(20 August 192022 February 2012) was a Japanese kabuki actor most known for onnagata performance.
Born into a well-known family of Kabuki actors from Tokyo, Aoki was the first actor to bear the name à Âtani Hirotarà  (大谷廣太éÂÂ), the seventh actor to bear the name à Âtani Tomoemon (大谷åÂÂå³è¡ÂéÂÂ) and the fourth actor to bear the prestigious name Nakamura Jakuemon (ä¸ÂæÂÂéÂÂå³è¡ÂéÂÂ), being known throughout his long career as a Kabuki actor first as à Âtani Hirotarà  I (Ã¥ÂÂ代大谷廣太éÂÂ), then as à Âtani Tomoemon VII (ä¸Â代ç® 大谷åÂÂå³è¡ÂéÂÂ) and at the height of his career as Nakamura Jakuemon IV (Ã¥ÂÂ代ç® ä¸ÂæÂÂéÂÂå³è¡ÂéÂÂ), which would become his most famous stage name.
His two sons are also Kabuki actors: his eldest son, à Âtani Tomoemon VIII (Real Name: Tomoyuki Aoki, Nihongo: éÂÂæ¨æºä¹Â, Aoki Tomoyuki) inherited the name and acting style of his grandfather, à Âtani Tomoemon VI (unlike his father and younger brother, Tomoemon VIII became a Tachiyaku just as his grandfather Tomoemon VI) while his youngest son, Nakamura Jakuemon V (Real Name: Sadayuki Aoki, Nihongo: éÂÂæ¨è²Âä¹Â, Aoki Sadayuki) inherited the name and acting style of Jakuemon IV himself (becoming one of the main Onnagata of the current era).
Born in Tokyo, Japan on August 20, 1920, he was the son of popular Kabuki actor à Âtani Tomoemon VI (1886-1943), a well-known Tachiyaku actor (i.e. he only played male roles) and who died during the 1943 Tottori earthquake while on tour in Shimane Prefecture, when the kabuki theater where he was to perform collapsed on top of him.
In 1991 the Japanese government designated him as a Living National Treasure.