Chuo-ku Tourism Association correspondent blog

As you all know, Chuo-ku also met in the center of the history of Japanese theater. [Mitsukoshi Theater] boasts a tradition alongside [Kabukiza] and [Shimbashi Enbujo] [Meijiza], which are undergoing renovation.

Located on the 6th floor of the Mitsukoshi Main Store in Nihonbashi, this theater feels like a "small luxury theater" rather than a large theater. According to the official website, it was opened as [Mitsukoshi Hall] in 1927 (Showa 2), and reopened under the current name after the war after closure during the war. In addition to performances of Kabuki and various theater companies, rakugo and Japanese music performances are also performed, making it a familiar theater.

The structure is also elaborate, and the walls made of marble and the ceiling fitted with stained glass create elegance and calmness. It makes you feel as if you were a European opera house. Various patterns are also decorated on the ceiling of the central passage, and I am impressed by the work of pre-war craftsmen without cutting. There is also a lion-like pattern inside, and it seems to represent the pride of Mitsukoshi.

On this day, the performance of "Theatrical Company New School" "The Wife of Seishu Hanaoka" was performed. Yaeko Mizutani and Kuriko Namino, the two largest new schools, performed enthusiastically and attracted the audience at the venue.

By the way, "Theatrical Company Shinsei" is said to be the starting point of the theater company "Dainippon Soshi Improvement Theater Company", which was launched in Osaka in 1888 (Meiji 21). I guess those who are said to be a little resentment after leaving the morale asked for something new in the theater world. Somehow, it seems like a naming reminiscent of the Meiji era's advanced challenge spirit. After that, the traditional drama represented by Kabuki was compared to the "old school", and the name "new school" was given.

Therefore, the “New School” will celebrate its 125th anniversary next year. Recently, the number of promising young actors has increased, and I look forward to the development of this theater company. The current performance is open until the 23rd of this month. If you have the opportunity, please enjoy the atmosphere of the Mitsukoshi Theater and go out to the theater.

More Mitsukoshi Theater and New School Performance

It has already been mentioned that the reconstruction ceremony was held in March 1930, six years and six months after the Great Kanto Earthquake in September 1923 (1923), but recently Iwanami Bunko "Ginza Reconstruction" was published, and the Asahi Shimbun "Showa History Revisit" (2012/6) was featured. In the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Ginza Brick Street (remain Monument on Kinharu Street = lower left photo) collapsed, and the modern heritage of the Meiji and Taisho eras disappeared.

Today, let's look for the footprints of the reconstruction of the Great East Japan Earthquake that remains in Ginza.

First of all, "Pagoda Copper Carving and Lighthouse" (upper left in the photo) is located in Sukiyabashi Park, behind Sukiyabashi Koban, 4-chome ahead of Ginza. It was erected on September 1, 1933, the 10th anniversary. The statue is written by Seibo Kitamura, a master of the sculpture world, and is named "Todai". A young man dressed as a helmet, offering a torch and obeying a lion. Nishibo was born in Nagasaki, the author of the Nagasaki Peace Memorial Statue, and received the Order of Culture.

The engraved slogan is "continuous preparation for an unexpected earthquake", which was won by the Asahi Shimbun for a prize. Last year's Great East Japan Earthquake was hit by the major earthquake tsunami, which was once every 1,000 years. After the earthquake, everyone began to "continuous preparation" for disaster prevention measures. This slogan, 79 years ago, tells us not to forget the lessons learned from the disaster.

Next is the "Shinkobashi Ruins Monument" (upper right in the photo). It is located on the corner of Ginza Corridor Street, heading toward Uchisaiwaicho, Ginza 8-chome. This is the site of the former Edo Castle outer moat that was reclaimed after the war. At the time of the Great Kanto Earthquake, Horikawa was sandwiched between Sachibashi in the south and Yamashitabashi in the north, and there was no bridge here. For this reason, the experience of not being able to escape to Hibiya Park was a private bridge built in September 1929 (1929) with private funds and donations from local volunteers such as Hisataro Fujihira. . After celebrating the opening ceremony and celebrating the beginning of the crossing, he donated the bridge to Tokyo City. The monument was erected in October of the same year, and is engraved with the name of the Atsushi family and the name of the donated company.

The first edition of Iwanami Bunko, the author was Takitaro Minakami (1887-1940) and 1931 (1931), published in 1931. It is a novel depicting the people of Ginza, who were affected by the Great Kanto Earthquake, standing up for reconstruction. Set in a restaurant, you can see the life of the protagonist who inspires the courage to recover in the scorched Ginza.

