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.

Known For	Acting
Most Rating	5.726
Birthday	1904-10-11
Place of Birth	Aoyama, Tokyo
Also Known As	Ken'ichi Enomoto, 榎本健一, エノケン, Enoken,

Enoken's Kondo Isami

Enoken's Donguri Tonbei

The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail

Enoken's Hokaibo

The Man Who Waited

The Monkey King

Enoken's Singing Detective Story

The Happy-Go-Lucky Guy

The Tokyo Kid

Romantic and Crazy

Nitōhei monogatari: Aa senyū no maki

誰よりも金を愛す

Excursion to Treasure Isle

The Adventures of Tobisuke

Rivals

Enoken’s Kinta the Pickpocket

Enoken's Chakkiri Kinta Part 2: Returning Is Scary, But the Weather Will Clear If You Wait

Enoken's The Magician

Enoken's The Millionaire, Part 1

Enoken's The Millionaire, Part 2

Enoken's Sarutobi Sasuke

Enoken's Kurama Tengu

Enoken's Mori no Ishimatsu

Enoken's Yaji and Kita

Enoken's Zangiri Kinta

Enoken Enters the Ring

Enoken's Home Run King

A Country Boss

Masura o hashutsu fukai

The Three Treasures

Four Love Stories

The Paradise Island Story

Hyoroku's Dream Tale

These Foolish Times

Exploits of Heisuke Isokawa

Idaten Kaido

Sagohei the Three-footer

Diary of the First Incredible Laughing Trip

Pleasant Company

The Well-known Magistrate

Dai Abare Tokaido

Kin no tamago: Golden Girl

Enoken's Bow-Wow General

Enomoto's Heaven and Hell

人生とんぼ返り

Enoken’s Boxing Generation

次郎長社長と石松社員 威風堂々

The Dangoro Party in the Sky

A Doting Parent’s Lullaby

Until Victory Day

Enoken roppa no yajikita bugiugi dōchū

The Beloved Imposters

Enoken ohako rakuda no Ma-san

Fighting Yasubei

Enoken's Surprising Life

Enoken’s Shrewd Period

天晴れ一心太助

Uta e! Taiyō

聟入り豪華船

Enoken the Hero

次郎長社長と石松社員威風堂々