Minami-za

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 a 1,086 seat capacity, was built in 1929.[1][2]

Minami-za
南座
Address京都市東山区四条通大和大路西入中之町198
Kyoto
Japan Japan
Coordinates35.003518°N 135.772305°E / 35.003518; 135.772305
OwnerShochiku
DesignationRegistered Tangible Cultural Property (1996)
TypeKabuki theater
Capacity1,086
Website
www.shochiku.co.jp/play/minamiza/

History

The Minami-za is one of the earliest of the seven officially-licensed kabuki theatres built in the early Edo period (1615-1623) in the Shijo Kawara area in Kyoto; the theatre pre-dates those of Tokyo and Osaka.[3] The current Minami-za theatre 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 Shōwa period, the interior was drastically refurbished and modern stage mechanism was installed.[3]

In 1996, the 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]

Theatre mechanism

The Minami-za features a number of stagecraft mechanisms unique to kabuki, such as the hanamichi (runway) and the seri (trap-door mechanism at the end of the hanamichi). The theatre also features a mawari-butai (revolving stage); all of the theatre's mechanisms were invented in playhouses during the Edo period.[3]

References
  1. "南座の歴史". SHOCHIKU. Archived from the original on 2007-10-14. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
  2. "Minami-za, Kyoto - Lonely Planet Travel Guide". Lonely Planet. Archived from the original on 2006-01-08. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
  3. "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.
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