In the Asahi Shimbun's "Showa History Revisiting the Great Kanto Earthquake Reconstruction Ceremony" (lower right photo), an article at the time when the reconstruction ceremony was reported, "I was delighted with the lantern procession of 20,000 people at the celebration event that lasted for a week." In addition, in the "Timony" column, Koichi Noguchi, Chuo-ku General Cultural Property Investigation Instructor and the author of the new book "Ginza Monogatari", was introduced, and "Ginza after reconstruction (as a prime place) was to survive. "We have benefited most from the development of transportation," he said. ●Akira Makibuchi

Anping Inari Shrine is enshrined near Kyobashi Plaza and Miyoshi Bridge.　I've been studying the history for many years, but I found a description in the local archives of the Kyobashi Library.

According to the 1956 edition of Ginza Times, "Ginza Yearbook" edited by Ginza Times, the address was east 1-2, Suzuki Senkichi's residence.　It was located in the residence of Minomori Shinjo during the Edo period, during the old Makuhaku period, and after the Meiji Restoration, the place was obtained by the predecessor, Senkichi Suzuki, and when opening Wan'an Tower in 1893, it was named Anping Inari Shrine. I worshiped it. "　The following is an example.

　I was able to see it on the map of the early Meiji era obtained in the local archives.　

I thought about the background of that era, the settlement, and the origin of the name of Shintomi-cho.○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○   

　It is an Abira Shrine with such a history.　Even now, it is a scene where the neighbors pay tribute to the custom of greeting each morning with two bows, two beats, one bow, and one bow.　

Why don't you visit the history of one corner of a large apartment and rest your mind?

　Hisaya Morishige (1913-2009), a famous actor who won the Order of Culture and the National Honor Award, and Kuniko Mukoda (1929-1981), a scriptwriter and still very popular. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of Hisaya Morishige's birth and the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Kuniko Mukoda Prize, an exhibition that traces the interaction and success of the two is being held in Nihonbashi.

　[Hisaya Morishige and Kuniko Mukoda Exhibition]

　　Wednesday, June 6　→　18th (Mon)　

　　Gallery on the 7th floor of the new building of Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store

　　Admission fee: 800 yen for general and university students

　Hisaya Morishige, who fulfilled his 96-year-old natural life in 2009, and Kuniko Mukoda, who was scattered in a Taiwanese aircraft accident at the age of 51. In the fall of 1959, Kuniko Mukoda, who wrote the script for Shigeru Mori's radio program "My wife's hand is as it", was recognized by Shigeru Mori, and after that he was assigned to screenplay a radio and television program that he appeared, and his talent blossomed. , "The grandchildren of the Seven", "Dain's flowers", "Time", and "Kintaro Terauchi". "I'm a Zub's amateur today because Fudoshi or Tsutsugi suddenly borrowed a yokozuna's chest and bumped into it" ("Hisaya Morishige"), she thanks. Shigeru Mori, who lamented her sudden death, offered a phrase in front of the grave on the third anniversary.　

　"Flower savory flowers with a scent of flowers."

　Both of them were born and raised, and have no connection with Chuo-ku, but Kuniko Mukoda was an editor of a movie magazine before aspiring to become a scenario writer, and the publisher, Ochisha, who had been in office for nine years, was in Edobashi. The first essay collection of 1978, "My Father's Apology Letter", 24 editions (the right hand could not be used due to the sequelae of breast cancer surgery, it was written with the left hand) were published in "Ginza Hundred Points". In addition, she was told that the four brothers and sisters were born unintentionally thanks to the bills of Suitengu, and left an essay `` Visit the remnants of Edo in Ningyocho '' that spelled out the charm of Ningyocho He gave me

　It has nothing to do with Chuo-ku, but one serpent here. Hisaya Morishige settled in Setagaya shortly after the war, but the road from the nearest Odakyu Line Chitose-Funabashi Station to Shigeru Mori House was called "Shigeru Mori Street", but two years ago Setagaya-ku A naming ceremony was held with this common name as the official name. Shigeru Mori's residence has now been changed to a luxury condominium, but the name displayed at the entrance is "SETAGAYA TEVYE". It is named the main character of that famous stage "Violin Playing on the Roof", which boasts 900 performances.

[On the photo]　Exhibition hall at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store

[In the photo]　Tomb of Kuniko Mukoda (Tama Cemetery)

　　　　　　　"Hana Hiraki ..." is on the book-shaped monument on the right of the tombstone.

[Lower photo]　Tomb of Hisaya Morishige (Yanaka Cemetery)