Meiji-za, Theatre building in Nihonbashi-Hamachō, Japan.
Meiji-za is a performance space with 1,368 seats in Nihonbashi-Hamachō, Tokyo, hosting both kabuki and modern Western plays. The stage is framed by red curtains and wooden fixtures, while multiple tiers rise toward a painted ceiling.
The building opened in 1873 as Kishô-za and was destroyed several times by fire and earthquake. It took its current name in 1893 and has been rebuilt repeatedly since then.
The name recalls the era when Japan opened to foreign influence and theater became a meeting point between East and West. Audiences today often dress formally for kabuki evenings, and many return regularly to follow their favorite performers across different roles.
The address at 2-31-1 Nihonbashi-Hamachō places you near several subway lines and local restaurants. Performances often run for several hours, so plan to arrive early and settle in for an extended evening.
In 2023, to mark 150 years, the house installed its first orchestra pit for a musical adapted from a Japanese manga. This addition opened a new chapter for the space, which had never before accommodated a full orchestra in front of the stage.
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