Minami-za
 | |
| Address |
京都市東山区四条通大和大路西入中之町198 Kyoto  Japan |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 35°00′13″N 135°46′20″E / 35.003518°N 135.772305°E |
| Owner | Shochiku |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (1996) |
| Type | Kabuki theater |
| Capacity | 1,086 |
| Website | |
| www.shochiku.co.jp/play/minamiza/ | |
Minami-za (南座 Minami-za) is the primary kabuki theatre in Kyoto, Japan. It was founded in 1610 as Shijō Minami-za. The current building with 1,086 seats was built in 1929.[1][2]
History
Minami-za is one of the earliest of the seven officially licensed Kabuki theaters built in the early Edo period (1615-1623) in the Shijo Kawara area in Kyoto, even before Tokyo and Osaka.[3]
The current Minami-za theater was built in 1929 in the architectural style of the Momoyama period, with a gabled roof and a traditional turret marking the official approval of the government. In 1991, after the end of the Showa period, the interior was drastically refurbished and modern stage mechanism was installed.[3]
In 1996, Minami-za was registered as a Japanese Tangible Cultural Property in respects to its historical architectural value in connection to the city of Kyoto.[3]
Theater mechanism
The stage employs unique stagecraft tricks used in Japanese Kabuki theater such as Hanamichi (runway stage), Seri (trap-door lift stage mechanism), and Mawari-butai (revolving stage), all of which were invented in playhouses during Edo period.[3]
References
- ↑ "南座の歴史". SHOCHIKU. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
- ↑ "Minami-za, Kyoto - Lonely Planet Travel Guide". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
- 1 2 3 4 "Experience the Stage of Minamiza" Kabuki Museum Minamiza. 〒605-0075 京都府京都市東山区四条通大和大路西入中之町１９８. April 15, 2013.
External links
- Official site (Japanese)