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Laugh, cry, and laugh out loud again...Let's go to a ``vaudeville'' show that moves the heart in Yokohama.

笑って泣いて、また大笑い…横浜で心を動かす「寄席」に行こう

Sneak into an artistic space!
YOKOHAMA ART SPOT FILE

Full of downtown atmosphere! Experience popular entertainment in the popular area Noge
Yokohama Nigiwaiza

The town of Yokohama was once lined with vaudeville theaters and playhouses, and was lively every day. With the desire to inherit this culture and the desire to ``revitalize the city through the power of laughter,'' ``Yokohama Nigiwai-za'' was established in Noge, Yokohama in 2002 as a specialized center for popular performing arts. Have you ever been to this precious place where you can get up close and personal with popular performing arts such as rakugo, manzai, and street performances?


The current second director is Katsura Utamaru, a native and resident of Yokohama. The commemorative photo spot on the second floor with a panel of Director Utamaru seems to be popular with people of all ages and genders. We will also lend out happi coats and folding fans, so be sure to take one as a souvenir.

The 3rd and 4th floors are the main entertainment halls. The space creates an atmosphere of popular entertainment, with red and white lanterns and box seats that create a vaudeville atmosphere.

There is also a shop outside the hall where you can purchase bento boxes and sweets.


Beer and sake are also available, and it is also popular at Yokohama Nigiwai-za that you can bring your own food and drinks into the hall and enjoy the performance while having a drink! (Depending on the performance, eating and drinking may not be allowed.)

We were given a special look at the stage and behind the scenes, so we'd like to introduce it to you a little bit!

This is the actual stage. The storytellers' skills are so amazing that you can't help but be drawn into the story and feel very close to it...but it's much wider than I expected.

Finally, let's go behind the scenes!

Do you know what this is doing? Actually, this is a drum set up on the side of the stage to announce the opening of the theater. The sound of the drums that alerts customers who are taking a break in the foyer or restroom in front of the entertainment hall, ``The show is about to begin!'' is played by the opening performers here.


Check this monitor to see how customers are entering and what the actual stage is like.


Also on the side of the stage, preparations are made for the musical accompaniment to liven up the audience when the storyteller appears. A storyteller appears on stage with live music played like this! It's a stylish performance that makes you feel like you're at a ``yose theater''.

We also got a peek at the dressing room area. What kind of space are the performers waiting for their turn? I'm curious!


This is what the dressing room looks like. Looks clean and comfortable!


Western style rooms are also available.

Now, there's something like this on a table set up in the hallway lined with dressing rooms! Do you know what it is?


What is placed in the hallway of the dressing room is a notebook. It says "Rakuyane Tacho" in handwriting. Surprisingly, the performers have been writing down the material (programs) for performances since the theater opened. The performers will look at this on the day of the performance to check who performed what and when. The performers on this day also carefully checked their previous material.

There are also things like this in the hallway.

Now, we left the dressing room and headed to the general information/information corner on the second floor.


In addition to ticket sales and facility usage reception, original goods are also sold here. Furthermore, autographs of famous storytellers are also on display!!


As part of the permanent exhibition, materials related to popular entertainment and photographs of the Noge neighborhood from the past are also on display.


Yokohama Nigiwai-za is a venue that hosts ``Yokohama Nigiwai Yose,'' which focuses on Rakugo, as well as solo performances, Ichimon-kai, live music, and dance shows. It's a great way to laugh out loud and relax at times, and to exercise your tired mind! Please invite your family and friends to come and visit us.

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