Takemoto-za

• Founded: 1684, Takemoto Gidayû
• Closed: 1767
• Japanese: 竹本座 (Takemoto-za)

The Takemoto-za was a bunraku theatre in Osaka, founded in 1684 by Takemoto Gidayû. Plays by many famous playwrights were performed there, including works by Chikamatsu Monzaemon, Namiki Sôsuke, and Takeda Izumo I. Many of the playwrights working at the Takemoto-za worked together, as a committee, as was the custom at the time.

The Takemoto-za had a fierce rival in the Toyotake-za, built by one of Takemoto Gidayû's former disciples.

Though bunraku remained exceptionally popular through 1764, at that time it began to be eclipsed by kabuki and to fall into decline. The Takemoto-za was forced to close in 1767, and though it opened once more after that, it soon afterwards closed again.

References

• This article was written by User:LordAmeth and contributed to both S-A and Wikipedia; the author gives permission for his work to be used in this way.
• Frederic, Louis (2002). "Japan Encyclopedia." Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
• Kabuki Glossary at Kabuki21.com. Accessed 14 September 2006.