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Born Shimada Kiichiro in Kobe in 1898, Onoe studied under the tutelage of Ichikawa Ichizo and performed under the stage name of Ichikawa Momotaro, before joining Nikkatsu in 1920 and becoming the student of Onoe Matsunosuke.
In his film debut he at first retained the name Ichikawa Momotaro, later changing it to Onoe Kajo to share the name of his teacher, and becoming a regular in Onoe Matsunosuke's films. He played the role of the enemy, Murakami Saburobei, in Nakayama Yasubei, and he took the part of Oni Wakasanji in what became Matsunosuke's final film, Kyokotsu Mikazuki. Apart from these there a few films in which he played leading parts, and many more in which he had supporting roles.
After helping out Chiezo Productions in Kaikkyo Kontadasuke (The Extraordinary Kon Tadasuke), he took the opportunity to join them in 1934. He then proceeded to give moody performances as Karasuyama Hanbei in Budo Taikan ( The Martial Arts Encyclopedia), as the boss Heiji in Karitaro Kaido, and as Kawai Hanbei in Araki Mataemon. With tough, manly roles as his speciality, Onoe's typical parts included that of the bandit leader Kiso Saru in Kimagure Kaja, Okitsu Nanigashi, the samurai who foiled the plot of Harada Kai in Akanishi Kakita, and Mori's spy Ashisuke Magohachi, the man who rescued the hero, So Shuntaro and is cut to death in Tenpei Doji.
There is an episode in Benten Kozo (The Benten Kid), directed by Ito Daisuke, in which Onoe tattoos the back of Ichikawa Raizo. Onoe Kajo died in 1969.
