Ken Matsudaira

Ken Matsudaira (松平 健 Matsudaira Ken, born November 28, 1953) is a Japanese actor from Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan. His real name is Matsushichi Suzuki (鈴木 末七, Suzuki Matsushichi).

Active both in television and on stage, he also sings. Matsudaira is most widely known for jidaigeki roles, having made his debut with Shintaro Katsu in an episode of the television series Zatoichi. For a quarter of a century, he starred in the series Abarembo Shogun as Tokugawa Yoshimune, the title character.

Other noteworthy roles include Hojo Yoshitoki in the 1979 NHK series Kusa Moeru, Irobe Matashiro in the 1999 NHK series Genroku Ryoran (involving the chushingura, that is, the story of the Forty-seven Ronin), Shibata Katsuie in the 2002 NHK series Toshiie to Matsu, Otomo Sorin in the 2004 NHK special Ōtomo Sōrin—Kokoro no Ōkoku wo Motomete, and Oishi Kuranosuke in the 2004 TV Asahi series Chushingura. He also played Asano Takumi no Kami, an important (although brief) role, in an earlier chushingura, making a career of that story. In 2005, he is appearing as Benkei in Yoshitsune, the yearlong NHK Taiga drama.

Matsudaira is also famous as a singer; one of his popular song is "Matsuken Samba II (マツケンサンバII)".