During the Edo period, Nihonbashi experienced remarkable development not only in commerce but also in culture. Printed materials such as ezoshi and ukiyo-e, and theatrical performances such as Edo-style kabuki and ningyo joruri (puppet theater). As these cultures flourished, the Nihonbashi area became even more prosperous.
Various cultures gathered from all over Japan and developed here
The culture of the Edo period can be divided into “Genroku culture” centered in Kyoto and Osaka, and “Kasei culture” centered in Edo. Both of these cultures are characterized by the fact that they represent the culture of commoners, fostered by the townspeople. It is believed that the existence of Nihonbashi, the starting point of the Gokaido (Five Routes), which brought together diverse cultures and technologies from all over the country, contributed greatly to the development of these cultures.
Major cultures of the Edo period
| Literary works | Ukiyo-zōshi… Ihara Saikaku, Jippensha Ikku, Takizawa Bakin, etc. |
| Stage plays | Kabuki, ningyo joruri (puppet theater)… Chikamatsu Monzaemon |
| Painting | Decorative painting… Tawaraya Sotatsu, Ogata Korin Ukiyo-e, nishiki-e… Hishikawa Moronobu, Ando (Utagawa) Hiroshige, Katsushika Hokusai |
A cornerstone of publishing culture
In Nihonbashi, a large number of printed materials were produced, including books, picture books, and ukiyo-e prints, which were prominent during the Edo period. Many publishers were active, including Suharaya, the largest book wholesaler in Edo, and Tsuruya Kiemon, which developed as a publisher of joruri books. Following this trend of the printing culture, bookstores, newspapers, publishers, and other businesses continued to develop in Nihonbashi during the Meiji period. The reason why there are so many paper wholesalers and printing-related companies in Nihonbashi today can be attributed to the history of the city.
The beginning of Edo Kabuki
Nihonbashi is one of the most popular places to see a play. Since the performances of Edo kabuki and ningyo joruri (puppet theater) were limited to the area around the present-day Ningyocho district of Nihonbashi (Sakai-cho, Fukiya-cho, and Kobiki-cho), this area, along with the fish market, was the place where the spirit of the Edo people was fostered the most.
Edo kabuki, in particular, established its popularity and status as popular culture. The origin of Edo kabuki dates back to 1624, when Saruwaka Kanzaburo of the Nakamura-za Theater established a “yagura” (tower) near Nakabashi Bridge, situated between Nihonbashi and Kyobashi bridges. The Ichimura-za, Morita-za, and Yamamura-za theaters soon followed, and Edo kabuki continued to grow. Beginning with Ichikawa Danjuro, who was known as the “God of Actors,” superstars such as Ichikawa Danzo, Iwai Hanshiro, and Onoe Kikugoro became immensely popular, and during the Bunka-Bunsei period, Tsuruya Nanboku (4th generation), who made his name with Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan (The Ghost of Yotsuya), arrived on the scene. Edo kabuki eventually stood at the pinnacle of popular culture, producing such artists as Kineya Rokuzaemon, a nagauta shamisen player, and Tanaka Denzaemon, a kabuki musician.
The theater district that made Edo a glamorous area
The Ningyocho area of Nihonbashi was once known as “Yoshi-cho,” “Sakai-cho,” and “Fukiya-cho,” and was a bustling theater district. The Ningyocho area, which was the site of kabuki performances until 1841, when it was ordered to be relocated to Saruwaka-cho, Asakusa, and Kobiki-cho, also a playhouse, flourished as the center of Edo’s entertainment culture. In addition to playhouses, a variety of other entertainment such as storytelling, magic tricks, and acrobatics were performed, making the area a major entertainment district that added color and excitement to the city of Edo.
Current cultural institutions scattered in Nihonbashi
| Mitsui Memorial Museum | The museum exhibits a variety of art works collected by the Mitsui family for over 300 years since the Edo period. Visitors can browse one of Japan’s most valuable cultural treasures. Official website of the Mitsui Memorial Museum |
| Mitsui Main Building | In 1998, it was recognized as an Important Cultural Property as an office building representative of the early Showa period. Today, it continues to be widely used as a gathering place for businesses and people of all walks of life. |
| Bank of Japan Head Office | This is the central bank of Japan, which was also designated as an Important Cultural Property in 1974. The underground vaults are open to the public and can be toured. Official website of the Bank of Japan Head Office |
| Bank of Japan Currency Museum | This museum is dedicated to ancient currencies from Japan and other countries. Visitors to the museum can learn about the history of currencies. Official website of the Bank of Japan Currency Museum |
| Mitsukoshi Theater | This was the world’s first theater in a department store, and was opened in 1927 on the sixth floor of the Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi flagship store. In addition to plays, the theater is also famous for its independent performances, such as the “Mitsukoshi Meijinkai.” Official website of the Mitsukoshi Theater |
| Oedo Nihonbashi-tei | This multi-purpose hall can be widely used for performances and recitals of traditional performing arts such as kodan (professional storytelling), shinnai (shamisen music), gidayu (puppet theater), kouta and nagauta (traditional Japanese ballad singing), as well as for rehearsals and regular yose (vaudeville theater) performances by the Rakugo Arts Association. ※ビル建て替えにより休館 Official website of Oedo Nihonbashi-tei |
| Ozu History Museum | This historical museum displays and exhibits the history of Ozu Seizaemon Nagahiro, a paper dealer. Of the more than 1,200 old records designated for preservation as tangible cultural properties registered by Chuo-ku, Tokyo, approximately 1,000 historical documents are being made available to the public in sequence. Official website of the Ozu History Museum |
| Kite Museum | About 3,000 kites collected from all over Japan, including Edo kites, are on display, and a variety of goods are available for sale. Official website of the Kite Museum |
| Takashimaya Gallery | The gallery is located in the Takashimaya department store, and displays a variety of exhibits. It is ideal for viewing in between shopping trips. |
| Artizon Museum | This museum exhibits European modern art, mainly impressionist and 20th century art, as well as Japanese Western-style paintings from the Meiji period onward. Official website of the Artizon Museum |
| Nihonbashi Library | Located in a complex with Nihonbashi Elementary School, the library is on the 5th and 6th floors. The reference counter and local reference room provide assistance to help you find the books you are looking for. Official website of the Nihonbashi Library |
| Nihonbashi Kokaido | This theater is equipped with a stage mechanism that includes a hanamichi (runway), etc., to enable full-scale performances of traditional Japanese dance. As incidental facilities, formulaic tools such as “Fuji Musume”(Wisteria Maiden) and “Musume Dojoji” (Maiden of Dojoji) are also readily available. Official website of Nihonbashi Kokaido |
| Meiji-za Theater | This kabuki and Shinpa theaters are notable for a history and tradition of more than 130 years, spanning the Meiji, Taisho, Showa, Showa, Heisei eras. Various performances are staged every day. Official website of Meiji-za Theater |
| Musée Hamaguchi Yozo: Yamasa Collection | The museum exhibits the works of Yozo Hamaguchi, a copperplate artist who pioneered the unique copperplate printing technique known as color mezzotint and is highly acclaimed internationally. It also holds special exhibitions, events, and printmaking classes to introduce the appeal of copperplate prints. Official website of Musée Hamaguchi Yozo: Yamasa Collection |