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The Ichimura-za was one of the chief licensed [[kabuki]] theaters in [[Edo]].

The Ichimura-za was one of the chief licensed [[kabuki]] theaters in [[Edo]].

Opened in [[1634]] and originally located in the Fukiya-chô neighborhood near [[Nihonbashi]], just down the street or around the corner from the [[Nakamura-za]] and [[Morita-za]], all three theaters were forced to relocate to Saruwaka-chô in [[Asakusa]] in [[1841]]. Though remarkably financial stable compared to the Morita-za (which went bankrupt several times over the course of the [[Edo period]]), remaining in operation for roughly 150 years from its first opening, the Ichimura-za did succumb to financial difficulties and close in [[1784]]/4, with the building being demolished two months later. It was then, for a time, replaced by the [[Kiri-za]], which took over the Ichimura-za's place as one of the few officially licensed theaters in the city.<ref>Timothy Clark, "Edo Kabuki in the 1780s," ''The Actor's Image'', Art Institute of Chicago (1994), 28.</ref> The Ichimura-za was later rebuilt and reopened, however.

Opened in [[1634]] as the Murayama-za and originally located in the Fukiya-chô neighborhood near [[Nihonbashi]], just down the street or around the corner from the [[Nakamura-za]] and [[Morita-za]], all three theaters were forced in [[1842]] to relocate to Saruwaka-chô in [[Asakusa]], to the former grounds of the lower mansion ([[daimyo yashiki|shimo yashiki]]) of the [[Koide clan]] lords of [[Sonobe han]].<ref>Gallery labels, Edo-Tokyo Museum.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/46301338735/sizes/h/]</ref> Though remarkably financial stable compared to the Morita-za (which went bankrupt several times over the course of the [[Edo period]]), remaining in operation for roughly 150 years from its first opening, the Ichimura-za did succumb to financial difficulties and close in [[1784]]/4, with the building being demolished two months later. It was then, for a time, replaced by the [[Kiri-za]], which took over the Ichimura-za's place as one of the few officially licensed theaters in the city.<ref>Timothy Clark, "Edo Kabuki in the 1780s," ''The Actor's Image'', Art Institute of Chicago (1994), 28.</ref> The Ichimura-za was later rebuilt and reopened, however.

The Ichimura-za was home to many of the most famous and popular actors of the period, and saw many notable debuts and other events, including the [[1717]] debut of the kabuki version of the [[ningyo joruri|puppet play]] ''[[Battles of Coxinga]]'', the [[1762]] premiere of the dance piece ''[[Sagi Musume]]'', and the [[1862]] premiere of ''[[Benten Kozo|Benten Kozô]]''.

The Ichimura-za was home to many of the most famous and popular actors of the period, and saw many notable debuts and other events, including the [[1717]] debut of the kabuki version of the [[ningyo joruri|puppet play]] ''[[Battles of Coxinga]]'', the [[1762]] premiere of the dance piece ''[[Sagi Musume]]'', and the [[1862]] premiere of ''[[Benten Kozo|Benten Kozô]]''.