Ichimura-za

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Ichimura-za
市村座
Murayama-za, Ichimura-Takenojō-za, Miyamoto-za, Satsuma-za
Ichimura-za-Kabuki-Theatre-by-Hiroshige-1854.png
Ichimura-za at Saruwaka-machi in Asakusa (1854)
AddressEdo
Japan Japan
Owner, others
DesignationLicensed theatre
TypeKabuki theatre
Construction
OpenedMarch 1634
Closed1932
Rebuilt1657, 1703, 1855, numerous other times
Years activeOn and off from 1634 to 1932.

The Ichimura-za (市村座) was a major kabuki theatre in the Japanese capital of Edo (later, Tokyo), for much of the Edo period, and into the 20th century. It was first opened in 1634 and was run by members of the for much of the following nearly three centuries before it was destroyed by fire in 1932. It has not been rebuilt.

History[]

The theatre which would later be known as the Ichimura-za was founded as the Murayama-za, by in March 1634.[1] After it was destroyed by fire in 1641 and rebuilt, the theatre, now controlled by Murayama's son-in-law , with the help of , was renamed the Ichimura-za in 1643.[1] Uzaemon became the official manager of the theatre in 1652, upon Kuroemon's death.[1]

The Ichimura-za was destroyed by fire and rebuilt numerous times over the years, including during the famous 1657 "Furisode Fire" or "Great Fire of Meireki".[1] Ichimura Uzaemon III retired to become a priest in 1664, leaving ten-year-old as his successor as zamoto (manager) of the theatre. It was then renamed the "Ichimura-Takenojō-za" for roughly a decade.[1] In 1670, the shogunate officially restricted the licensed theatres in the city to four; the Ichimura-Takenojō-za received a license along with the Nakamura-za, Morita-za and .[1] The Ichimura-za would be host to numerous premieres and significant historical events for the kabuki genre. March 1680 saw the very first performance of a scene, or love rivals' competition; Chikamatsu Monzaemon's masterpiece The Battles of Coxinga, the first kabuki play derived from a bunraku (puppet) play to be performed in Edo, premiered simultaneously in 1717 at the Ichimura-za, and two other licensed theaters.[1] Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami, which remains today among the three most famous and popular kabuki plays, debuted at the Ichimura-za in 1747.[1]

From 1784 to 1788, and again from 1793 to 1798, the Ichimura-za was forced to close due to financial difficulties, and gave its license temporarily to the Kiri-za.[1] This circumstance was relatively common in the kabuki world, and was experienced by all of the licensed theaters at least once; in some cases, repeatedly. The Ichimura-za would be forced to declare bankruptcy and close again from 1815–1821, during which time its license traded hands several times, as other theaters too went bankrupt. It eventually reopened, under the management of .[1]

After the theatre was destroyed once again by fire in 1841, and forbidden by the government to be rebuilt in its old location in the Sakai-chō neighborhood, the Ichimura-za was reconstructed and reopened in the Asakusa Saruwaka-chō area.[1] In 1871, Ichimura Uzaemon XIV, struggling with the theater's debts, relinquished his position as zamoto, and gave control to Fukichi Mohei. Fukichi renamed the theater the Murayama-za once more, and named his 10-year-old son as official zamoto.[1] The theatre would change management, and names, two more times: to Miyamoto-za in 1874 and Satsuma-za in 1875, before it was destroyed by fire yet again, and reopened in 1878 as the Ichimura-za once more. The theater was no longer controlled by the Ichimura family however, and was then managed by and .[1] The theater was then acquired in 1908 by entrepreneur Tamura Nariyoshi, marking the beginning of a brief golden age for the theater. and Nakamura Kichiemon I, the stars of the Ichimura-za productions, were extremely popular, and for ten years brought great success to the Ichimura-za.[1] A fire destroyed the theater for the last time, on May 21, 1932. It was not rebuilt.[1][2]

Zamoto[]

The July 1858 production of Shibaraku at the Ichimura-za theater in Edo. Triptych woodblock print by Utagawa Toyokuni III.
  1. (1634–1641)[3]
  2. (1641–1652)
  3. (1652–1664)
  4. (1664–1679)
  5. (1679-?)
  6. (?-1785)
  7. (1785–1799)
  8. (1821–1851)
  9. (1851-1868?)
  10. Ichimura Uzaemon XIV (1868–1871)
  11. (1871–1874)
  12. (1874)
  13. (1875–1876)
  14. & (1878-1908?)

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Shōriya, Asagoro. "Ichimuraza." Kabuki21.com. Accessed 15 November 2008.
  2. ^ "Ichimura-za." 歌舞伎事典 (kabuki jiten; "Kabuki Encyclopedia"). Japan Arts Council, 2001-2003. Accessed 15 November 2008.
  3. ^ These dates reflect not the birth and death of the actor, but rather the years during which he served as zamoto, or head of the theatre.

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