NHK's educational program "Ukiyo-e EDO-LIFE" features ukiyo-e prints linked to the story every week to help viewers enjoy the station's historical drama "UNBOUND (Berabou)" (General TV, Sundays at 8pm and other times) more deeply. On November 21st, "The World of UNBOUND: A Town of Theaters - Strategies to Increase Popularity" will be broadcast on BS Premium 4K from 6pm and on NHK Educational TV from 11:50pm.
The main story of "UNBOUND" features a "theater town" where many theaters are located, and we will introduce Utagawa Hiroshige's "A Picture of the Prosperity of the Eastern Capital (Ichimura Theater)," a painting that depicts the bustling scene of the theater town at the end of the Edo period.
Kabuki was hugely popular among Edoites. The theater was always packed with throngs of patrons. The Shibaichaya teahouse next to the theater acted as a sort of concierge, catering to the various requests of patrons. They secured reservations and treated patrons to meals, alcohol, cigarettes, and more. They also offered special services to delight the most ardent fans. What was the clever strategy of the Shibaichaya that helped to boost Kabuki's popularity?
