1st lunar month of 1660: Morita Tarobei I and his adopted son Morita Tashichi open a new theater in the district of Kobiki-chô; they name it Moritaza.

14th day of the 1st lunar month of 1660: a fire breaks out in the district of Yushima. It spreads and burns the Ichimuraza, the Nakamuraza and the newly-constructed Moritaza.

5th lunar month of 1660: opening of the rebuilt Moritaza in the district of Kobiki-chô.

27th day of the 1st lunar month of 1661: a fire breaks out in the residence of Kusakabe Gonzaemon in the district of Takajô-chô. It spreads and burns both the Ichimuraza and the Moritaza.

3rd lunar month of 1668: Morita Tarobei retires.

5th lunar month of 1668: Morita Tashichi takes the name of Morita Kan'ya I.

9th lunar month of 1668: Morita Kan'ya I and Kawarazaki Gonnosuke I become business partners.

10th lunar month of 1670: the number of Kabuki theaters in the city of Edo is set to 4 by the authorities. The authorized theaters are the Nakamuraza (in the district of Sakai-chô), the Ichimura-Takenojôza (Fukiya-chô), Moritaza (Kobiki-chô) and the Yamamuraza (Kobiki-chô).

25th day of the 6th lunar month of 1677: Morita Tarobei I, the first zamoto of the Moritaza, dies in Edo.

25th day of the 2nd lunar month of 1679: Morita Kan'ya I, the second zamoto of the Moritaza, dies in Edo.

Spring 1679: Bandô Fukutarô takes the name of Morita Kan'ya II and becomes the new zamoto of the Moritaza.

26th day of the 12th lunar month of 1695: a fire breaks out in the district of Sukiyabashi. It spreads and burns both the Moritaza and the Yamamuraza.

11th lunar month of 1699: Morita Kan'ya II and Bandô Matajirô II respectively take the names of Bandô Matazaemon II and Morita Kan'ya III.

1700: Bandô Matazaemon II takes the name of Bandô Matakurô II.

29 november 1703: an earthquake hits Edo and the resulting fires destroy the city. The 4 main theaters, the Nakamuraza, the Ichimuraza, the Moritaza and the Yamamuraza, are burnt to ashes. This catastrophe is nicknamed "Genroku Jishin Kaji" ("Genroku Earthquake and Fire").

1st lunar month of 1709: the 4 Edo theaters, the Nakamuraza, the Ichimuraza, the Moritaza and the Yamamuraza, produce simultaneously a sogamono new year drama. This is the beginning of a custom that is still somehow observed nowadays.

11th lunar month of 1709: Bandô Nabetarô becomes wakashugata and takes the name of Bandô Matajirô IV at the Moritaza.

Spring 1712: Morita Kan'ya III, Bandô Matajirô IV and Bandô Matakurô II respectively take the names of Bandô Matakurô III, Morita Kan'ya IV and Bandô Matazaemon II.

7th day of the 1st lunar month of 1717: a fire breaks out in the district of Owari-chô and spreads to others sections of Edo, destroying the Moritaza.

5th lunar month of 1717: Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's masterpiece "Kokusen'ya Gassen" is produced simultaneously in the 3 Edo Kabuki theaters. This is the first Kabuki adaptation of a puppet theater play in Edo. It is produced at the Moritaza under the title "Kokusen'ya Gojitsu Gassen" and staged with the following casting:

1st lunar month of 1718: Ichikawa Danjûrô II plays at the Moritaza the leading role in the "Uirô Uri" scene (kabuki jûhachiban), which is performed in the second part (nibanme) of the new year sogamono "Wakamidori Ikioi Soga". The performance is a successful long run (from January to the 7th lunar month of 1718).

1st lunar month of 1720: first Kabuki adaptation of Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's puppet theater shinjûmono "Shinjû Kasane Izutsu", which was written in 1707. The same play is simultaneously produced in the 3 Edo theaters and commemorates the 16th anniversary (17th memorial service) of the suicide of the couple Tokubei and Ofusa, whose roles are played by Ichikawa Danjûrô II and Sanjô Kantarô II at the Moritaza.

5th lunar month of 1721: Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's drama "Shinjû Ten no Amijima", which was originally written for the puppet theater in the 12th lunar month of 1720, is adapted to Kabuki for the first time and staged in Edo at the Moritaza. The roles of Kamiya Jihei and Koharu are played by Ichikawa Danjûrô II and Sodesaki Miwano I.

24th day of the 2nd lunar month of 1722: Bandô Matakurô III, who held the name of Morita Kan'ya III from 1699 to 1712, dies.

