Shintomiza Theatre

The name of a Kabuki theater. Formerly known as Moritaza. Opened on October 13, 1872 (Meiji 5) in Shintomi-cho, Kyobashi-ku, Tokyo. Morita Kanya, the 12th head of Moritaza, saw the trend after the Meiji Restoration and planned to move from Saruwaka-cho, where the theater had been since the Tenpo period (1830-1844), to the city center. He built the largest theater at the time in Shintomi-cho with the latest facilities, and in March 1875, it became a joint-stock company and was renamed Shintomi-za. It burned down in 1876, but reopened in 1878 even larger and equipped with modern facilities such as gas lamps. After that, it brought in famous actors, improved theatrical performances, and staged Westernized plays. From around 1882, the theater began to struggle financially, changing its name to Saruwaka-za, Kiri-za, Fukano-za, and other names, and changing managers several times. In 1909 (Meiji 42), it came under the management of Shochiku General Partnership and continued to hold performances bringing together actors from the east and west, but in 1923 (Taisho 12), it was burned down and abandoned in the Great Kanto Earthquake.

[Akira Kikuchi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

歌舞伎(かぶき)劇場名。前名守田座。東京市京橋区新富町に1872年（明治5）10月13日開場。守田座の座主12世守田勘弥(かんや)は明治維新後の時流を見抜き、天保(てんぽう)期（1830～44）以来の劇場界であった猿若(さるわか)町から都心進出を企て、新富町に当時最大の規模と最新設備をもった劇場を建設、75年3月株式組織となるとともに新富座と改称した。76年類焼したが、78年にはさらに規模も大きくガス灯など近代設備を施して華々しく再開場。以後名優を網羅して演劇改良、欧化主義による演目を上演した。82年ごろから経営不振となり、猿若座、桐(きり)座、深野(ふかの)座などと名称を変え、経営者も転々とした。1909年（明治42）松竹合名社の経営となり、東西の俳優を交流させた興行を続けたが、23年（大正12）関東大震災のため焼失、廃絶した。

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