Kabukiza
Tokyo
This opulent, sumptuous kabuki theater has re-opened with a new face
Kabuki is a traditional Japanese performing art with a history dating back 400 years. In 2009, it was registered with UNESCO as part of Japan's Intangible Cultural Heritage. Kabukiza was built in 1889 as a permanent theater for performances of kabuki. Having been stricken by disaster and rebuilt several times, it reopened again in April 2013, following a three-year construction period.
A composite facility with a 150m-high office block encompassing 29 floors above ground and 4 basement floors, the theater itself retains the characteristic Momoyama-style architecture that it had before the rebuild, including a tiled roof, Chinese cusped gables, and Japanese-style balustrades. A joint endeavor between world-renowned architect Kengo Kuma and Mitsubishi Jisho Sekkei Inc., the design sought to embody the beauty of Japanese architecture. Inside the theater, the latest technology has been used to replicate the raised seats in the gallery, the hanamichi runway through the audience to the stage, and the revolving stage. When you watch a kabuki performance, you will undoubtedly be captivated by the magnificent costumes, the unique acting, and many other aspects of this glamorous performing art. Earphone guides in English are available, providing explanations of the plot, characters, costumes, and props in time with the proceedings on the stage, so even non-speakers of Japanese can enjoy the performance with complete peace of mind.
Information
Address: Ginza 4-12-15, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 03-3541-3131
Directions: Directly linked to Higashi-ginza Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line and the Toei Asakusa Line; 10 minutes on foot from Ginza Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Marunouchi Line, and Hibiya Line
