"These seats are exceptionally well-made."

Upon opening the fully automatic doors and settling into the driver's seat, Nakamura's first comment was about the comfort of the seats. He continued, "While the exterior was impressive, the use of crystals on the center controller and instrument panel conveys a strong determination to propose a new kind of luxury through the interior."

Nakamura also showed keen interest in the interface, which minimizes physical switches, allowing operation of climate control and audio via the 14.9-inch control panel integrated with the 12.3-inch instrument display.

"Not only the switches and dials, but even the air vents are not immediately obvious. But when you think about it, even older people today can use smartphones. Perhaps the era of operating both cars and phones via touchscreens is upon us. I believe this interior is both luxurious and ahead of its time."

Nakamura exclaimed, "Wow!" when he moved to the rear seats. As expected of a flagship sedan designed for chauffeur-driven use, the front passenger seat slides forward significantly, creating ample legroom for rear passengers. The rear seatback reclines deeply, and combined with a unique structure where the seat cushion and leg support are integrated, it allows passengers to relax in a natural and comfortable posture.

Along with this comfort, Nakamura was also surprised by the large screen that unfolds in the rear seats.

"I've never seen anything like this before. Usually, there's a screen on the back of the headrest, isn't there? This is astonishing."

As Nakamura noted, the 31.3-inch 8K panorama display (optional) in the rear seats is a world-first. This system, called the "BMW Theatre Screen," allows for an immersive viewing experience even while driving the new 7 Series. With Nakamura seated in the rear, astonished, the BMW i7 xDrive60 began to move smoothly.

"In this quiet cabin, experiencing such high-quality audio and visuals makes me feel like I'm in a private, enclosed space."

Listening to classical music from the Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system, Nakamura spoke about the relationship between tradition and cutting-edge technology.

"In the seven years since I started Super Kabuki, technology has advanced at an incredible pace. Now, we can film my movements with dozens of cameras to create a virtual version of myself. When combined with artificial intelligence, even if I were to pass away, Shido Nakamura could continue to perform Kabuki. Super Kabuki is new now, but in 100 or 200 years, it will be considered classical. Kabuki itself originated as cutting-edge popular entertainment in the Edo period, disseminating the latest trends, much like how people watch movies and TV today. If virtual technology had existed then, they would have certainly incorporated it. We carry that spirit of 'kabuki-mono' (eccentricity/avant-garde), which is why we continuously adopt new things."

Does he ever struggle with the balance between preserving the classical and adopting new technology?

"When new expressions or techniques are introduced, there will always be those who say it's not Kabuki. Similarly, some might look at this EV 7 Series and say it's not a BMW. So, finding that balance is difficult, and perhaps automotive manufacturers and Kabuki actors face similar challenges."

Finally, Nakamura summarized his impressions of the new 7 Series, which he experienced for the first time, with these words:

"Until now, I've always wanted to be in the driver's seat of any BMW, no matter how luxurious or large. However, with the new 7 Series, I found myself thinking that relaxing in the rear seat would also be appealing. This is a significant change for me."

The new BMW 7 Series has undergone such a transformation that it made Nakamura, who loves cars and driving, contemplate this shift.

SPEC
BMW i7 xDrive60
Body dimensions: Length 5,391 x Width 1,950 x Height 1,544mm
Wheelbase: 3,215mm
System maximum output: 544ps
System maximum torque: 745Nm
Price: From ¥16,700,000
*European specification reference values

Shido NAKAMURA
Kabuki actor. Born in Tokyo in 1972.
His grandfather was Tokizo Nakamura III, renowned as a leading onnagata (female role actor) of the Showa era, and his father was his third son, Mikio. His uncles include film actors Kinya Kitaoji and Katsuo Nakamura. He made his debut at the Kabuki-za Theatre at the age of eight and later assumed the name Shido Nakamura II.
He continues to challenge himself with a diverse range of Kabuki performances, from classical plays like 'Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura' and 'Fūin-kiri' to 'Super Kabuki,' a collaboration between Kabuki and the latest ICT technology, and the long-cherished dream of adapting the picture book 'Arashi no Yoru ni' into Kabuki.
In 2002, he won five newcomer awards for his role as Dragon in the movie 'Ping Pong,' gaining widespread attention. He has since appeared in numerous films, including 'Otoko-tachi no Yamato,' 'Letters from Iwo Jima,' 'Red Cliff,' 'The Blood of Wolves,' and 'Character.'
As a voice actor, he has appeared in the films 'Arashi no Yoru ni' and the 'Death Note' series, as well as providing Japanese dubs for 'Spider-Man' and 'Venom.'
His television drama roles include WOWOW Prime's series 'Bones of Steel,' the NHK Taiga dramas 'Yae no Sakura' and 'Idaten: Tokyo Olympics Story,' and this year's 'The 13 Lords of the Shogun,' where he played Kajiwara Kagetoki.
Born into a world of tradition and formality, he continuously embraces new challenges. His work extends beyond Kabuki to film, stage, television, fashion, and music, reaching audiences not only in Japan but globally.
Scheduled to perform in the Heisei Nakamura-za October Kabuki from October 5th to 27th.
https://www.kabuki-bito.jp/theaters/other/play/774
Costume: Shirt jacket ¥341,000, Pants ¥168,300, Shoes ¥108,900 (Ermenegildo Zegna / Zegna Customer Service Tel. 03-5114-5300)