Shiotsu Akio (塩津哲生)
Akio SHIOTSU (January 22, 1945 -) is a shite-kata (a main actor) of the Kita school of Noh.
He was born in Kumamoto as the eldest son of Kiyoto SHIOTSU. He studied under his father. In 1950, he made a debut as a kokata (child's role in Noh dance) in "Sakura-gawa" ("Sakura River"). In 1957, he played a shite-kata (a main actor) for the first time in "Tsunemasa." In 1959, he moved to Tokyo and became a uchideshi (a private pupil) of Kitami, the fifteenth head of the Kita school. He performed Shishi (the role of a lion) in "Okina" ("Old Man") in 1970, "Dojo-ji" ("Dojo-ji Temple," a Noh play) in 1971, and "Ishibashi" ("Stone Bridge," a Noh play) in 1972.
In 1986, he was designated as an Important Intangible Cultural Property. In 2007, he received the Minister of Education Award for Fine Arts. In 2008, he received Shiju-hosho (the Medal with Purple Ribbon).
His eldest son is Keisuke SHIOTSU.