MITSUKOSHI GEKIJÔ

Names

Mitsukoshi Gekijô
Mitsukoshi Theater
Théâtre Mitsukoshi

City

Tôkyô

History

1927: opening of the Mitsukoshi Theater.

10 March 1945 (00:08 AM): 344 US Army B29 bombers dropped 2,000 tons of bombs on Tôkyô, killing more than 120,000 people and destroying almost everything, including the Mitsukoshi Gekijô.

December 1946: opening ceremony for the rebuilt Mitsukoshi Gekijô with a Kabuki troupe led by Nakamura Kichiemon I:

Drama	Casting
Shima Chidori	Nakamura Moshio IV (Akashiya Shimazô), Ichikawa Somegorô V (Matsushima Senta), Nakamura Matagorô II (Benten Oteru), Bandô Keizô I (Onaka), Nakamura Kichinojô I, Nakamura Kichijûrô II, Nakamura Kinnosuke I
Ono no Tôfû	Nakamura Kichiemon I (Ono no Tôfû), Ichikawa Somegorô V (Daroku), Nakamura Kichijûrô II
Tsuri Onna	Nakamura Kichiemon I (Tarôkaja), Nakamura Moshio IV (the ugly girl), Ichikawa Somegorô V (the daimyô), Nakamura Matagorô II (the princess)
Takatoki	Ichikawa Somegorô V (Hôjô Takatoki), Nakamura Moshio IV (Osaragi Michinoku-no-Kami), Nakamura Matagorô II (Hôjô Takatoki's mistress Kinugasa), Ichikawa Danzô VIII (Akita Jônosuke), Nakamura Shichisaburô V, Bandô Keizô I, Nakamura Kichijûrô II
Ôgukiya Gyôu	Nakamura Kichiemon I, Ichikawa Somegorô V, Ichikawa Danzô VIII, Nakamura Moshio IV, Nakamura Matagorô II, Nakamura Kichinojô I, Nakamura Kichijûrô II, Nakamura Kinnosuke I, Nakamura Shichisaburô V, Matsumoto Kintarô II
Yakko Dôjôji	Nakamura Moshio IV

December 1949: Chikamatsu Monzaemon's drama "Ikutama Shinjû" was revived at the Mitsukoshi Gekijô, using a new script written by Uno Nobuo; it was staged in a program celebrating the 3rd anniversary of the opening of the new Mitsukoshi Gekijô with the following casting:

Roles	Actors
Hitotsuya Kaheiji	Ichikawa Ebizô IX
Kashiwaya Osaga	Ôtani Tomoemon VII
Oriku	Ichimura Uzaemon XVI
Inden'ya Chôsaku	Kataoka Ichizô V
Okiwa	Ôkawa Hashizô II
Unokichi	Bandô Kamenosuke
Sôbê	Nakamura Kichijûrô II
Ikumatsu	Bandô Mitsunobu
Gohei	Nakamura Takesaburô V

Inside The Mitsukoshi Theater