Chuo-ku Tourism Association correspondent blog

Spring Chuo-ku History Walk 2013 "The best and flower of Edo culture-Walking through the headwater of Edo Kabuki-" is a special project to see and hear the places related to Kabuki in Chuo-ku. What we recruited. With the theme of Edo Kabuki, the first one was held on Sunday, April 14 at the Ginza / Former Kibikicho Course, and the second one was held on the 20th (Sat) at the Ningyocho / Playmachi Ruins Course. Organized by the Chuo-ku Cultural Property Supporters Association of Chuo-ku Town Walking Volunteer Guide.

The first Ginza / Former Kibikicho course is at the site of Kyobashi where the monument of the birthplace of Edo Kabuki (pictured above, Yuko Kishimoto) is located, and the early Edo period when Saruwaka (later Nakamura) Kanzaburo raised the turret. I think. In front of the Shintomi-za Ruins (now Kyobashi Tax Office), where Morita-za (later Shintomi-za), which revived early in the early Meiji era after the Meiji Restoration, performed, the enthusiasm to pass on Edo Kabuki during the early days of modern Tokyo is transmitted. .

On the west side of Ginza 6-chome and Showa-dori, there was a playhouse in Kobikicho Sanza from the early Edo period. It was crowded with Yamamura-za, Kawarasaki-za, and Morita-za, but only Morita-za (later Morita-za) remained. Just as the "Morita-za Ruins" explanation board has been newly established, we look back on the scenes depicted in the "Edo Famous Zoukai". The last is the 5th generation Kabukiza. Some of the participants had already been inside, indicating the popularity.

The second part is the Ningyocho / Playmachi Ruins Course. "Meijiza", which has been celebrating its 140th anniversary, is a great success with a wide range of theater performances. The "Benkei statue" on the Hamacho Ryokudo (the site of the Hamacho River) is reminiscent of the performance of Kabuki 18th "Kanjincho". The former land of Meijiza was founded in Kishoza, and looks back on the transition.

From "Suehiro Shrine" on the site of former Yoshihara (bottom photo), go through Daimon Street to "Genji Store Ruins". This is also the stage of Kabuki. From the ruins of backstage Shindo, we finally walk along the ruins of Sakaimachi and Fukiya-cho. One of the best entertainment districts in Edo, with Nakamuraza and Ichimura-za. It is the place where the essence of Edo Kabuki was formed for two centuries together with Kibikicho Playmachi. The "Father Bridge / Shishibashi Ruins" was around the entrance to the entertainment area during the Edo period, and did the Edo kid crossed with excitement?

By walking along these two courses, you can rediscover that the current Chuo-ku was the center of commerce, distribution, economy, transportation, etc. during the Edo period, as well as the origin of Edo culture such as Kabuki. @ Akira Makibuchi

Chuo-ku, the birthplace of Edo Kabuki and the prosperity of the city, has historical sites related to Kabuki. One of them is the site of Kibiki-cho's play town, where Yamamura-za, Kawarasaki-za and Morita-za were raising the tower during the Edo period. The Kabukiza Theater, which has become a hot topic, is also formerly Kibikicho, but a little far away from it, Morita-za of Edo Sanza was gaining popularity in the play.

The current location is near the west side of Showa-dori in Ginza 6-chome (upper photo), and an explanation board (center of the photo) has been installed recently. It is an opportunity to re-recognize the history of Kabuki, which has been passed down to this day.

Edo Kabuki originated in 1624 (1624), when "Saruwakaza" (later "Nakamuraza") in the southern part of Nakahashi, and then moved to Sakaimachi. Next, "Ichimura-za" raised the tower in Fukiya-cho. The two towns were called Nichocho-cho play town (now Ningyocho).

On the other hand, in 1660 (1660), after the great fire of the Meiryaku era, the playhouse "Morita-za" raised the tower at Kobikicho 5-chome in the Edo period, with Kanya Morita as the seat. These three were Edo Sanza, a playhouse of the government.

On the south side of Morita-za, there was already a "Yamamura-za" playhouse, which was opened in 1642 (1642) at Kibikicho 6-chome at that time. At one time, including this seat, was called Edo Yoza. Next, Kawarasaki-za will also be built, but will eventually be abolished. Yamamuraza was abolished in 1714 (1714) in the example "Eshima Ikushima Incident".

Edo Sanza in Kibiki-cho and Sakaimachi and Fukiya-cho flourished with Kabuki's popularity in Edo City for about 200 years before it was relocated to Saruwaka-cho due to the reform of Tempo. It can be said that the current Chuo-ku has been the center of Kabuki performances since the Edo period.

Later, Morita-za was renamed Morita-za during the late Tokugawa shogunate period, and revived in Shintomi-cho in 1872. Later, change the seat name to "Shintomiza" (lower photo). Along with the Kabukiza Theater, which opened in 1889 (1889), Ryoza competed for Kabuki performances ahead of their eyes and nose. The Shintomiza was damaged or abolished by the Great Kanto Earthquake. The current location is the location of the Kyobashi Tax Office. @ Akira Makibuchi

The road on the north side along the reclaimed Kyobashi River has recently been nicknamed the Chuo-ku Road, "Kyobashi Takekawa Bank Street" (upper photo) and "Kyobashi Daikon Bank Street" (lower photo). It is located across Chuo-dori, Kyobashi 3-chome, on the east side from the Police Museum to Showa-dori Street, and on the other side, on the Sotobori-dori St., is Daikon Riverside Street. As the name implies, each was a riverbank.

During the Edo period, the riverbank was a cargo landing site for goods and served as a storage and storage facility. It is under the direct control of the Shogunate, and the townspeople seem to have used it by paying upfront money. Numerous riverbanks remain as historic sites in the ward, including the fish shore of Nihonbashi, the Shuuga shore, the west shore, and the Gyotoku riverbank. It can be seen that the current Chuo-ku was the center of boat transportation and the accumulation area.

The Kyobashi River has been reclaimed since the latter half of 1955 and has become a metropolitan high-speed company line. The northeast side is the "Bamboo Riverside", and the "Kyobashi Takegashi" of Hiroshige's "Hundred Views of Edo" is known. This is due to the fact that bamboo materials were transported from the suburbs of Edo. It is sketched that there was a bamboo wholesaler even in the Meiji period. At present, there is no impression at all, but the building called "Takegawa Riverside Building" seems to be trying to talk about the past.

The northwest side of the Kyobashi River is the Daikon Riverside, and now there are monuments to the birthplace of Edo Kabuki and the site of the Kyobashi Daikon Riverside Blue Market, which are easy to understand. In the early Edo period, selling vegetables and other items began around here, and eventually came to be called the radish riverbank, and it became a market. It was relocated to Tsukiji Market in 1935 after the Great Kanto Earthquake. @ Akira Makibuchi