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Image of Hakataza Theater(Photo taken: unknown)

Hakataza Theater(Photo taken: unknown)

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Geisha to Grace Hakata-za’s Stage

The Japanese term for the office or agency which owns and arranges geisha for private parties is kenban. The first kenban in Hakata opened in 1889, and by the early 20th century there were five of them here. During this heyday there were over 2,000 registered geisha in Hakata. For Hakata geisha, the year begins in January at the festival held at Tokaebisu Shinto Shrine where all the geisha gather for the Kachimairi ceremony. They also participate in the Hakata Dontaku Minato Festival in May. Once the Dontaku is over, they start practicing for the Hakata Odori, which is performed every December at Hakata-za. At this stage, all the geisha perform traditional Japanese music and dance to close the year, showcasing their year’s work.

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Japan’s Only Private-Run Theater Dedicated to Plays

Hakataza Theater has become a beloved spot in Fukuoka. The theater attracts people across Kyushu and sometimes from all over Japan, depending on the program. Hakataza Theater is a publicly funded, private-run theater located in Shimokawabata town of Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, and is dedicated to plays including Kabuki and musicals shown on a monthly basis. The theater was created to reestablish Hakata as a town of performing arts, with funding from Fukuoka City and large entertainment companies and run by a private sector company. The theater seats 1,490 people (depending on the performance) and is designed to accommodate any type of play, with the inclusion of a revolving stage, hanamichi passageway, trap cellar and orchestra pit. It opened its doors on June 3, 1999 with Hakataza Theater Grand Kabuki. Since then, the theater has held kabuki performances for a whole month every June. Kabuki in June has become an event of early summer in Hakata along with funenorikomi, which is a traditional event where actors arrive in the area in style by boat to announce the opening of Kabuki performances. This is done only in Osaka and Hakata now, and people can see actors up-close as they travel on the Hakata River next to the theater.

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