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Kotobuki, a waiting teahouse in Nihonbashi

Toshie, the wife of Makino Tomitaro, the main character of NHK's morning drama Ranman, opened "Machiaichaya Imamura" in Maruyama-cho, Shibuya-ku. It's just a good opportunity, so I'd like to write a sequel to "Machiai Chaya: Kame no O" (November 7, 2017), which I introduced on my blog earlier.

In my previous blog, I introduced Meiji period an interview with a rakugo artist about Machiaichaya, saying, "At that time, the famous place of Machiaichaya was the Kameno tail of Surugacho (correctly Honmachi), Kotobuki in Nihonbashi, and Chitose in Shiba were the best names. ・・・・・・」

The main waiting teahouses in Nihonbashi-ku are "Shouju (Tori 3-chome), Kameno tail (Honmachi 3-chome), Ikeno tail (Ryogaecho), Fujioka (Iwatsuki-cho), Ozawa (Tori 4-chome), Yanagiya (Gofuku Bridge), Fukuroya (Motodai Miyakumachi Hinokiken) are counted. These prosperity was largely due to the establishment of the post-Ishin Stock and Rice Exchange (Nihonbashikakigaracho) and the prosperity of large wholesalers, and also due to geographical circumstances close to the center of commercial finance in Tokyo. The number increased to 110 at the end of 1903, 266 at the end of 1912, and 364 at the end of 1926.

The "Classical Performing Arts Group" of the Tokyo City Guide Group (TCGC) to which I belong, is Machiaichaya in Maruyama-cho, Shibuya? We will borrow and hold a imitate of playing in the parlor on November 4th. I also participate and listen to shamisen art and rakugo, such as Itsutsuto, and experience a little play at a teahouse. If there is anything to report, I will report it.

Machiaichaya "Kotobuki"

Machiaichaya "Kotobuki" Machiaichaya "Kotobuki" in Nihonbashi

"Maruzen Centennial History" contains a map of Maruzen in the Meiji 10's. The left direction of Maruzen leads to Nihonbashi, and the right direction leads to Ginza. The corner under the street 3-chome (west side) is now Maruzen Building. Around that time, there was a Kinshin fur store (Oomiya Shin Itobei-dori 3-3) opposite Maruzen, and on the right side = south side (Tori 3-chome 4), there was a waiting teahouse "Shouju".

According to the Tokyo New Prosperity Book (extract), "There are many merchants gatherings, and the seating fee of great hall is 4 to 5 yen per day. The owner is Kumazo Iizuka, and it is presumed that the name was thriving because the name was also published in the first and last names of the national income taxpayers in 1887. . (Because the currency at that time is said to be about 4,000 times the present value, the great hall seating fee is about 20,000 yen. It seems that it will rise to a considerable amount because food and drink are added to this.)

Copper plate painting "Machiai Chaya Hisashi"

Copper plate painting "Machiai Chaya Hisashi" Machiai Chaya "Kotobuki" in Nihonbashi

I found a copperplate print of "Kinshin fur store" at 3-3, Torimachi, but I couldn't find a copperplate print of "Shouju". The next door to the attached copperplate engraving Kinshin fur store is "Shou", so I think the next house surrounded by red circles is equivalent. I don't know the details because it is not the main subject of copperplate prints, but since the great hall on the second floor of the turtle's tail was 40 tatami mats and the seating fee was 1.50 yen, the longevity is 4 yen to 5 yen per day, it is presumed that the longevity was greater.

Reference:

1)　Tokyo Fashion Hosomi Report

2)　Maruzen Centennial History (upper) Published by Maruzen, 1980 9.18

3)　Tokyo New Prosperity (extract) Sahei Kaneko, Kyobashi Library, Meiji 30.12.21

4)　Tokyo Hyakuji Flight Sansanbunbo Kyobashi Library

5)　History of Nihonbashi Ward (below) II Issued by Nihonbashi Ward Office Showa 12.10.25

6)　Tokyo Merchant Record 1987.8.25 Published Kohoku Company