Ken Matsudaira

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For the Killer7 character named Matsuken, see Kenjiro Matsuoka.

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

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 Abarenbo Shogun as Tokugawa Yoshimune, the title character.

Other noteworthy roles include Hōjō 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; his most popular song, "Matsuken Samba II (マツケンサンバII)", was released in 2004 and though popular with his fanbase, comprised mostly of middle-aged housewives, the song did not gain national attention until Matsuken's glittery kimono and hip-swiveling dance became the topic of parody on idol group SMAP's variety show, SMAPxSMAP. The new media attention made Matsudaira Ken visible to a younger fanbase, and Matsuken Samba II became a certified hit, staying on the Oricon Top 100 chart for over a year.

TV Asahi tapped Matsudaira to star as Tōyama no Kin-san in the latest (2007) version of their program of the same name[1].