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Review the history of Shintomiza after final tax return

As already introduced on the Chuo-ku Tourism Association correspondent blog, the Kyobashi Tax Office moved to the new government building on December 14, 2020 due to the completion of the rebuilding work. I came back to the site of the Edo Kabuki "Shintomiza".

〒104-8557 2-6-1, Shintomi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

The other day, after going to the new government building and submitting a final tax return, I read an explanatory version of "Shintomi-za" installed on the north side of the building, but I can't get in mind. So, after returning home, I summarized the relationship between the two relocations of "Shintomiza" and the two renames.

Compulsory, trial, next relocation and renaming

Review the history of Shintomiza after completing forced and trial relocation and rename final tax return

Looking at it again, it seems that the process that began as "Morita-za" and continued through "Morita-za" followed by "Shintomi-za" was not flat. In the era of Morita-za, poor management often entrusts the right to perform to Kawarasakiya, and in 1843, as part of the reform of Tenpo, he was forced to move from Kibiki-cho to remote Saruwaka-cho (currently Asakusa 6-chome, Taito-ku) and was not Kawara-za, but Kawara-za.

Then, in 1858, "Morita-za" was told that "rice under the forest" was poor and the fruit was bad, and if it was changed to "protect the rice fields", customers would surely enter better. The name was changed to "Morita-za" (first time).

Due to pressure from the Meiji government, when moving from Asakusa in 1872, he moved to Shintomi-cho after experiencing "requesting new wealth" (second time). In 1875, it was renamed "Shintomiza" (second time).

From Golden Age to Sale

We have completed the final tax return for sale since the golden age and look back on the history of Shintomiza.

In 1878, Shintomiza was reborn as a modern theater with gas lamps, and the ninth generation Danjuro Ichikawa served as a place for theater improvement activities in the middle of Meiji period.

In 1888, he formed the Shiza Alliance with Ichimura-za, Nakamura-za, and Chitose-za in order to compete with the newly established Kabukiza Theater. After the compromise was reached, Shintomiza built the golden age of Kabuki in the Meiji era together with Kabukiza, but gradually became squeezed by large debts, and in 1910, Shochiku Affaired Company acquired (By the way, in 1913, Shochiku acquired the management rights of Kabukiza). After the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, it was not rebuilt as it was, and "Shintomiza" was abolished.

Looking back on the history of Shintomiza this time, I realized the severe aspect of the box office business.

※The formal curtain of "Morita-za, Morita-za, Shintomi-za" is a three-color curtain of "black, persimmon, and green onion" from the left. Currently, it is a formal curtain used for Kabuki performances at many theaters, including Kabukiza Theater.