Photo: Labrador / CC BY 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
I genuinely love that this guy spent decades being the noble, sword-swinging lord in Abarenbo Shogun, all stoic gravitas and clean choreography on horseback, and then late in the game reinvents himself into a gold-spangled, hip-swiveling Matsuken Samba icon without a single ounce of embarrassment. That takes a kind of fearlessness most people never find. A kid from a technical high school in Toyohashi, Aichi, riding through samurai dramas for years, and then becoming this glittering, beaming national mascot, it's wild how a career can pivot. What gets me is the range, the disciplined dignity of period swordplay and the gleeful, ridiculous joy of the samba living in the same person. And honestly, the second that song comes on, I catch myself swaying along too. Hard to resist.
This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.
Story
The Lord Who Danced the Samba: The Astonishing Range of Ken Matsudaira
Overview
Ken Matsudaira is a Japanese actor and singer born on November 28, 1953, in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture. He is best known for his long-running role in the historical drama series "Abarenbou Shogun" and for the enormously popular song and performance "Matsuken Samba." He received the Elan d'Or Award for Best Newcomer in 1980 and the Kikuta Kazuo Theatre Award in 2003. A graduate of Aichi Prefectural Toyohashi Technical High School, he has maintained an active career spanning multiple decades in Japanese entertainment.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Ken Matsudaira
- Name (Japanese)
- 松平健
- Reading
- まつだいら けん
- Born
- November 28, 1953 (age 72)
- Origin
- Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
- Height
- 178 cm
- Occupation
- Singer / Film Actor / Actor
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Sagittarius / Snake
- Blood type
- B
- Active years
- 1970 -
2. Background
- High school
- Aichi Prefectural Toyohashi Technical High School
Awards & achievements
- 1980 — Elan d'Or Award, Best Newcomer
- 2003 — Kikuta Kazuo Theatre Award
3. Works & records
Works summary
- Appearances
- 47 (1980–2023)
- By year (titles with a known year)
- 1980: 3, 1982: 4, 1984: 2, 1985: 3, 1987: 2, 1989: 1, 1991: 1, 1992: 2, 1994: 1, 1995: 2, 1996: 1, 1997: 1, 1999: 1, 2000: 1, 2003: 1, 2004: 1, 2005: 2, 2006: 2, 2007: 1, 2008: 2, 2009: 1, 2011: 2, 2012: 1, 2014: 2, 2015: 1, 2016: 1, 2019: 1, 2020: 1, 2023: 1, year unknown: 2
Filmography / notable works
| Category | Title |
|---|---|
| Signature Work | Matsuken Samba |
| Signature Work | Abarenbou Shogun |
4. Links
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
Only publicly available facts are listed; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. Base data was compiled from Wikidata from June 2026 onward; ages are recalculated daily and deaths are checked against Wikidata on an ongoing basis. Works and profile fields sourced from Wikipedia reflect content as of 2026-08-26. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Ken Matsudaira born?
Ken Matsudaira was born on November 28, 1953 and is 72 years old.
Where is Ken Matsudaira from?
Ken Matsudaira is from Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
What does Ken Matsudaira do?
Ken Matsudaira works as Singer, Film Actor, Actor.
How tall is Ken Matsudaira?
Ken Matsudaira is 178 cm tall.
What is Ken Matsudaira's blood type?
Ken Matsudaira's blood type is B.
Which high school did Ken Matsudaira attend?
Ken Matsudaira attended Aichi Prefectural Toyohashi Technical High School.
How long has Ken Matsudaira been active?
Ken Matsudaira has been active since 1970.
What is Ken Matsudaira known for?
Ken Matsudaira's notable works include Matsuken Samba, Abarenbou Shogun.
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