Kagurazaka: The Town Where Cultural Figures Reside

Updated: Jun 1

The Presence of Many ‘Yose’ Made it Home for Famous Rakugo Storytellers

From the Edo period (1603-1868), Kagurazaka was home to 'Yose,' traditional performance venues like 'Waradana-tei' and 'Warashin,' where genres such as Dodoitsu and Gidayu were performed. During the Meiji (1868-1912) and Taisho eras (1912-1926), ‘Yose’ like "Ushigome-tei" and "Ryusuitei" began to appear, attracting many people from all over Tokyo. These cultural hubs made Kagurazaka a gathering place for literary giants and celebrities. The presence of many ‘Yose’ made it home for famous Rakugo storytellers like the sixth-generation Sanyutei Ensho, the first-generation Yanagiya Kingoro, and the third-generation Kokontei Shincho.

Kagurazaka: The Birthplace of Modern Japanese Literature

In the literary world, authors like Ozaki Koyo and Natsume Soseki lived around Kagurazaka, making it the birthplace of modern Japanese literature. In particular, the arrival of Ozaki Koyo in Kagurazaka led to many writers gathering in the area. Additionally, Natsume Soseki's villa was a meeting place for figures such as Terada Torahiko, Watsuji Tetsuro, and Uchida Hyakken.

Akira Kurosawa Frequently Visited the Cinemas in Kagurazaka

In the theater world, Tsubouchi Shoyo and Shimamura Hogetsu established the Literary Arts Association at "Seifu-so" within the precincts of Akagi Shrine, which became a forerunner of modern drama. Later, the actress Sumako Matsui established the "Geijutsu Club (Art Club)," and many theaters like "Ushigome Hall" and "Kagurazaka Playhouse" were present in Kagurazaka.

The Yose "Warashin" was transformed into a cinema in 1914, and other cinemas like "Bunmei-kan" were also built in Kagurazaka. The globally renowned director Akira Kurosawa is said to have frequently visited the cinemas in Kagurazaka during his student days.

"Tora-san" Series Were Wrote at Inn Wakana

As the era moved into Showa (1926-1989), the inn Wakana, which opened in 1954, became a place where movie directors, screenwriters, and authors conducted their writing activities, attracting many cultural figures to Kagurazaka. Director Yamada Yoji wrote the script for the "Tora-san" series at Inn Wakana.