Spring 1722: Bandô Matazaemon II takes back the name of Bandô Matakurô II.

1st lunar month of 1734: the Moritaza goes bankrupt. The hikae yagura system is authorized by the Shogunate. Morita Kan'ya IV gives his right of Kabuki performance to Kawarazaki Gonnosuke III, who opens his theater in the 3rd lunar month of 1735.

19th day of the 6th lunar month of 1734: Bandô Matakurô II, who held the name of Morita Kan'ya II from 1679 to 1699, dies.

17th day of the 9th lunar month of 1743: the zamoto Morita Kan'ya IV dies.

1744: Bandô Kinzô, disciple of Morita Kan'ya IV, takes the name of Morita Kan'ya V.

February (end of month) 1746: a fire breaks out in the district of Tsukiji, in the mansion of Tsubouchi Gonzaemon. It spreads and destroys the Nakamuraza, the Ichimuraza and the Moritaza.

4th lunar month of 1750: the play "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami" is produced at the Moritaza for the first time, with the following casting:

11th lunar month of 1751: Morita Kan'ya V retires, taking the name of Bandô Matazaemon. He entrusts the management of the Moritaza to his son-in-law Sawamura Kodenji II, who takes the name of Morita Kan'ya VI.

4th lunar month of 1752: the play "Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki", originally written for the Puppets Theater, is adapted for the very first time to Kabuki, at the Moritaza, and staged with the following casting:

23rd day of the 11th lunar month of 1756: a fire breaks out in the district of Kôjimachi. It spreads and destroys the Moritaza.

1st lunar month of 1757: the play "Kiichi Hôgen Sanryaku no Maki" is staged for the first time in Edo, at the Moritaza with the following casting:

5th lunar month of 1758: the play "Gion Sairei Shinkôki" is staged for the first time in Edo, at the Moritaza, with the following casting:

2nd lunar month of 1763: first Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Ôshû Adachi-ga-Hara", which is staged at the Moritaza with the following casting:

2nd lunar month of 1769: first Kabuki adaptation of the puppet theater drama "Sekitori Senryô Nobori", which is staged at the Moritaza with the following casting:

9th lunar month of 1770: Chikamatsu Hanji's 1759 puppet theater drama "Hidakagawa Iriai Zakura" is staged for the first time in Edo, at the Moritaza with the following casting:

8th lunar month of 1771: Nakamura Tomijûrô I achieves a great success at the Moritaza by performing in an amazing seven roles Nagauta-based dance called "Kiku ha Yae Shichinin Geshô". The seven sections are "Kanjo" (the court lady), "Harukoma" (a dance using a horse head look-alike puppet), "Wakashû Tanzen" (a boy in Tanzen style), "Keisei" (a high-ranking courtesan), "Yamagatsu" (the mountaineer), "Nuno Zarashi" (the bleached cotton dance) and "Yari Odori" (the spear dance).

11th lunar month of 1774: Morita Kan'ya VI retires, taking the name of Morita Yasosuke. He entrusts the management of the Moritaza to his son Morita Tarobei II, who takes the name of Morita Kan'ya VII.

5th lunar month of 1776: the play "Maki Kaesu Mikari Soga", which originally mixes the "Gonin Otoko" world world with others characters, is performed at the Moritaza with the following casting:

11th lunar month of 1776: Morita Matajirô takes the name of Bandô Matakurô IV at the Moritaza.

1st lunar month of 1778: the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin" is staged for the first time in Edo, at the Moritaza, with the following casting:

4th lunar month of 1780: first Kabuki adaptation of Utei Emba, Kijô Tarô and Yô Yôdai puppet theater drama "Go Taiheiki Shiraishi Banashi", which was written in the 1st lunar month of 1780. The play is produced in Edo at the Moritaza, with the following casting:

3rd lunar month of 1781: Ichikawa Danzô IV plays 7 roles (nanayaku) in the drama "Kanadehon Chûshingura", which is staged at the Moritaza. Here is the list of roles: En'ya Hangan, Ôboshi Yuranosuke, Honzô's wife Tonase, Amakawaya Gihei, Yoichibei, Ono no Sadakurô and Ôwashi Bungo. This is the first time in Kabuki history that an actor plays seven roles in the classic "Kanadehon Chûshingura".

4th lunar month of 1783: first Kabuki adaptation of Yô Yôdai's puppet theater drama "Kagamiyama Kokyô no Nishikie", which was written in 1782. The play is performed in Edo at the Moritaza, with the following casting:

8th lunar month of 1783: the zamoto Morita Kan'ya VII dies; Bandô Matakurô IV takes the name of Morita Kan'ya VIII at the Moritaza and becomes the new manager of this theater.

