Stage names:

Ôtani Tomoemon VIII
Ôtani Hirotarô II

Real name: Aoki Tomoyuki

Guild: Akashiya

Line number: HACHIDAIME (VIII)

Poetry name: Shidô

Birthday: 23 February 1949

Connections:

Great-grandfather: Nakamura Sagisuke II

Grandfathers: Ôtani Tomoemon VI, Matsumoto Kôshirô VII

Father: Nakamura Jakuemon IV

Brother: Nakamura Jakuemon V

Sons: Ôtani Hirotarô III, Ôtani Hiromatsu II

Disciple: Ôtani Akisaburô

Career:

February 1959: he made his first appearance on stage at the Kabukiza, where he received the name of Ôtani Hirotarô II and played the role of the sword-holder Otowaka in the dance-drama "Kanjinchô".

September 1964: Ôtani Hirotarô II took the name of Ôtani Tomoemon VIII at the Kabukiza, performing in the drama "Hitoyo".

February 1975: premiere at the Kabukiza of Ikenami Shôtarô's drama "Debauchi Otama"; Tomoemon played the role of Ofusa [more details].

February 1976: revival at the Kabukiza of a 5-act revised version of Funahashi Seiichi's drama "Ejima Ikushima"; Tomoemon played the role of Mizunoe [casting].

April 1976: revival in 5 acts and 9 scenes at the National Theatre of Namiki Gohei I's drama "Kinmon Gosan no Kiri"; Tomoemon played the role of Mashiba Hisaaki [casting].

January 1984: historic revival at the National Theatre of the play "Sankai Nagoya"; Tomoemon played the role of the page Sawanojô [casting].

January 1985: revival at the National Theatre of the drama "Kan U", which belonged to the Kabuki Jûhachiban; Tomoemon played the role of Yorii Kurô [casting].

January 1999: revival at the National Theatre of Kawatake Mokuami's zangirimono "Irogoyomi Gen'yadana"; Tomoemon played the role of Kômori no Yasuzô [casting].

January 2008: revival at the Shinbashi Enbujô of "Narukami Fudô Kitayama Zakura", which celebrated the 1070th anniversary of the Narita-san Temple, where the Deity Fudô Myôô was worshipped; Tomoemon played the role of Ono Saemon Harumichi [casting].

June 2010: Kabuki tour in Western Europe, in London at the Sadler's Wells (4~15 June) and in Roma at the Teatro di Roma-Argentina (21~22 June); Tomoemon played the role of Minamoto no Yoshitsune [more details].

October 2015: production at the National Theatre of "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba" in a tôshi kyôgen production (3 acts; 8 scenes) with the revival of the rarely-staged "Daidaikô" act; Tomoemon played the role of Fujinami Sazen [more details|casting].

Comments:

Ôtani Tomoemon VIII was trained as an onnagata at the beginning of his career, following his father path, then he switched to tachiyaku roles. He is a good supporting actor.

The mon of Ôtani Tomoemon VIII

The Ôtani Hirotarô line of actors

The Ôtani Tomoemon line of actors