Miyagawa-chō is one of the hanamachi ("flower towns") or geisha districts in Kyoto. Miya-gawa means "Shrine River", referring to the nickname of the Kamo River just south of Shijō. During the Gion Festival the mikoshi (portable shrine) of Yasaka Shrine used to be purified here in the waters of the river. Chō means "town", "block", "neighborhood".
Miyagawa-chō has three interconnected rings as its trademark, symbolizing the unity of the shrine/temples, the townspeople, and the teahouses. What is now Miyagawa-chō was a place where entertainers gathered. Kabuki was performed in many small theaters on the banks of the Kamo River. Some of the teahouses were even boats that operated in the river. As Kabuki was just then developing into a mass entertainment spectacle as known today, the area was very popular and Miyagawacho quickly grew into a full town of teahouses. The association with Kabuki has gone, but the Minami-za kabuki theatre of Kyoto still stands on its historical spot on the east bank of the Kamo River. Today, Miyagawa-chō has its own kaburenjo or theater where geisha dances are performed.
Published on Wednesday, 23 May 2012
Related News
Leave a comment
NHK WORLD TV LIVE
Tohoku Revival Calendar
Plextor
Toshiba
Kawasaki
Japan's high-speed rail system
Welcome To Japan
Japan Miniaturizing Medicine
Japan Live Cameras
Hi Robot
Iiyama
Play Pac Man
JP-Domains.com
