Meiji-za

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Hmains (talk | contribs) at 23:35, 19 November 2016 (→‎History: copyedit, links and AWB general fixes, replaced: WWII, → World War II, using AWB). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Meiji-za
明治座
Map
Address東京都中央区日本橋浜町二丁目31番1号
2-31-1 Nihonbashi-Hamacho, Chūō-ku
Tokyo
Japan Japan
OwnerMeiji-za Corporation
TypeKabuki theater
Capacity1,368
Construction
Opened1873
Rebuilt1885, 1928, 1950, 1958, 1993
Website
www.en.meijiza.co.jp/

The Meiji Theatre (明治座, Meijiza) is a theatre in Chūō, Tokyo, Japan. It was originally constructed in 1873.[1] It presents kabuki and Western stage plays.

History

The Meiji Theater first opened in the district of Hisamatsu-chô as the Kishôza in 1873.[2] Six years later it reopened under the name of Hisamatsuza.[2] In February 1885 it opened under a third name, Chitoseza,[2] but burned down in 1890.[2] In November 1893 it was rebuilt as the Meijiza, the name that it holds today.[2]

In 1904 the Meijiza underwent renovations, only to be burned down in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923.[2] Until the Meijiza was rebuilt in Hama-chô,[2] the Suehiroza, a small theater in the Azabu Jûban district, served as a temporary replacement.[2] The Meijiza was burned down in the bombings of World War II, but reopened in December 1950.[2] After a fire in 1957, it was reopened the next year.[2]

The Meijiza put on two especially grand kabuki performances in March and April 1993 to celebrate three years of extensive renovations.[2]

References