11th lunar month of 1783: Bandô Kumajûrô I takes the name of Sakata Hangorô III at the Moritaza.

26th day of the 12th lunar month of 1784: a fire breaks out in the palace of a daimyô and destroys the Moritaza.

1789 ~ 1797: the Moritaza goes bankrupt and gives its license to the Kawarazakiza.

2nd lunar month of 1798: the Moritaza reopens with a program called "Ichikawa Danzô Machiuke Banashi" and starring Ichikawa Danzô IV.

9th lunar month of 1798: premiere at the Moritaza of the Tokiwazu-based dance-drama "Futa Omote Tsuki no Sugatae", which is based on the older dance "Shinobu-gusa Koi no Utsushie", which was originally staged in the 3rd lunar month of 1775 at the Nakamuraza [more details]. It stars Ichikawa Danzô IV in the role of the woman selling shinobu, who is in reality the ghost of both the evil Hôkaibô and Princess Nowake. This dance-drama ends the drama "Furisode Sumidagawa", which is a revival of Nagawa Shimesuke I's drama "Sumidagawa Gonichi no Omokage".

1800 ~ 1808: the Moritaza goes bankrupt and gives its license to the Kawarazakiza.

11th lunar month of 1801: Morita Kan'ya VIII and Morita Matakichi respectively take the names of Bandô Yasosuke I and Morita Kan'ya IX at the Kawarazakiza.

5th lunar month of 1808: the Moritaza reopens.

3rd lunar month of 1809: premiere at the Moritaza of Fukumori Kyûsuke I's drama "Sono Mukashi Koi no Edo-zome", which is staged with the following casting:

6th lunar month of 1809: premiere at the Moritaza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's drama "Okuni Gozen Keshô no Sugatami", which is staged with the following casting:

3rd lunar month of 1813: premiere at the Moritaza of Tsuruya Namboku IV's play "Osome Hisamatsu Ukina no Yomiuri" (commonly called "Osome no Nanayaku", in English "The seven roles of Osome"), which is staged with the following casting:

6th lunar month of 1813: premiere at the Moritaza of the 8-role hengemono "Mata Koko-ni Sugata Hakkei"; the 8 roles are performed by Ichikawa Danjûrô VII. One of them, the one for the view "wild goose swooping down upon Katata in Autumn" ("Katata no Rakugan" in Japanese), has survived and became an independent popular dance item in the Kabuki repertoire, known under the titles of "Ômi no Okane", "Danjûrô Musume" (the Danjûrô Girl) or "Sarashima" (the Cloth-bleaching Girl). Another dance, less popular than "Ômi no Okane", which has survived as a Nagauta dance, is "Shin'en".

1st lunar month of 1814: premiere at the Moritaza of the Nagauta-based dance "Shôfudatsuki Kongen Kusazuri", which is staged with the following casting:

4th lunar month of 1814 ~ 10th lunar month of 1817: the Moritaza goes bankrupt and gives its license to the Kawarazakiza.

11th lunar month of 1817: the Moritaza reopens; the opening program including the great dance-drama "Tsumoru Koi Yuki no Seki no To", starring Ichikawa Omezô I, Bandô Matajûrô, Morita Kan'ya IX and Azuma Tôzô IV in the roles of Kuronushi, Munesada, Komachi and the spirit of the cherry tree.

7th lunar month of 1818 ~ 10th lunar month of 1822: the Moritaza goes bankrupt and gives its license to the Kawarazakiza.

11th lunar month of 1822: the Moritaza reopens; the opening program is also the shûmei of Iwai Shijaku I.

5th lunar month of 1823 ~ 10th lunar month of 1833: the Moritaza goes bankrupt and gives its license to the Kawarazakiza.

21st day of the 3rd lunar month of 1829: a fire breaks out from the shop of Owariya Tokuemon, in the district of Kanda Sakuma-chô. It spreads and destroys the Edo theaters district. The Moritaza, the Ichimuraza and the Nakamuraza are burnt to ashes.

5th lunar month of 1830: Morita Kan'ya IX and Bandô Sampachi III respectively take the names of Bandô Yasosuke and Morita Kan'ya X.

11th lunar month of 1833: the Moritaza reopens; the opening program "Shitennô Kabuki no Yorizome" stars Ichikawa Ebizô V, Bandô Mitsugorô III, Iwai Tojaku, Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII, Iwai Hanshirô VI, Sawamura Tosshô I, Iwai Kumesaburô III, Bandô Minosuke II, Bandô Tamasaburô I and Ôtani Tomoemon IV.

