Description:
Raizô Ichikawa was born on August 29, 1931 in Kyoto, Japan as Akio Kamezaki, at the age of 6 months was adopted by his uncle Kazo Takeuchi (kabuki actor Kudanji Ichikawa III) as Yoshio Takeuchi. Started his kabuki career in 1946 as Enzo Ichikawa II. In 1951 he was both re-adopted by Shôzô Ôta (actor Jukai Ichikawa III) as Yoshiya Ôta and changed his stage name to Raizô Ichikawa VIII. He is known in cinema for Conflagration (1958), Ninja, a Band of Assassins (1962) and The Outcast (1962). Raizô Ichikawa died on July 17, 1969 in Tokyo, Japan from hepatic metastases of colon cancer.
Birthday
August 29, 1931
Born In
Kyoto, Japan
Alternative names
Yoshio Takeuchi
Height
173 cm
Spouse/Ex-
Masako Ota 1962 - July 17, 1969 (his death)
Trivia
In 1949, Raizo formed a study group with two other young kabuki performers. These were Risho Arashi (known later in his kabuki career as Arashi Kichisaburo VIII, and as Yataro Kitagami in his acting career) and Nakamura Taro II. They called this group the "Tsukushikai" which can be translated as "exhaustive meeting," and together they focused diligently on training.
Quotes
[Speaking of transition from Kabuki to films] In Kabuki you're no good unless you're old. In film you're no good once you're old. While I'm still young I'll make a living in film, once I've gotten older I'll try kabuki again.
Nickname
Enzo Ichikawa
Trademarks
Known for his graceful body movements.
