Kenichi Enomoto
Acting · Born Oct 11, 1904 · Died Jan 7, 1970 (65) · Aoyama, Tokyo
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
Films
A Monk in the Big City of Edo
1965
Niji o tsukamu odoriko
1963
Dangoro's 'Above the Clouds' Group' Sequel
1963
The Dangoro Party in the Sky
1962
Pleasant Company
1962
A Country Boss
1962
次郎長社長と石松社員 威風堂々
1962
Zoku bantōhan to detchidon
1960
Heavenly Comic Story of a Gentleman
1960
The Three Treasures
19595.5
Nitōhei monogatari: Aa senyū no maki
1958
Dai Abare Tokaido
1958
The Beloved Imposters
1958
Big Edo's 1,000 Ryo Festival
1958
Zenigata Heiji torimono hikae: hachi-nin no hanayome
1958
Elephant from "Zoo Story"
1957
とんちんかん八百八町
1957
らくだの馬さん
1957
The Paradise Island Story
1957
The More-You-Fall-In-Love Story
1956
Excursion to Treasure Isle
19568.0
The Band in Paradise: Acharaka's Big Hit
1956
The Band in Paradise: Acharaka Is Born
1956
Fighting Cha Cha Girl
19568.0
Masura no Hashitsu Sequel: It's Hard to Be a Company
1956
Masura o hashutsu fukai
19568.0
A Doting Parent’s Lullaby
1955
Zenigata heiji torimono hikae: Dokuro kago
1955
Muttsuri Umon's Detective Stories: The Demon Mask Mansion
19557.0
Nonki saiban
1955
Comical Detective Story: Hatchan's First Adventure
1955
Bridal Candidates
1955
Tomboy Daughter Diary
1955
Diary of the First Incredible Laughing Trip
19559.0
Enomoto's Heaven and Hell
1954
A Long Comic Story-Houses' Ghost Affairs
1954
A Long, Comic Story — Houses at the Summer Festival
1954
A Long, Comic Story of Houses in Their Prime
1954
Fighting Yasubei
1952
Kin no tamago: Golden Girl
19529.0
The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail
19526.7
Grease Paint Serenade
1952
Umon's Detective Stories: The One-Eyed Wolf
1951
Enoken the Hero
1950
The Tokyo Kid
19508.0
Enoken roppa no yajikita bugiugi dōchū
1950
Enoken ohako rakuda no Ma-san
1950
The Adventures of Tobisuke
1949
Enoken’s Boxing Generation
1949
Enoken's Home Run King
1948
Enoken no bikkuri shakkuri jidai
1948
These Foolish Times
194710.0
The 99th Bride
1947
Four Love Stories
19476.2
A Luxurious Ship for the Bridegroom
1947
Life Is like a Somersault
19467.0
Uta e! Taiyō
1945
Until Victory Day
19458.0
The Admirable Isshin Tasuke!
19459.0
Sagohei the Three-footer
19447.0
Idaten Kaido
1944
Hyoroku's Dream Tale
194310.0
Exploits of Heisuke Isokawa
1942
The Man Who Waited
19428.0
The Monkey King
19407.0
Enoken's Bow-Wow General
1940
Enoken Enters the Ring
1940
Rivals
1939
Enoken’s Shrewd Period
19399.0
Enoken's Surprising Life
193810.0
Enoken's Chikiri Kinta Part 2 – Returning Is Scary, but the Weather Will Clear If You Wait
19377.5
Enoken's Chikiri Kinta Part 1 – Momma, the Hat: The Nice Way
19378.0
Enoken’s Ten Millions Sequel
19368.0
Enoken’s Ten Millions
193610.0
Romantic and Crazy
1934