Kenichi Enomoto

Known for ActingBorn 1904-10-11Died 1970-01-07Aoyama, 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.Read more

Movies & web series

These Foolish Times

Hyoroku's Dream Tale

Enoken's Surprising Life

Enoken’s Ten Millions

誰よりも金を愛す

Diary of the First Incredible Laughing Trip

Kin no tamago: Golden Girl

The Admirable Isshin Tasuke!

Enoken’s Shrewd Period

Excursion to Treasure Isle

Masura o hashutsu fukai

Fighting Cha Cha Girl

The Tokyo Kid

Until Victory Day

The Man Who Waited

Enoken's Cropped Hair

Enoken's Chikiri Kinta Part 1 – Momma, the Hat: The Nice Way

Enoken’s Ten Millions Sequel

Enoken's Chikiri Kinta Part 2 – Returning Is Scary, but the Weather Will Clear If You Wait

むっつり右門捕物帖 鬼面屋敷

Life Is like a Somersault

Sagohei the Three-footer

The Monkey King

The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail

Four Love Stories

The Three Treasures

次郎長社長と石松社員 威風堂々

The Dangoro Party in the Sky

A Country Boss

Pleasant Company

The Happy-Go-Lucky Guy

Zoku bantōhan to detchidon

The Beloved Imposters

Nitōhei monogatari: Aa senyū no maki

Dai Abare Tokaido

The Paradise Island Story

とんちんかん八百八町

Elephant from "Zoo Story"

らくだの馬さん

A Doting Parent’s Lullaby

Nonki saiban

Tomboy Daughter Diary

Bridal Candidates

Enomoto's Heaven and Hell

Love Express

A Long Comic Story-Houses' Ghost Affairs

Fighting Yasubei

Grease Paint Serenade

むっつり右門捕物帖鬼面屋敷

次郎長社長と石松社員威風堂々