Kabuki Theater

Kabuki Theater - Kabuki-za (歌舞伎座, Kabuki-za) in Ginza is the principal theater in Tokyo for the traditional kabuki drama form. It opened in 1889, and is one of the city’s finest extant examples of Meiji-era construction using Western materials in traditional Japanese architectural styles. The building was destroyed in a fire in 1921, and was uncompleted when the 1923 Kanto earthquake struck. It was rebuilt in a baroque Japanese revivalist style, meant to evoke the Japanese castles of the 16th century; The theater was again destroyed in the Allied bombing during World War II. It was rebuilt once again, as a reconstruction of the 1924 structure, and today remains one of Tokyo’s more dramatic and traditional buildings. Performances are held nearly every day at Kabuki-za, and tickets are sold for individual acts as well as for the play in its entirety. This costs around ¥1000, depending on the length, and seating is on the fourth floor. An English audio guide describes the play while you watch, it is worthwhile at ¥400. You can also see the complete kabuki play, but this is a lengthy affair, and ticket prices can range from ¥3500 to ¥20,000. If it’s around mealtime, pick up a bento at one of the local shops and take it in. (Article based on Wikipedia article and used under the GNU Free Documentation License) |