11th lunar month of 1835: Ichikawa Hakuzô I takes the name of Ichikawa Kuzô II at the Moritaza.

4th lunar month of 1836: premiere at the Moritaza of the drama "Hakkenden Uwasa no Takadono", which is written by Takarada Jusuke and Mimasuya Shirô, includes the "Narukami" scene, and is staged with the following casting:

10th lunar month of 1837 ~ 4th lunar month of 1856: the Moritaza goes bankrupt and gives its license to the Kawarazakiza.

11th lunar month of 1850: Morita Kan'ya X retires and gives his name and the management of the closed Moritaza to Bandô Mitsugorô IV, who takes the name of Morita Kan'ya XI at the Ichimuraza.

22 May 7th lunar month of 1851: Morita Kan'ya X dies.

5th lunar month of 1856: the Moritaza reopens.

9th day of the 1st lunar month of 1858: a fire breaks out in the third floor of the Moritaza and burns the theater to ashes. It also destroys the Ichimuraza.

11th lunar month of 1858: the Moritaza reopens; the ideogram for Mori is changed:

You need a Japanese Language Kit installed within your system in order to be able to read the characters

8th lunar month of 1861: premiere of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Sakura Sôshi Gonichi no Bundan", a revised version of Segawa Jokô III's drama "Higashiyama Sakura Sôshi", which is staged at the Moritaza with the following casting:

10th lunar month of 1861: premiere at the Moritaza of Segawa Jokô III's drama "Zôho Futatsu Domoe", which is staged with the following casting:

8th lunar month of 1862: premiere at the Moritaza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Kanzen Chôaku Nozoki Garakuri", which is staged with the following casting:

8th lunar month of 1862: revival at the Moritaza of the drama "Miyajima no Danmari", with a new script written by Kawatake Mokuami and starring Ichikawa Kodanji IV in the leading roles of the courtesan Ukifune and the thief Kesatarô.

18th day of the 11th lunar month of 1863: Morita Kan'ya XI dies.

21st 4th lunar month of 1864: premiere at the Moritaza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Wakaba no Ume Ukina no Yokogushi", commonly called "Kirare Otomi" ("Scarface Otomi"). The drama ends with a Kiyomoto-based dance-drama, which is entitled "Inu Tsubasa Otomi Yosaburô". Both drama and dance-drama are staged with the following casting:

22nd 4th lunar month of 1864: the following day after the premiere of "Wakaba no Ume Ukina no Yokogushi", a fire breaks out in a Moritaza's shibai jaya; it quickly spreads and burns the Moritaza, the Ichimuraza and the Nakamuraza.

9th lunar month of 1864: the rebuilt Moritaza reopens with a program which is entitled "Chigusa Hana Masago no Shinbutai". Kawatake Shinshichi II's "Kirare Otomi" is staged with the same casting within this program, in a slightly revised version which is entitled "Musume Gonomi Ukina no Yokogushi". The Kiyomoto-based dance-drama is entitled "Aki no Iro Otomi Yosaburô".

11th lunar month of 1864: Morita Kanjirô III takes the name of Morita Kan'ya XII.

3rd lunar month of 1870: premiere at the Moritaza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's drama "Keian Taiheiki". The leading role of Marubashi Chûya is played by Ichikawa Sadanji I.

2nd lunar month of 1872: Iwai Shijaku II takes the name of Iwai Hanshirô VIII at the Moritaza.

9th lunar month of 1872: the Moritaza leaves the district of Saruwaka-Chô and is rebuilt in the district of Shintomi-chô. The building architecture is traditional but Morita Kan'ya XII makes many changes:

The new theater is bigger than the old one

Toilets within the theater

It has some seats for foreigners

...

10th lunar month of 1872: premiere at the Moritaza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's zangirimono "Tsuki no En Masu no Igaguri", which is staged with the following casting:

February 1875: Morita Kan'ya XII creates a stock company to manage his theater, which is renamed Shintomiza for this occasion.

28 November 1876: a fire breaks out in the district of Sukiya-chô and destroys both the Nakabashiza and the Shintomiza.

June 1878: the Shintomiza reopens, more modern than the first one.

