Stage names:

Nakamura Shibajaku VII
Ôtani Hiromatsu I

Real name: Aoki Sadayuki

Guild: Kyôya

Line number: SHICHIDAIME (VII)

Birthday: 20 November 1955

Connections:

Great-grandfather: Nakamura Sagisuke II

Grandfathers: Ôtani Tomoemon VI, Matsumoto Kôshirô VII

Father: Nakamura Jakuemon IV

Brother: Ôtani Tomoemon VIII

Career:

February 1961: he makes his first appearance on stage at the Kabukiza and receives the name of Ôtani Hiromatsu I.

September 1964: Ôtani Hiromatsu I takes the name of Nakamura Shibajaku VII at the Kabukiza, playing in the classic "Imoseyama Onna Teikin".

August 1969: Shibajaku plays at the National Theater the role of Minamoto no Yoshitsune in the "Torii Mae" scene of the drama "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura", which is performed as the first edition of the "Sugi no Ko Kai" show. His stage partners are Nakamura Kankurô (Shizuka Gozen) and Nakamura Mitsuteru (Tadanobu).

April 1979: historic revival at the Meijiza of Tsuruya Namboku IV long-forgotten play "Haji Momiji Ase no Kaomise" (commonly called "Date no Jûyaku"); Shibajaku plays the role of Matsushima [casting].

July 1980: Shibajaku plays at the National Theater the role of Kyô no Kimi in the "Kawagoe Jôshi" scene of the classic "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".

September 1980: Shibajaku plays at the National Theater the role of Shizuka Gozen in the "Shi-no-Kiri" scene of the classic "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura".

October 1980: Shibajaku plays at the Sunshine Theater in Ikebukuro the role of Aoi Gozen in the "Sanemori Monogatari" act of the play "Gempei Nunobiki no Taki".

January 1983: revival of "Nanatsu Men" at the National Theater; Shibajaku plays the role of Yoritomo's daughter Princess Ô [casting].

July 1984: Shibajaku plays at the National Theater the role of Okaru in the "Gion Ichiriki Jaya" scene of the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura". His stage partners are Kataoka Takao (Yuranosuke) and Bandô Yasosuke V (Heiemon).

September 1984: Shibajaku plays in Kyôto at the Minamiza the role of Osato in the "Sushiya" scene of the classic "Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura". The role of Yasuke is played by Sawamura Sôjûrô IX.

January 1985: Shibajaku plays at the Asakusa Kôkaidô the role of Kozue in the drama "Ishikiri Kajiwara ".

Summer 1985: tour in the USA; Shibajaku plays the roles of Katsura-no-Mae, Iozaki and Kochô in "Shibaraku", "Sakurahime Azuma Bunshô" and "Tsuchi Gumo", which celebrate the shûmei in the USA of Ichikawa Danjûrô XII [more details].

June 1987: Shibajaku plays at the National Theater the role of Chidori in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Heike Nyogo-ga-Shima" (commonly called "Shunkan").

June 1988: Shibajaku plays at the National Theater the role of Otoku in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Domo Mata"; the role of Matahei is played by Bandô Yasosuke V.

September 1988: tour in South Korea.

February 1990: Shibajaku plays at the Kabukiza the role of Otose in the drama "Sannin Kichisa".

April 1990: Shibajaku plays at the Kanamaruza (Shikoku) the role of Otomi in the "Gen'ya Dana" scene of the drama "Yowa Nasake Ukina no Yokogushi"; the role of Yosaburô is played by Onoe Kikugorô.

September 1991: Shibajaku plays at the Kabukiza the role of princess Hatsuhana in the play "Tamamo-no-Mae Asahi no Tamoto".

1995: Shibajaku plays the role of the actor Iwai Hanshirô IV in the movie "Sharaku". This film narrates the life of the famous print-maker Tôshûzai Sharaku, who produced all his works between 1794 and February 1795 and disappeared mysteriously, leaving behind him some of the most famous actors prints.

December 1998: Shibajaku plays at the Kabukiza the role of Shinobu in the "Ageya" scene of the play "Go Taiheiki Shiraishi Banashi". The roles of the courtesan Miyagino (Shinobu's elder sister) is played by Sawamura Sôjûrô IX.

January 1999: revival at the National Theater of Kawatake Mokuami's zangirimono "Irogoyomi Gen'yadana"; Shibajaku plays the role of Seikichi's wife Onaka [casting].

February 1999: tour in South-East Asia.

April 1999: Shibajaku plays at the National Theater the role of the courtesan Izayoi in Kawatake Mokuami's drama "Kosode Soga Azami no Ironui" (commonly called "Izayoi Seishin"); the role of Seishin is played by Bandô Yasosuke V.

September 1999: Shibajaku and his father Nakamura Jakuemon perform together at the Kabukiza in the beautiful dôjôjimono "Ninin Dôjôji".

February 2000: Shibajaku plays at the Kabukiza the role of the courtesan Hakata Kojorô in Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Koi Minato Hakata no Hitofushi" (commonly called "Kezori"). His stage partners are the stars Ichikawa Danjûrô (Kezori) and Nakamura Ganjirô (Sôshichi).

April 2000: first edition of the "Shibajaku no Kai", a special dance show starring Shibajaku in solo; he dances "Bungo Dôjôji" and "Hanabusa Shûchaku Jishi" at the Kioi Hall in Tôkyô.

December 2000: Shibajaku plays at the Kabukiza the role of the courtesan Konoito in the drama "Wakaki Uchina Gusa", which is classic of the Kinokuniya guild. The roles of Ranchô and Omiya are played by Sawamura Sôjûrô IX.

February 2001: Ichikawa Shinnosuke and Shibajaku play together in the great Kawatake Mokuami's drama "Michitose Naozamurai", which is staged at the Hakataza in Fukuoka.

October 2002: outstanding performance of Shibajaku at the National Theater in the role of the courtesan Otsuma for the revival of Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Reigen Kameyama Hoko".

November 2002: Shibajaku plays for the first time the difficult role of princess Yaegaki in the "Kitsunebi" scene of the classic "Honchô Nijûshikô".

Comments:

Nakamura Shibajaku VII is an outstanding onnagata actor, excelling in the roles of princesses, courtesans and merchant daughters.

Nakamura Shibajaku VII's best roles: Shizuka Gozen/Osato ("Yoshitsune Sembon Zakura"), Kaoyo Gozen/Okaru ("Kanadehon Chûshingura"), Princess Taema ("Narukami"), Nishiki no Mae ("Kenuki"), Princess Senjû ("Aoto Zôshi Hana no Nishikie").

Official Internet website: www.shibajaku.com