Official

――Your company operates several theaters, including Edo Nihonbashi-tei, but what inspired you to start this business in the first place?
 
Nagatani Corporation is a real estate company. Starting with the sale of high-rise condominiums in Musashino City in 1965, in the 1940s, nearly 100 condominiums and rental condominiums were built in various parts of Tokyo, and the image of "Nagatani Condominiums" became established.

Mr. Takanori Hirotani, Editor-in-Chief of Business Division, Nagatani Corporation

Our condominium lends the first floor to stores and classrooms, but at one point there was a vacancy on the first floor of Musashino Condominium in Ryogoku, and we were considering how to use it afterwards. At that time, Mr. Teiji Kojima, a performing critic who had been friendly by the president of our company, told us, "How about making a performing arts hall?" It was the beginning of the performing arts business that we created the performing arts hall "Oedo Ryotei" with the advice of Mr. Kojima. That was 1990. After that, Shinjuku Nagatani Hall (Shinjuku Fu-) opened in 1992, and Edo Nihonbashi-tei and Edo Uenohirokoji-tei opened in 1996.

――There are several other theaters in Tokyo, such as Shinjuku Suehiro-tei, Suzumoto Performing Arts Center, and Asakusa Performing Arts Hall, but what would you like to mention the unique characteristics of Edo Nihonbashi-tei?
 

There are several features, but the first thing to mention is that you can see performers from various associations and organizations. For example, six people appeared today (May 16), "Edo Yoseki", of which Ryutei Rakubo and Shokichi Shunfutei are Rakugo Arts Council, Kanda Konagi are Kodankai, Tachibana Takezo is Rakugo Association, Hayano Konomi is Tokyo Performing Arts Association, and Sanyutei Rakuraku is a member of Sanyutei Rakugaku. Depending on the day, Tachikawa-ryu and the Japan Talk Association may enter.
At other theaters, programs where people from across their affiliated organizations gather as "planning", but I think it is unusual to do it every month like "Edo Yoseki" at Edo Nihonbashi-tei.

――There were many customers at today's "Edo Yoseki" despite weekdays. Do you have any special ideas or tricks that will make your customers happy?
 
In fact, Edo Nihonbashi-tei holds an event called "History and Culture Walk Rally" on the same day as "Edo Yoseki". As the slogan "Walking with a lecturer" shows, this is an event where you can learn about Japanese history and culture while listening to the master of the lecturer, and has been well received by many customers. The talk is based on historical figures and events, so the lecturer naturally leads to the history related to it. And after all, he's a story professional, so the explanation is excellent. That's why it's perfect for you to serve as a guide at events that touch history and culture. The participation fee for the walk rally of history and culture is 3,500 yen per person, but this includes not only the guidance fee by the instructor, but also the lunch box and vaudeville appreciation fee. Some of the customers who came to the Edo vaudeville today were those who participated in this walk rally.

――Today's "Edo Yoseki", I enjoyed it at the front seat after getting along. I was surprised that the stage and the audience were so close.
 
One of the features of Edo Nihonbashi-tei is that the distance to the performer is short. In recent years, the large performing arts hall has fixed chairs like a movie theater, and the stage and the audience are a little far away, but in our theater, you can see the performances of the performers up close instead of small.
 

―― When you sit in the front, the distance from the performer is only about 3m.
 

The 1st floor of the building where Edo Nihonbashi-tei is located was originally a rental store, so the ceiling is not so high. That's why the stage is inevitably lower, which leads to the close distance to the customer. In the case of rakugo, Takakuradai is set up, but in the case of entertainment, such as Shinnai and Gitayu, Takakuradai is also removed, so I think the distance from the performers is even closer.
 

―― I also felt that I wanted more people to experience the live feeling where the heat of the performer could be transmitted to the skin. Thank you very much for your busy schedule today.

From 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm, two and a half hours laughed a lot with rakugo, talks, and comics. It is quite advantageous to be able to listen to 2,000 yen on the day and 1,500 yen for advance sale. Furthermore, if you become a member of Nagatani Corporation's "Edo Performing Arts Club", the annual membership fee will be 5,000 yen, and the Edo vaudeville will be invited for free five times (Eh? You'll be able to get it right away!　If you want to enjoy traditional performing arts at a great price, check it out!

■Edo Nihonbashi-tei
http://www.ntgp.co.jp/engei/nihonbasi/

〒3-1-6 Nihonbashi-Nagatani Building 1F, Nihonbashi-Honcho 3-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0023
2-minute walk from Exit A10 of Tokyo Metro Mitsukoshimae Station
3-minute walk from Exit 4 of Shin-Nihonbashi Station on the JR Sobu Line
7-minute walk from Kanda Station on the JR Yamanote Line