Kabuki actor Nakamura Kichiemon has died. He was a designated Living National Treasure.

Kabuki promoter Shochiku says Kichiemon died of heart failure at a hospital in Tokyo on Sunday. He was 77.

Kichiemon was born in 1944 as the second son of Matsumoto Koshiro the eighth. He was later adopted by his maternal grandfather, Nakamura Kichiemon the first.

He assumed the name of Nakamura Kichiemon in 1966, and played a wide range of roles, showing an overwhelming presence with his deep and profound performances as a kabuki actor.

Kichiemon was also active on TV. He played the title role in NHK's historical drama series "Musashibo Benkei," who was a 12th century warrior monk that became a loyal servant to warrior Minamoto no Yoshitsune.

He was designated a Living National Treasure in 2011, and was named a Person of Cultural Merit in Japan in 2017.

Source: ANNnewsCH