Meiji-za

Meiji-za 明治座
Address	東京都中央区日本橋浜町二丁目31番1号 2-31-1 Nihonbashi-Hamacho, Chūō-ku
City	Tokyo
Country	Japan
Coordinates	35°41′17″N 139°47′13″E / 35.687967°N 139.78688°E / 35.687967; 139.78688Coordinates: 35°41′17″N 139°47′13″E / 35.687967°N 139.78688°E / 35.687967; 139.78688
Owned by	Meiji-za Corporation
Capacity	1,368
Type	Kabuki theater
Opened	1873
Rebuilt	1885, 1928, 1950, 1958, 1993
Website
www.meijiza.co.jp/

The Meiji Theatre (明治座, Meijiza) is a theatre in Chūō, Tokyo, Japan. It was originally constructed in 1873.^[1] It presents kabuki and Western stage plays.

History

The Meiji Theater first opened in the district of Hisamatsu-chô as the Kishôza in 1873. ^[2] Six years later it reopened under the name of Hisamatsuza. ^[3] In February 1885 it opened under a third name, Chitoseza, ^[4] but burned down in 1890. ^[5] In November 1893 it was rebuilt as the Meijiza, the name that it holds today. ^[6]

In 1904 the Meijiza underwent renovations, only to be burned down in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. ^[7] Until the Meijiza was rebuilt in Hama-chô, ^[8] the Suehiroza, a small theater in the Azabu Jûban district, served as a temporary replacement. ^[9] The Meijiza was burned down in the bombings of WWII, but reopened in December of 1950. ^[10] After a fire in 1957, it was reopened the next year. ^[11]

The Meijiza put on two performances in March and April 1993 to celebrate three years of extensive renovations. ^[12]

References