I was in Ginza yesterday when a friend called and told me that the Kabukiza Theater was giving it's final public performances that day, and would be torn down after that, so I walked over and took some video of the event. Apparently they will be putting up a new high-rise building on the land the current Kabukiza building sits on, and incorporating a new Kabuki theater within the new building.
"Approaching Ginza Kabuki Theater" (100428-1754)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sGWluVLf2Q
Walking from central Ginza out to the Kabuki Theater (Kabukiza) on the edge of Ginza - near Tsukiji. Notice all the people wearing kimonos - there are not usually so many, but Wednesday, April 28th, 2010 was the final night for public performances at the Kabukiza (there will be some special performances for another couple of days I hear), and many people dressed up for a final visit before they tear the building down. (They're planning to put yet another high-rise building there, which will incorporate a new Kabukiza in the building.) Apparently the current building was built in 1952.
銀座の歌舞伎座に近くなる 東京 (Recorded on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010, at 5:54 p.m.)
"Kabukiza Final Public Performance Day Queue" (100428-1757)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIcDdTkpLDw
Walking by a line of people waiting to go in for one of the final public performances at the Kabuki Theater before they tear the building down.
銀座歌舞伎座の最後の普通日の列 東京 (Recorded on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010, at 5:57 p.m.)
"Crowds in Front of Ginza Kabuki Theater - April 28th, 2010" (100428-1800)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBinWwnN_S0
Crowds of people milling about in front of the Ginza Kabuki theater taking pictures of the building - since it will be torn down soon, and Wednesday, April 28th, was the final day for public performances. (The police officer is asking/telling people not to block the sidewalk.)
銀座歌舞伎座の最後の普通日の人々が写真を撮る 東京 (Recorded on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010, at 6:00 p.m.)
"Kabukiza Entrance Just Before Performance on April 28th, 2010" (100428-1806)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH6a4YZyVwk
The scene in front of the Kabukiza Theater in Ginza, with many people milling about in front; people getting tickets from a ticket window; and people going in for a performance - many wearing kimonos.
銀座歌舞伎座の最後の普通日 着物姿の人々が建物に入ったり 東京 (Recorded on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010, at 6:06 p.m.)
"Kabukiza - From Front to Sidewalk on April 28th, 2010" (100428-1810)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrcPHveUYRE
Looking around while walking from close to the front of the Kabukiza building, on out to the sidewalk - taking a look back at the building from there.
銀座歌舞伎座の最後の普通日 あっちこっちの人々 東京 (Recorded on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010, at 6:10 p.m.)
"Chestnut Vendor in Front of Kabukiza - April 28th, 2010" (100428-1834)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPaWLrqOKzw
Looking up at the illuminated Kabukiza building, and then over at a man selling roasted chestnuts by the sidewalk.
(I don't know if these were typically sold to people going to Kabuki shows, or if it was just a coincidence....)
銀座歌舞伎座の最後の普通日 建物と栗販売人 東京 (Recorded on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010, at 6:34 p.m.)
"Kabukiza Theater - Last Look on April 28th, 2010" (100428-1835)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXqk1Kt2GQM
Taking one last look at the Kabukiza before going home. The people sitting next to the building are (I think) waiting for the next show. A couple of them looked a bit forlorn - I've heard that some people will travel into Tokyo once a month (from far off cities even) to see Kabuki, so I can imagine they're none too happy about the plan to tear that building down. (The show will continue in another location, but the atmosphere and half-century history-radiation factor of this building will be destroyed with the loss of the building.)
銀座歌舞伎座の最後の普通日 帰る前、最後に見る 東京 (Recorded on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010, at 6:35 p.m.)
Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://tokyoartmusic.blogspot.com/
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment