Biography
Ichikawa Raizō VIII (also credited as Raizō Ichikawa) was a Japanese film and kabuki actor. Born Akio Kamezaki on 29 August 1931 in Kyoto, he began performing in kabuki as a teenager under the name Ichikawa Enzō before being adopted into the Ichikawa lineage and taking the Raizō VIII name in 1951. He started his film career in 1954.
He appeared primarily in period dramas (jidaigeki) and is known for series including Sleepy Eyes of Death (Nemuri Kyoshirō), Ninja (Shinobi no Mono) and Nakano Spy School (Rikugun Nakano Gakkō). He collaborated frequently with director Kenji Misumi on films such as The Sword (Ken, 1964) and Destiny's Son (Kiru, 1962). His other notable works include An Actor's Revenge (Yukinojō henge, 1963), in which he played Hirutaro.
Ichikawa received acclaim for his leading role in Enjō (1958). He died of rectal cancer on 17 July 1969 in Tokyo.
