Stepping into the spotlight, a day for the theater

Today, and February 10th annually, is (among dozens of other anniversaries) 観劇の日 (Theatergoing Day). The date marks the completion of the original Imperial Theatre in 1911. It was Japan’s first Western‑style theater, built in Tokyo’s Marunouchi district.

Until the Imperial Theatre was built, most theaters were wooden structures, but the Imperial Theatre changed everything with its Renaissance‑inspired design by architect Tamisuke Yokogawa. Its white‑brick exterior and stone‑and‑concrete construction made it a symbol of modernity, and when it officially opened the following March, it quickly became a cultural landmark.

However, if you had to pick one theater that is instantly recognizable across Japan and abroad, it’s probably Kabuki-za in Ginza. It’s the home of kabuki, rebuilt multiple times, and remains the symbolic heart of traditional Japanese performing arts. Tourists, locals, and international media all treat it as the iconic theater. The National Theater and Takarazuka Grand Theater also come to mind. 

Have you been to the theater in Japan. And if so, where?