Yoshinobu Ikeda

Biography

His real name was Ikeda Yoshitomi, and he was born in Nagano in 1892. Although he became employed in the local Nagano Post Office telegraphic services after graduating from telegraphic communication school, at that point he already showed interest in literature and acting. He left for Tokyo to look for the playwright Tsumura Kyoson, and studied under the tutelage of Kako Zanmu, a Shinpa stage director, after which went to Hongo Theater of Shochiku Shinpa and learned about stage directing. He joined Shochiku Kamata Studios with his mentor Kako Zanmu in 1920 upon its establishment. He got training as assistant director and scriptwriter, in particular from the chief manager of the studio and president of the Hongo Theater, Nomura Hotei, and learned the Shinpa tactics for directing. He marked his directorial debut with Ikasanu Naka with his real name Ikeda Yoshitomi in 1921, and thereafter made more than 10 films per year, creating many pieces starring Kurishima Sumiko, who had been the star actress of Shochiku. Her beautiful looks coupled with his ambition brought the general public into theaters. Although he married Kurishima in 1924, they kept it a secret from the public so that it will not destabilize her popularity. He managed many melodramas and celebrity actor films, which were what Shochiku mostly made, and trained Shimizu Hiroshi, Sasaki Keisuke, and Fukada Shuzo. After becoming an administrator when the studio moved to Ofuna in 1936, he assisted the then chief manager Kido as the general manager of planning and production. In 1943, he was the substitute chief manager of Shochiku Kyoto Studios. Following his retirement from Shochiku, he worked as a bureau chief of Eiren (Alliance of Japan Film Production Companies) and oversaw the regulations the Japanese film companies. At the same time, he was the vice chairman of Eirin. Ikeda Yoshinobu died in 1973, at the age of 81.