16 July 1879: gala night at the Shintomiza in the honor of the General Ulysses S. Grant, who ends his world tour with a stop in Japan. The theater is decorated with American flags and the main item in the program is a drama, which was specially written by Kawatake Mokuami to celebrate the victor of the American Civil War. This war is transposed to the Japanese 11th century, Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee becoming Minamoto no Yoshiie and Kiyohara no Takehira, two enemy warriors of the gosannen. This drama is titled "Gosannen Ôshû Gunki" and has a 5-star casting: Ichikawa Danjûrô IX (Minamoto no Yoshiie), Nakamura Sôjûrô (Kiyohara no Takehira), Iwai Hanshirô VIII, Ichikawa Sadanji I, Nakamura Nakazô III, Bandô Kakitsu I and Ichikawa Kodanji V. The program ends with a shosagoto, which stars Onoe Kikugorô V, Ichikawa Sadanji I and Bandô Kakitsu I.

September 1879: the zamoto Morita Kan'ya XII produces at the Shintomiza an original play "Hyôryû Kidan Seiyô Kabuki" ("A strange story about drifters and Western Kabuki"!), written by Kawatake Shinshichi II and staged with some Western actors. The plot is about the adventures of a group of Japanese in Europe and in the USA. The play includes several Italian-style operettas, which disconcert the audience. This original performance is a complete commercial failure.

March 1881: premiere at the Shintomiza of Kawatake Mokuami's masterpiece "Kumo ni Magou Ueno no Hatsuhana", performed with the following casting:

June 1881: premiere at the Shintomiza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's jidaimono "Youchi Soga Kariba no Akebono", which is staged with the following casting:

June 1881: premiere at the Shintomiza of Kawatake Shinshichi II's dance-drama "Tsuchi Gumo", which is staged to commemorate the 32nd anniversary (33rd memorial service) of late Onoe Kikugorô III. The dance is staged with the following casting:

November 1881: premiere at the Shintomiza of Kawatake Mokuami's zangirimono drama "Shima Chidori Tsuki no Shiranami", which is staged with the following casting:

January 1883: premiere at the Shintomiza of Kawatake Mokuami's drama "Medeshi Yanagi Midori no Matsumae", which is staged with the following casting:

April 1883: premiere at the Shintomiza of Kawatake Mokuami's Nagauta-based matsubamemono "Ibaraki", which is staged with the following casting:

November 1885: premiere at the Shintomiza of Kawatake Mokuami's Nagauta-based matsubamemono "Funa Benkei", which is staged with the following casting:

October 1887: premiere at the Shintomiza of Kawatake Mokuami's matsubamemono "Momijigari", which mixes Tokiwazu, Takemoto and Nagauta musical accompaniments and is staged with the following casting:

Fall 1891: the management of the theater is transferred to Fukano Eiji, who renames the theater Fukanoza.

November 1891: the title "Oto ni Kiku Tenjiku Tokubei" is used for the first time, in Tôkyô at the Fukanoza, and it is staged with the following casting:

January 1894: last performances at the Fukanoza.

February 1894: the Fukanoza is renamed Shintomiza.

August 1894: because of many financial difficulties, Morita Kan'ya XII has to hand over the management of the Shintomiza. He keeps on working as a producer.

October 1895: last performances at the Shintomiza.

January 1896: the Shintomiza is renamed Miyakoza.

April 1897: last performances at the Miyakoza.

July 1897: the Miyakoza is renamed Shintomiza; last performances produced by Morita Kan'ya XII at the Shintomiza.

August 1897: Morita Kan'ya XII (1846~1897) dies.

November 1906: Bandô Mitahachi III takes the name of Morita Kan'ya XIII at the Shintomiza.

1909: the Shintomiza is purchased by the powerful Shôchiku Company.

May 1910: Chikamatsu Monzaemon I's drama "Onna Goroshi Abura no Jigoku" is staged for the first time in Tôkyô, at the Shintomiza with the following casting:

October 1914: premiere at the Shintomiza of Okamoto Kidô's drama "Sasaki Takatsuna". The role of Sasaki Takatsuna is played by Ichikawa Sadanji II.

November 1918: premiere at the Shintomiza of Matsui Shôyô's drama "Yodogimi". The leading role of Lady Yodo (Yodogimi) is played by Nakamura Utaemon V.

June 1921: premiere at the Shintomiza of Takayasu Gekkô's drama "Daigo no Haru". The leading role of Lady Yodo (Yodogimi) is played by Nakamura Utaemon V.

February 1922: premiere at the Shintomiza of Yamazaki Shikô's drama "Hatsushiraga". The leading role of Lady Yodo (Yodogimi) is played by Nakamura Utaemon V.

September 1923: the Shintomiza is destroyed during the powerful earthquake called Kantô Daijishin, which hits Tôkyô and kills more than 200,000 people. This theater is not rebuilt.