Changes

Kabuki-za first opened on 21 November 1889, in a rather Western-style building. This was replaced in [[1911]] by the second Kabuki-za, constructed in the now-iconic hybrid style, incorporating elements of [[Azuchi-Momoyama period|Azuchi-Momoyama]] or [[Edo period]] [[castles|castle]] architecture.<ref>Gallery labels, History of Kabuki-za displays, Kabuki-za, summer 2013.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/9339763818/in/photostream/][https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/9336978045/in/photostream/]</ref>

Kabuki-za first opened on 21 November 1889, in a rather Western-style building. This was replaced in [[1911]] by the second Kabuki-za, constructed in the now-iconic hybrid style, incorporating elements of [[Azuchi-Momoyama period|Azuchi-Momoyama]] or [[Edo period]] [[castles|castle]] architecture.<ref>Gallery labels, History of Kabuki-za displays, Kabuki-za, summer 2013.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/9339763818/in/photostream/][https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/9336978045/in/photostream/]</ref>

The theatre was destroyed in an electrical fire in 1921, in the 1923 Great Kantô Earthquake, and again in the 1945 Allied bombing of Tokyo, but was rebuilt each time, the latter time in concrete, reopening on January 1, 1951. The theatre was torn down intentionally for the first time in 2010, after closing that April, and was built anew, re-opening in April 2013. The newly reconstructed Kabuki-za retains much of its former appearance, especially in terms of the main facade, but is more modernized in terms of its earthquake protection, and accessibility for the handicapped. A modern steel-and-glass skyscraper structure was built directly behind, and attached to, the newly rebuilt Meiji-style theatre, to house the offices of the Shôchiku corporation.

The theatre was destroyed in an electrical fire in 1921; reconstruction was delayed by the 1923 Great Kantô Earthquake but was completed in 1925. The building was then destroyed again in the 1945 Allied bombing of Tokyo, and was rebuilt yet again, this time in concrete, reopening on January 1, 1951. This first postwar incarnation of the building (the 4th overall) was declared a Tangible Cultural Property (''yûkei bunkazai'') in 2002, but was then torn down intentionally for the first time in 2010, after closing that April. It was then built anew, re-opening in April 2013. The newly reconstructed Kabuki-za retains much of its former appearance, especially in terms of the main facade, but is more modernized in terms of its earthquake protection, and accessibility for the handicapped. A modern steel-and-glass skyscraper structure was built directly behind, and attached to, the newly rebuilt Meiji-style theatre, to house the offices of the Shôchiku corporation.

==Structure==

==Structure==