Kenichi Enomoto

Kenichi Enomoto

Acting
Born 1904-10-11 - Died 1970-01-07Aoyama, 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.

Movies (83)

A Country Boss

A Country Boss

1962Movie
誰よりも金を愛す
9.0

誰よりも金を愛す

1961Movie9.0
Exploits of Heisuke Isokawa

Exploits of Heisuke Isokawa

1942Movie
Nonki saiban

Nonki saiban

1955Movie
A Long, Comic Story — Houses at the Summer Festival

A Long, Comic Story — Houses at the Summer Festival

1954Movie
The Band in Paradise: Acharaka's Big Hit

The Band in Paradise: Acharaka's Big Hit

1956Movie
Masura o hashutsu fukai
8.0

Masura o hashutsu fukai

1956Movie8.0
Heavenly Comic Story of a Gentleman

Heavenly Comic Story of a Gentleman

1960Movie
The Three Treasures
5.5

The Three Treasures

1959Movie5.5
The Happy-Go-Lucky Guy

The Happy-Go-Lucky Guy

1961Movie
A Long, Comic Story of Houses in Their Prime

A Long, Comic Story of Houses in Their Prime

1954Movie
The Paradise Island Story

The Paradise Island Story

1957Movie
The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail
6.7

The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail

1952Movie6.7
Love Express

Love Express

1954Movie
Muttsuri Umon's Detective Stories: The Demon Mask Mansion
7.0

Muttsuri Umon's Detective Stories: The Demon Mask Mansion

1955Movie7.0
Pleasant Company

Pleasant Company

1962Movie
Kin no tamago: Golden Girl
9.0

Kin no tamago: Golden Girl

1952Movie9.0
Idaten Kaido

Idaten Kaido

1944Movie
Until Victory Day
8.0

Until Victory Day

1945Movie8.0
A Long Comic Story-Houses' Ghost Affairs

A Long Comic Story-Houses' Ghost Affairs

1954Movie
Four Love Stories
6.2

Four Love Stories

1947Movie6.2
Dai Abare Tokaido

Dai Abare Tokaido

1958Movie
Uta e! Taiyō

Uta e! Taiyō

1945Movie
A Doting Parent’s Lullaby

A Doting Parent’s Lullaby

1955Movie
Enomoto's Heaven and Hell

Enomoto's Heaven and Hell

1954Movie
次郎長社長と石松社員 威風堂々

次郎長社長と石松社員 威風堂々

1962Movie
The 99th Bride

The 99th Bride

1947Movie
The Well-known Magistrate

The Well-known Magistrate

1951Movie
Elephant from "Zoo Story"

Elephant from "Zoo Story"

