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.
Acted in 75
1960s
- 1965
A Monk in the Big City of Edo
Movie
- 1963
Niji o tsukamu odoriko
Movie
Dangoro's 'Above the Clouds' Group' Sequel
Movie
- 1962
The Dangoro Party in the Sky
Movie
Pleasant Company
Movie
- 1960
Zoku bantōhan to detchidon
Movie
1950s
- 1959
The Three Treasures
God of Yaoyorozu
- 1958
Nitōhei monogatari: Aa senyū no maki
Movie
Dai Abare Tokaido
Movie
The Beloved Imposters
Movie
Big Edo's 1,000 Ryo Festival
Movie
Zenigata Heiji torimono hikae: hachi-nin no hanayome
Movie
- 1957
とんちんかん八百八町
Movie
らくだの馬さん
Movie
The Paradise Island Story
Movie
- 1956
The More-You-Fall-In-Love Story
Movie
Excursion to Treasure Isle
Sarukichi
The Band in Paradise: Acharaka's Big Hit
Movie
The Band in Paradise: Acharaka Is Born
Movie
Fighting Cha Cha Girl
Iwasuke Egawa
Masura no Hashitsu Sequel: It's Hard to Be a Company
Movie
Masura o hashutsu fukai
Movie
- 1955
A Doting Parent’s Lullaby
Movie
Zenigata heiji torimono hikae: Dokuro kago
Movie
Muttsuri Umon's Detective Stories: The Demon Mask Mansion
Movie
Nonki saiban
Movie
Comical Detective Story: Hatchan's First Adventure
Movie
Bridal Candidates
Yoshiro Ishibashi
Tomboy Daughter Diary
Ken'ichi Enomoto
Diary of the First Incredible Laughing Trip
Furaibo Kinta
- 1954
A Long Comic Story-Houses' Ghost Affairs
Movie
A Long, Comic Story — Houses at the Summer Festival
Movie
A Long, Comic Story of Houses in Their Prime
Movie
- 1952
Fighting Yasubei
Ginji Tateya
Kin no tamago: Golden Girl
Movie
The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail
Porter
Grease Paint Serenade
Kenichi Hanemoto
- 1951
Umon's Detective Stories: The One-Eyed Wolf
Movie
- 1950
Enoken the Hero
Onihime Yakurota
Enoken roppa no yajikita bugiugi dōchū
Movie
Enoken ohako rakuda no Ma-san
Movie
1940s
- 1949
The Adventures of Tobisuke
Tobisuke
Enoken’s Boxing Generation
Movie
- 1948
Enoken's Home Run King
Movie
Enoken no bikkuri shakkuri jidai
Movie
- 1947
These Foolish Times
Movie
The 99th Bride
Movie
Four Love Stories
Movie
A Luxurious Ship for the Bridegroom
Movie
- 1946
Life Is like a Somersault
Movie
- 1945
Uta e! Taiyō
Movie
Until Victory Day
Movie
The Admirable Isshin Tasuke!
Movie
- 1944
Sagohei the Three-footer
'Three-Footer' Sagohei
Idaten Kaido
Movie
- 1943
Hyoroku's Dream Tale
Hyoroku Oishi
- 1942
Exploits of Heisuke Isokawa
Movie
The Man Who Waited
Movie
- 1940
The Monkey King
Son Goku
Enoken's Bow-Wow General
Santa
Enoken Enters the Ring
Movie
1930s
- 1939
Rivals
Movie
Enoken’s Shrewd Period
Enoken
- 1938
Enoken's Surprising Life
Enoken
- 1937
Enoken's Chikiri Kinta Part 2 – Returning Is Scary, but the Weather Will Clear If You Wait
Movie
Enoken's Chikiri Kinta Part 1 – Momma, the Hat: The Nice Way
Movie
- 1936
Enoken’s Ten Millions Sequel
Enoken
Enoken’s Ten Millions
Movie
- 1934
Romantic and Crazy
Enoken