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.
75 acting credits
Acting · 75
The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail
1952
The Three Treasures
1959
Nonki saiban
1955
The Monkey King
1940
Kin no tamago: Golden Girl
1952
Enoken’s Ten Millions
1936
Hyoroku's Dream Tale
1943
A Country Boss
1962
Elephant from "Zoo Story"
1957
A Doting Parent’s Lullaby
1955
The Man Who Waited
1942
Enoken’s Boxing Generation
1949
Four Love Stories
1947
Life Is like a Somersault
1946
The Dangoro Party in the Sky
1962
Fighting Yasubei
1952
These Foolish Times
1947
Enomoto's Heaven and Hell
1954
Until Victory Day
1945
Umon's Detective Stories: The One-Eyed Wolf
1951
The Adventures of Tobisuke
1949
Sagohei the Three-footer
1944
Enoken's Chikiri Kinta Part 2 – Returning Is Scary, but the Weather Will Clear If You Wait
1937
Enoken's Chikiri Kinta Part 1 – Momma, the Hat: The Nice Way
1937
聟入り豪華船
1947
Masura o hashutsu fukai
1956
Excursion to Treasure Isle
1956
Enoken's Cropped Hair
1940
Enoken's Bow-Wow General
1940
Enoken's Mori no Ishimatsu
1939
Enoken’s Ten Millions Sequel
1936
Diary of the First Incredible Laughing Trip
1955
Exploits of Heisuke Isokawa
1942
Enoken's Kondo Isami
1935
The Well-known Magistrate
1951
むっつり右門捕物帖 鬼面屋敷
1955
Enoken's Hokaibo
1938
The Paradise Island Story
1957
Zoku bantōhan to detchidon
1960
Uta e! Taiyō
1945
The Tokyo Kid
1950
The Beloved Imposters
1958
The Admirable Isshin Tasuke!
1945
Enoken's Home Run King
1948
Enoken the Hero
1950
Romantic and Crazy
1934
Enoken's Kurama Tengu
1939
Rivals
1939
Enoken ohako rakuda no Ma-san
1950
Enoken's Surprising Life
1938
The Happy-Go-Lucky Guy
1961
Enoken's Donguri Tonbei
1936
Enoken's Yaji and Kita
1939
Nitōhei monogatari: Aa senyū no maki
1958
Enoken's Singing Detective Story
1948
Idaten Kaido
1944
誰よりも金を愛す
1961
Enoken's The Magician
1934
次郎長社長と石松社員 威風堂々
1962
Pleasant Company
1962
Enoken roppa no yajikita bugiugi dōchū
1950
Enoken's Sarutobi Sasuke
1937
Enoken’s Shrewd Period
1939
Fighting Cha Cha Girl
1956
Dai Abare Tokaido
1958
Enoken Enters the Ring
1940
Love Express
1954
とんちんかん八百八町
1957
Tomboy Daughter Diary
1955
Nonsense Detective Story: The Phantom Woman
1952
Grease Paint Serenade
1952
Bridal Candidates
1955
らくだの馬さん
1957
A Long Comic Story-Houses' Ghost Affairs
1954
The 99th Bride
1947