken's Bow-Wow General
Film · 1940
The Monkey King
Film · 1940
Enoken's Cropped Hair
Film · 1940
Enoken Enters the Ring
Film · 1940
Enoken’s Shrewd Period
Film · 1939
Rivals
Film · 1939
Enoken's Yaji and Kita
Film · 1939
Enoken's Mori no Ishimatsu
Film · 1939
Enoken's Kurama Tengu
Film · 1939
Enoken's Surprising Life
Film · 1938
Enoken's Hokaibo
Film · 1938
Enoken's Sarutobi Sasuke
Film · 1937
Enoken's Chikiri Kinta Part 2 – Returning Is Scary, but the Weather Will Clear If You Wait
Film · 1937
Enoken's Chikiri Kinta Part 1 – Momma, the Hat: The Nice Way
Film · 1937
Enoken’s Ten Millions
Film · 1936
Enoken's Donguri Tonbei
Film · 1936
Enoken’s Ten Millions Sequel
Film · 1936
Enoken's Kondo Isami
Film · 1935
Romantic and Crazy
Film · 1934
Enoken's The Magician
Film · 1934