Kenichi Enomoto
Date of birth: 1904-10-11
Place of birth: Aoyama, Tokyo
Known for: Acting
Also known as: Ken'ichi Enomoto, エノケン, Enoken
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.
Movie Credits
Kin no tamago: Golden Girl
1952-05-14
Once an average and seemingly ordinary Tokyo girl, she suddenly finds herself as a TV star owing to
次郎長社長と石松社員 威風堂々
1962-01-09
1962 Japanese movie
Enoken's Bow-Wow General
1940-07-16
Enoken no wanwan taishô AKA Wanwan Taisho AKA Bowwow General directed by Nobuo Nakagawa
Enomoto's Heaven and Hell
1954-10-12
Keita, after his death, was taken to the court of heaven as Defendant No. 1361, where his past was
The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail
1952-04-24
A fugitive lord and his six retainers disguise themselves as monks to bluff their way through a host
The Dangoro Party in the Sky
1962-04-15
The film adaptation of Kazuo Kikuta novel "Kumo no Ue Dangoro Ichiza", which enjoyed great success a
A Doting Parent’s Lullaby
1955-11-01
Enoken roppa no yajikita bugiugi dōchū
1950-07-09
1950 Japanese movie
The Beloved Imposters
1958-11-11
1958 Mito Kōmon film.
Until Victory Day
1945-01-25
An Invention laboratory is working on the creation of a performance 'bomb' in the shape of a rocket
Life Is like a Somersault
1946-06-27
After learning that he has accidentally killed a man in a fight, Unokichi must look after the man's
Enoken ohako rakuda no Ma-san
1950-03-26
1950 Japanese movie
Fighting Yasubei
1952-07-30
Yasube Nakayama left the clan and lives in Edo. One day, Yasubei visits his uncle Rokuroemon Kanno t
Enoken's Surprising Life
1938-12-29
Enoken’s Shrewd Period
1939-01-11
The Admirable Isshin Tasuke!
1945-01-11
1945 Japanese movie
The Monkey King
1940-11-06
A legendary pre-war comedy operetta starring Enomoto Kenichi, Hideko Takamine and Li Xianglan. The S
Enoken's Singing Detective Story
1948-12-31
A modern take on history with songs and comedy presented by Enoken (as Gonza), Fujiyama (as Sukeju),
The Happy-Go-Lucky Guy
1961-12-06
A group of four chorus singers leave their hometown in Kyushu and go to Tokyo to become stars. It’s
Enoken’s Boxing Generation
1949-02-08
Near the end of the Taisho era (1912-1926), Enokichi, a popular figure in the world of boxing entang
Romantic and Crazy
1934-05-03
Uta e! Taiyō
1945-11-22
1945 Japanese movie
誰よりも金を愛す
1961-02-02
Japanese comedy film.
Excursion to Treasure Isle
1956-07-20
The story is a dramatization of the Japanese folklore legend of Momotaro, the Peach Boy, who with hi
聟入り豪華船
1947-01-14
Nitōhei monogatari: Aa senyū no maki
1958-12-28
Fifth sequel to "Story of Second Class Private".
The Adventures of Tobisuke
1949-09-27
Tobisuke, puppeteer in Kyôtô, saves O-fuku's life. Wounded in the head, it can now count to three. O
Enoken the Hero
1950-10-15
Set in the Sengoku period, Tokugawa vassal Yakurota (Kenichi Enomoto) helps the older sister and twi
Nonki saiban
1955-04-24
A spectacular comedy with a star-studded cast that depicts unusual trials and unexpected verdicts re
The Man Who Waited
1942-04-23
A bizarre murder at a hot springs resort threatens to disrupt an Edo detective's (Hasegawa) vacatio
Rivals
1939-09-19
Two hyper-competitive salarymen let their workplace rivalry spill over into their private lives, as
Enoken's Chikiri Kinta Part 1 – Momma, the Hat: The Nice Way
1937-07-11
A comedic tale told in four parts, this film follows the antics of the pickpocket Kinta as he is pur
Enoken's Chikiri Kinta Part 2 – Returning Is Scary, but the Weather Will Clear If You Wait
1937-08-01
1930s Japanese comedy.
