Shinbashi Enbujo
Encyclopedia
The is a theatre in the Ginza
neighborhood of Tokyo
, Japan
. It is a major kabuki
venue, though other types of performances take place there as well.
The theatre was originally built in 1925 to provide a venue for the Azuma Odori geisha
dance performances, by Kawamura Tokutarō, manager of the Morikawa geisha house, who raised two million yen in capital
and established the Shinbashi Enbujō Corporation. The site, by chance, was formerly that of the Matsudaira clan
residence which serves as the setting for the kabuki play "Kagamiyama Kokyō no Nishikie." Construction began in 1923, and was halted following the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake
, but was completed in 1925.
The theatre entered into a contract in 1940 with Shōchiku
, a major film and theatre production company, today the chief kabuki production company.
Since becoming associated with Shochiku, the theatre has regularly seen productions ranging from modern drama and musicals
to the shinpa
(New School) genre developed in the Meiji period
, as well as kabuki. The Kabuki-za
, located several blocks away, is the chief kabuki theatre in the world. It plays somewhat the role of a storehouse of tradition, and its stage is usually dominated by the top star actors in the genre. By contrast, many more experimental forms within the kabuki genre, as well as plays starring younger actors, are performed at the Shinbashi Enbujō. These include the Super Kabuki form pioneered by Ichikawa Ennosuke III
, which incorporates Western music, Chinese, Indian, and other non-Japanese stylistic influences, and over-the-top stage special effects beyond that seen in typical kabuki, and the performances featuring the younger generation of kabuki stars.
The building was destroyed in the Allied
bombing of Tokyo during World War II
, but was reconstructed in 1948. Major renovations were undertaken in 1982, incorporating technological upgrades, extra seating, and expanding to take over the nearby Nissan Motors Building.
As there are plans to demolish the Kabuki-za in 2010 and rebuild it, reopening the theatre in 2013, the Shinbashi Enbujō will become the chief venue for kabuki in Tokyo for the intervening several years.
Ginza
is a district of Chūō, Tokyo, located south of Yaesu and Kyōbashi, west of Tsukiji, east of Yūrakuchō and Uchisaiwaichō, and north of Shinbashi.It is known as an upscale area of Tokyo with numerous department stores, boutiques, restaurants and coffeehouses. Ginza is recognized as one of the most...
neighborhood of Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. It is a major kabuki
Kabuki
is classical Japanese dance-drama. Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers.The individual kanji characters, from left to right, mean sing , dance , and skill...
venue, though other types of performances take place there as well.
The theatre was originally built in 1925 to provide a venue for the Azuma Odori geisha
Geisha
, Geiko or Geigi are traditional, female Japanese entertainers whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music and dance.-Terms:...
dance performances, by Kawamura Tokutarō, manager of the Morikawa geisha house, who raised two million yen in capital
Capital (economics)
In economics, capital, capital goods, or real capital refers to already-produced durable goods used in production of goods or services. The capital goods are not significantly consumed, though they may depreciate in the production process...
and established the Shinbashi Enbujō Corporation. The site, by chance, was formerly that of the Matsudaira clan
Matsudaira clan
The was a Japanese samurai clan that claimed descent from the Minamoto clan. It first originated in and took its name from Matsudaira village, in Mikawa Province . Over the course of its history, the clan produced many branches, most of which also centered around Mikawa Province...
residence which serves as the setting for the kabuki play "Kagamiyama Kokyō no Nishikie." Construction began in 1923, and was halted following the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake
1923 Great Kanto earthquake
The struck the Kantō plain on the Japanese main island of Honshū at 11:58:44 am JST on September 1, 1923. Varied accounts hold that the duration of the earthquake was between 4 and 10 minutes...
, but was completed in 1925.
The theatre entered into a contract in 1940 with Shōchiku
Shochiku
is a Japanese movie studio and production company for kabuki. It also produces and distributes anime films. Its best remembered directors include Yasujirō Ozu, Kenji Mizoguchi, Mikio Naruse, Keisuke Kinoshita and Yōji Yamada...
, a major film and theatre production company, today the chief kabuki production company.
Since becoming associated with Shochiku, the theatre has regularly seen productions ranging from modern drama and musicals
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
to the shinpa
Shinpa
is a form of theater and cinema in Japan usually featuring melodramatic stories. Its roots can be traced to a form of agitation propaganda theater in the 1880s promoted by Liberal Party members Sadanori Sudo and Otojirō Kawakami...
(New School) genre developed in the Meiji period
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
, as well as kabuki. The Kabuki-za
Kabuki-za
' in Ginza was the principal theater in Tokyo for the traditional kabuki drama form.-Architecture:The original Kabuki-za was a wooden structure, built in 1889 on land which had been either the Tokyo residence of the Hosokawa clan of Kumamoto, or that of Matsudaira clan of Izu.The building was...
, located several blocks away, is the chief kabuki theatre in the world. It plays somewhat the role of a storehouse of tradition, and its stage is usually dominated by the top star actors in the genre. By contrast, many more experimental forms within the kabuki genre, as well as plays starring younger actors, are performed at the Shinbashi Enbujō. These include the Super Kabuki form pioneered by Ichikawa Ennosuke III
Ichikawa Ennosuke III
is a Japanese Kabuki actor, famous for his love of keren . He is considered the king of chūnori; he has flown out over the audience, held aloft on strings, over 5000 times....
, which incorporates Western music, Chinese, Indian, and other non-Japanese stylistic influences, and over-the-top stage special effects beyond that seen in typical kabuki, and the performances featuring the younger generation of kabuki stars.
The building was destroyed in the Allied
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
bombing of Tokyo during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, but was reconstructed in 1948. Major renovations were undertaken in 1982, incorporating technological upgrades, extra seating, and expanding to take over the nearby Nissan Motors Building.
As there are plans to demolish the Kabuki-za in 2010 and rebuild it, reopening the theatre in 2013, the Shinbashi Enbujō will become the chief venue for kabuki in Tokyo for the intervening several years.