Kenichi Enomoto
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.
Filmography
Niji o tsukamu odoriko
Niji o tsukamu odoriko
The Dangoro Party in the Sky
The Dangoro Party in the Sky
Pleasant Company
Pleasant Company
A Country Boss
as Ryunosuke Edohara
A Country Boss
as Ryunosuke Edohara
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
The Happy-Go-Lucky Guy
The Happy-Go-Lucky Guy
誰よりも金を愛す
誰よりも金を愛す
Zoku bantōhan to detchidon
Zoku bantōhan to detchidon
Heavenly Comic Story of a Gentleman
Heavenly Comic Story of a Gentleman
The Three Treasures
as God of Yaoyorozu
The Three Treasures
as God of Yaoyorozu
Nitōhei monogatari: Aa senyū no maki
Nitōhei monogatari: Aa senyū no maki
Dai Abare Tokaido
Dai Abare Tokaido
The Beloved Imposters
The Beloved Imposters
Elephant from "Zoo Story"
as Zen-san (Elephant Officer)
Elephant from "Zoo Story"
as Zen-san (Elephant Officer)
とんちんかん八百八町
とんちんかん八百八町
らくだの馬さん
らくだの馬さん
The Paradise Island Story
The Paradise Island Story
Excursion to Treasure Isle
as Sarukichi
Excursion to Treasure Isle
as Sarukichi
Fighting Cha Cha Girl
as Iwasuke Egawa
Fighting Cha Cha Girl
as Iwasuke Egawa
Masura o hashutsu fukai
Masura o hashutsu fukai
A Doting Parent’s Lullaby
A Doting Parent’s Lullaby
Muttsuri Umon's Detective Stories: The Demon Mask Mansion
Muttsuri Umon's Detective Stories: The Demon Mask Mansion
Nonki saiban
Nonki saiban
Bridal Candidates
as Yoshiro Ishibashi
Bridal Candidates
as Yoshiro Ishibashi
Tomboy Daughter Diary
as Ken'ichi Enomoto
Tomboy Daughter Diary
as Ken'ichi Enomoto
Diary of the First Incredible Laughing Trip
as Furaibo Kinta
Diary of the First Incredible Laughing Trip
as Furaibo Kinta
Enomoto's Heaven and Hell
Enomoto's Heaven and Hell
Love Express
Love Express
A Long Comic Story-Houses' Ghost Affairs
A Long Comic Story-Houses' Ghost Affairs
A Long, Comic Story — Houses at the Summer Festival
A Long, Comic Story — Houses at the Summer Festival
A Long, Comic Story of Houses in Their Prime
A Long, Comic Story of Houses in Their Prime
Nonsense Detective Story: The Phantom Woman
Nonsense Detective Story: The Phantom Woman
Fighting Yasubei
as Ginji Tateya
Fighting Yasubei
as Ginji Tateya
Kin no tamago: Golden Girl
Kin no tamago: Golden Girl
The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail
as Porter
The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail
as Porter
Grease Paint Serenade
as Kenichi Hanemoto
Grease Paint Serenade
as Kenichi Hanemoto
The Well-known Magistrate
The Well-known Magistrate
Umon's Detective Stories: The One-Eyed Wolf
Umon's Detective Stories: The One-Eyed Wolf
Enoken the Hero
as Onihime Yakurota
Enoken the Hero
as Onihime Yakurota
The Tokyo Kid
The Tokyo Kid
Enoken roppa no yajikita bugiugi dōchū
Enoken roppa no yajikita bugiugi dōchū
Enoken ohako rakuda no Ma-san
Enoken ohako rakuda no Ma-san
The Adventures of Tobisuke
as Tobisuke
The Adventures of Tobisuke
as Tobisuke
Enoken's Singing Detective Story
Enoken's Singing Detective Story
Enoken no bikkuri shakkuri jidai
Enoken no bikkuri shakkuri jidai
These Foolish Times
These Foolish Times
The 99th Bride
The 99th Bride
Four Love Stories
Four Love Stories
A Luxurious Ship for the Bridegroom
A Luxurious Ship for the Bridegroom
Life Is like a Somersault
Life Is like a Somersault
Uta e! Taiyō
Uta e! Taiyō
Until Victory Day
Until Victory Day
The Admirable Isshin Tasuke!
The Admirable Isshin Tasuke!
Idaten Kaido
Idaten Kaido
Hyoroku's Dream Tale
as Hyoroku Oishi
Hyoroku's Dream Tale
as Hyoroku Oishi
Exploits of Heisuke Isokawa
Exploits of Heisuke Isokawa
The Man Who Waited
The Man Who Waited
The Monkey King
as Son Goku
The Monkey King
as Son Goku
Enoken's Bow-Wow General
as Santa
Enoken's Bow-Wow General
as Santa
Enoken Enters the Ring
Enoken Enters the Ring
Enoken's Cropped Hair
Enoken's Cropped Hair
Enoken's Yaji and Kita
Enoken's Yaji and Kita
Rivals
Rivals
Enoken's Mori no Ishimatsu
Enoken's Mori no Ishimatsu
Enoken's Kurama Tengu
Enoken's Kurama Tengu
Enoken’s Shrewd Period
as Enoken
Enoken’s Shrewd Period
as Enoken
Enoken's Surprising Life
as Enoken
Enoken's Surprising Life
as Enoken
Enoken's Hokaibo
Enoken's Hokaibo
Enoken's Sarutobi Sasuke
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 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 Chikiri Kinta Part 1 – Momma, the Hat: The Nice Way
Enoken’s Ten Millions Sequel
as Enoken
Enoken’s Ten Millions Sequel
as Enoken
Enoken’s Ten Millions
Enoken’s Ten Millions
Enoken's Donguri Tonbei
Enoken's Donguri Tonbei
Enoken's Kondo Isami
as Kondo Isami / Sakamoto Ryoma
Enoken's Kondo Isami
as Kondo Isami / Sakamoto Ryoma
Enoken's The Magician
Enoken's The Magician
Romantic and Crazy
as Enoken
Romantic and Crazy
as Enoken