Kenichi Enomoto
Acting
- Born:
- 1904-10-11
- Died:
- 1970-01-07
- Place of birth:
- Aoyama, Tokyo
Biography
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.
Known For
Filmography
A Monk in the Big City of Edo
Niji o tsukamu odoriko
Dangoro's 'Above the Clouds' Group' Sequel
The Dangoro Party in the Sky
Pleasant Company
A Country Boss
次郎長社長と石松社員 威風堂々
The Happy-Go-Lucky Guy
誰よりも金を愛す
Zoku bantōhan to detchidon
Heavenly Comic Story of a Gentleman
The Three Treasures
Big Laugh Festival of the Edo-ites
Nitōhei monogatari: Aa senyū no maki
Dai Abare Tokaido
The Beloved Imposters
Big Edo's 1,000 Ryo Festival
Zenigata Heiji torimono hikae: hachi-nin no hanayome
Elephant from "Zoo Story"
とんちんかん八百八町
らくだの馬さん
The Paradise Island Story
The More-You-Fall-In-Love Story
Excursion to Treasure Isle
The Band in Paradise: Acharaka's Big Hit
The Band in Paradise: Acharaka Is Born
Fighting Cha Cha Girl
Masura no Hashitsu Sequel: It's Hard to Be a Company
Masura o hashutsu fukai
A Doting Parent’s Lullaby
Zenigata heiji torimono hikae: Dokuro kago
Muttsuri Umon's Detective Stories: The Demon Mask Mansion
Nonki saiban
Comical Detective Story: Hatchan's First Adventure
Bridal Candidates
Tomboy Daughter Diary
Diary of the First Incredible Laughing Trip
Enomoto's Heaven and Hell
Love Express
A Long Comic Story-Houses' Ghost Affairs
A Long, Comic Story — Houses at the Summer Festival
A Long, Comic Story of Houses in Their Prime
Nonsense Detective Story: The Phantom Woman
Fighting Yasubei
Kin no tamago: Golden Girl
The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail
Grease Paint Serenade
The Well-known Magistrate
Umon's Detective Stories: The One-Eyed Wolf
Enoken the Hero
The Tokyo Kid
Enoken roppa no yajikita bugiugi dōchū
Enoken ohako rakuda no Ma-san
The Adventures of Tobisuke
Enoken’s Boxing Generation
Enoken's Singing Detective Story
Enoken's Home Run King
Enoken no bikkuri shakkuri jidai
These Foolish Times
The 99th Bride
Four Love Stories
A Luxurious Ship for the Bridegroom
Life Is like a Somersault
Uta e! Taiyō
Until Victory Day
The Admirable Isshin Tasuke!
Sagohei the Three-footer
Idaten Kaido
Hyoroku's Dream Tale
Exploits of Heisuke Isokawa
The Man Who Waited
The Monkey King
Enoken's Bow-Wow General
Enoken Enters the Ring
Enoken's Cropped Hair
Enoken's Yaji and Kita
Rivals
Enoken's Mori no Ishimatsu
Enoken's Kurama Tengu
Enoken’s Shrewd Period
Enoken's Surprising Life
Enoken's Hokaibo
Enoken's Sarutobi Sasuke
Enoken's Chikiri Kinta Part 2 – Returning Is Scary, but the Weather Will Clear If You Wait
Enoken's Chikiri Kinta Part 1 – Momma, the Hat: The Nice Way
Enoken’s Ten Millions Sequel
Enoken’s Ten Millions
Enoken's Donguri Tonbei
Enoken's Kondo Isami
Enoken's The Magician
Romantic and Crazy