1957Movie
Enoken ohako rakuda no Ma-san

Enoken ohako rakuda no Ma-san

1950Movie
Enoken's Mori no Ishimatsu

Enoken's Mori no Ishimatsu

1939Movie
Umon's Detective Stories: The One-Eyed Wolf

Umon's Detective Stories: The One-Eyed Wolf

1951Movie
Fighting Cha Cha Girl
8.0

Fighting Cha Cha Girl

1956Movie8.0
These Foolish Times
10.0

These Foolish Times

1947Movie10.0
Nonsense Detective Story: The Phantom Woman

Nonsense Detective Story: The Phantom Woman

1952Movie
Enoken no bikkuri shakkuri jidai

Enoken no bikkuri shakkuri jidai

1948Movie
Sagohei the Three-footer
7.0

Sagohei the Three-footer

1944Movie7.0
Tomboy Daughter Diary

Tomboy Daughter Diary

1955Movie
Enoken’s Shrewd Period
9.0

Enoken’s Shrewd Period

1939Movie9.0
Excursion to Treasure Isle
8.0

Excursion to Treasure Isle

1956Movie8.0
The Man Who Waited
8.0

The Man Who Waited

1942Movie8.0
Nitōhei monogatari: Aa senyū no maki

Nitōhei monogatari: Aa senyū no maki

1958Movie
Life Is like a Somersault
7.0

Life Is like a Somersault

1946Movie7.0
Enoken's Chikiri Kinta Part 1 – Momma, the Hat: The Nice Way
8.0

Enoken's Chikiri Kinta Part 1 – Momma, the Hat: The Nice Way

1937Movie8.0
Enoken's Bow-Wow General

Enoken's Bow-Wow General

1940Movie
The Beloved Imposters

The Beloved Imposters

1958Movie
The Monkey King
7.0

The Monkey King

1940Movie7.0
A Luxurious Ship for the Bridegroom

A Luxurious Ship for the Bridegroom

1947Movie
The Adventures of Tobisuke

The Adventures of Tobisuke

1949Movie
Grease Paint Serenade

Grease Paint Serenade

1952Movie
Enoken roppa no yajikita bugiugi dōchū

Enoken roppa no yajikita bugiugi dōchū

1950Movie
Enoken's Surprising Life
10.0

Enoken's Surprising Life

1938Movie10.0
Enoken's Chikiri Kinta Part 2 – Returning Is Scary, but the Weather Will Clear If You Wait
7.5

Enoken's Chikiri Kinta Part 2 – Returning Is Scary, but the Weather Will Clear If You Wait

1937Movie7.5
Romantic and Crazy

Romantic and Crazy

1934Movie
The Admirable Isshin Tasuke!
9.0

The Admirable Isshin Tasuke!

1945Movie9.0
Enoken the Hero

Enoken the Hero

1950Movie
Niji o tsukamu odoriko

Niji o tsukamu odoriko

1963Movie
Diary of the First Incredible Laughing Trip
9.0

Diary of the First Incredible Laughing Trip

1955Movie9.0
Zoku bantōhan to detchidon

Zoku bantōhan to detchidon

1960Movie
Enoken Enters the Ring

Enoken Enters the Ring

1940Movie
Fighting Yasubei

Fighting Yasubei

1952Movie
Hyoroku's Dream Tale
10.0

Hyoroku's Dream Tale

1943Movie10.0
The Tokyo Kid
8.0

The Tokyo Kid

1950Movie8.0
The Dangoro Party in the Sky

The Dangoro Party in the Sky

1962Movie
Enoken's Home Run King

Enoken's Home Run King

1948Movie
Enoken's Cropped Hair
8.0

Enoken's Cropped Hair

1940Movie8.0
Enoken’s Ten Millions Sequel
8.0

Enoken’s Ten Millions Sequel

1936Movie8.0
Enoken’s Ten Millions
10.0

Enoken’s Ten Millions

1936Movie10.0
とんちんかん八百八町

とんちんかん八百八町

1957Movie
Enoken's Yaji and Kita

Enoken's Yaji and Kita

1939Movie
らくだの馬さん

らくだの馬さん

1957Movie
Enoken's Hokaibo

Enoken's Hokaibo

1938Movie
Enoken's The Magician

Enoken's The Magician

1934Movie
Enoken's Sarutobi Sasuke

Enoken's Sarutobi Sasuke

1937Movie
Enoken's Singing Detective Story

Enoken's Singing Detective Story

1948Movie
Enoken's Kondo Isami

Enoken's Kondo Isami

1935Movie
Rivals

Rivals

1939Movie
Enoken's Kurama Tengu

Enoken's Kurama Tengu

1939Movie
Enoken’s Boxing Generation

Enoken’s Boxing Generation

1949Movie
Enoken's Donguri Tonbei

Enoken's Donguri Tonbei

1936Movie
The More-You-Fall-In-Love Story

The More-You-Fall-In-Love Story

1956Movie
Bridal Candidates

Bridal Candidates

1955Movie
Comical Detective Story: Hatchan's First Adventure

Comical Detective Story: Hatchan's First Adventure

1955Movie