Enoken's The Magician
1934-10-25
Enoken plays a magician real powers come from his magical hat. A jealous theater owner sends girls,
Enoken's Kondo Isami
1935-10-11
Enoken plays both Kondo Isami and his deadly enemy Sakamoto Ryoma in this comedic, song-filled visio
Enoken's Donguri Tonbei
1936-01-31
Enoken plays a frog-oil-hawking conman whose claims to martial prowess land him in hot water with th
Enoken’s Ten Millions
1936-07-21
Enoken plays a cloistered rich kid whose father hires a disreputable tutor to teach him how to reall
Enoken’s Ten Millions Sequel
1936-09-01
The story picks up from Part 1 as Enoken's young scion forsakes his wealth and takes a department st
Enoken's Sarutobi Sasuke
1937-12-31
Enoken plays legendary ninja Sarutobi Sasuke, whose magical powers never help as much as expected -
Enoken's Hokaibo
1938-06-21
An irreverent take on a medieval Noh drama, Hokaibo sees Enoken play the titular monk whose lusts dr
Enoken's Kurama Tengu
1939-05-21
The legendary ninja Kurama Tengu (Enoken) uses his superhuman powers to help free a band of street u
Enoken's Mori no Ishimatsu
1939-08-10
A typically modern take on the well-known Naniwabushi character (and real life 19th-century gangster
Enoken's Yaji and Kita
1939-12-29
Enoken's anachronistic take on the beloved (and already very funny) Edo-period novel "Shank's Mare,"
Enoken's Cropped Hair
1940-03-27
Enoken's pickpocket Kinta (returned from the Chakkiri Kinta movies) finds some unexpected trouble: a
Enoken Enters the Ring
1940-05-15
Enoken trains to be a great sumo wrestler.
Enoken's Home Run King
1948-09-07
Postwar! Baseball! Comedy! Enoken plays a superfan of the Yomiuri Giants – the real Tokyo team, with
The Tokyo Kid
1950-09-09
A young, talented singer (Misora) is orphaned, not once but twice, and has to turn to a rather unlik
A Country Boss
1962-01-25
A country boss gives up his way of life because of his daughter's marriage.
Masura o hashutsu fukai
1956-02-05
Based on a comic strip by Kaoru Akiyoshi. First in a four part film series.
The Three Treasures
1959-11-01
The legend of the birth of Shintoism. In Fourth Century Japan, the Emperor's son Ouso expects to suc
The Paradise Island Story
1957-01-29
Musical-comedy about nine soldiers deserted on an island in South Pacific.
Four Love Stories
1947-04-01
Omnibus of love stories from 1947 directed by famous directors, featuring big stars.
Hyoroku's Dream Tale
1943-04-01
These Foolish Times
1947-10-12
Exploits of Heisuke Isokawa
1942-11-05
Idaten Kaido
1944-01-14
Sagohei the Three-footer
1944-07-06
Diary of the First Incredible Laughing Trip
1955-01-03
Pleasant Company
1962-03-07
The Well-known Magistrate
1951-06-07
Dai Abare Tokaido
1958-12-28
An entertainment movie featuring familiar faces of Toyama no Kin-san, Nezumi Kozo, Yaji Kita, and ot
とんちんかん八百八町
1957-02-25
Tomo no shichijo, Mikawa CHO, who captured the mysterious robbery of a bird who had made a mistake i
むっつり右門捕物帖 鬼面屋敷
1955-07-06
1955 Japanese movie
Umon's Detective Stories: The One-Eyed Wolf
1951-01-08
Elephant from "Zoo Story"
1957-04-09
The fifth film in the Toho Diamond series, following "The Hateful Thing." Based on the true story of
Zoku bantōhan to detchidon
1960-08-21
1960 Japanese movie
Tomboy Daughter Diary
1955-01-09
Olympic gymnast Yukiko resists marriage plans, stumbling into a newspaper job under reporter Tsubasa
Bridal Candidates
1955-01-22
Rookie reporter Yukiko helps save the failing Miyako Times with her friends, while romance and comic
Fighting Cha Cha Girl
1956-05-24
After winning a singing contest, Momoko leaves her rural village for Tokyo to pursue her dream. Misu