Pontocho Kaburenjo

The reinforced concrete Pontocho Kaburenjo was built in 1927, and was designed by Tokusaburo Kimura, known as the “Master of Theaters,” with Goichi Takeda as design consultant. It is one of the core facilities of Pontocho, one of the five hanamachi, or traditional pleasure districts of Kyoto, and is home to the Kamogawa Odori dance which celebrates spring, while autumn brings performances of the Suimeikai dance.
Construction began in November 1925, and was completed in March 1927. The stage and seating section were changed from wood to reinforced concrete in 1933, and in 1953, the seating section was changed from traditional sajiki box seating to Western-style chairs. The building was also expanded towards the Kamo River at this time.
Built on a site between Pontocho-dori Street and the Kamo River, from above the Kaburenjo forms a rectangle, with the long sides running north and south. Its façade is about 36.4 meters wide, while its southern side is about 27.6 meters wide. The building has four stories above ground (three in one area) and one below ground. Its initial footprint was nearly 1,000 square meters, with a total floor area of nearly 4,000 square meters. Construction costs were about a million yen at the time. An intricate blend of Japanese and Western styles, historical detail and modernity, it has a roof that is hipped on the fourth floor and gabled on the third floor section to the north. The old-style hongawara tiles are ceramic with green glaze, and the roof, unlike normal traditional roofs in Japan, is straight, not curved. The west side is the principal facade. The north half of the first floor is taken up by seating, which is accessed from the main entrance on the southern end via the inner lobby. The exterior is clad in grooved tiles, as well as yellow tuff and ceramic plates. The interior is also intricately decorated with tiles and plaster, while the stage ceiling coffers and double walls are decorated with the traditional “hosoge” pattern, or “precious flower design.” Unfortunately, these were damaged during the war, so most of them are post-war reproductions.
Kyoto City