Changes

It was established by [[Nakamura Kanzaburo I|Nakamura (Saruwaka) Kanzaburô I]], who obtained a formal license from the shogunate in [[1624]], and built his theatre at Nakahashi ([[Nihonbashi]]) in Edo. Over the years, it moved from Nakabashi to Negi-chô in [[1632]], then to Sakai-chô in [[1651]], then to Saruwaka-chô, along with the city's other major theatres.

It was established by [[Nakamura Kanzaburo I|Nakamura (Saruwaka) Kanzaburô I]], who obtained a formal license from the shogunate in [[1624]], and built his theatre at Nakahashi ([[Nihonbashi]]) in Edo. Over the years, it moved from Nakabashi to Negi-chô in [[1632]], then to Sakai-chô in [[1651]], then to Saruwaka-chô, along with the city's other major theatres.

As was the case for most buildings in Edo, the Nakamura-za was destroyed or severely damaged by fire numerous times over the course of its history; some particularly notable fires were the [[1657]] [[Great Meireki Fire]], the [[Oshichi Fire]] of [[1682]], the fires caused by the [[Genroku Earthquake]] of [[1703]], and those created by the [[Ansei Earthquake]] of [[1855]].

As was the case for most buildings in Edo, the Nakamura-za was destroyed or severely damaged by fire numerous times over the course of its history; some particularly notable fires were the [[1657]] [[Great Meireki Fire]], the [[Oshichi fire]] of [[1682]], the fires caused by the [[Genroku Earthquake]] of [[1703]], and those created by the [[Ansei Earthquake]] of [[1855]].

In [[1670]], the number of licensed theatres permitted in the city was increased to four. The Nakamura-za maintained its license, and was accompanied by the [[Ichimura-za]], [[Morita-za]], and [[Yamamura-za]] as the chief kabuki theatres in Edo. The four theatres began a tradition in [[1709]] of co-organizing a ''[[sogamono]]'' New Year's performance, a tradition which continued somewhat regularly down to the present day.

In [[1670]], the number of licensed theatres permitted in the city was increased to four. The Nakamura-za maintained its license, and was accompanied by the [[Ichimura-za]], [[Morita-za]], and [[Yamamura-za]] as the chief kabuki theatres in Edo. The four theatres began a tradition in [[1709]] of co-organizing a ''[[sogamono]]'' New Year's performance, a tradition which continued somewhat regularly down to the present day.