Namaki calls it quits

[Edward Fowler]

This is really sad news.  Namikiza was, for my money, the best reason 
there was to visit the Ginza.  The loss, if it's permanent, ranks right up
there with the disappearance of Honmoku-tei, the wonderful Yose in Ueno
that specialized in koudan, the artful tellings of historical (and
sometimes not so historical) tales.  Both places were spaces that you
simply had to be in to appreciate.  Both places, as far as I could tell,
did a good business, too.  In Honmoku-tei's case, it was the demon of
souzokuzei that brought the building to its end.  I hope that the show can
go on with Namikiza, and I trust that people in Tokyo will not take the
news lying down.  It's hard to do anything from here (California), but I
certainly will make some inquiries when I get to Japan next month.  I hope
that those of you who are there right now are on the phones!  Ted Fowler


On Tue, 28 Jul 1998, Abe-Nornes wrote:

> Bad news: Namikiza is closing its doors. It was reported in the newspapers
> that the owner of the building wants to tear it down. It's unclear if they
> will find a new home.
> 
> Namikiza, a tiny theater in Ginza, has been a prime spot for viewing
> classic films since it opened in 1953 (or thereabouts). It was a godsend in
> the days when the Film Center's screening program was on hold. They usually
> showed films from the 1930s-1950s, and provided a mix of the famous and
> obscure structured by double feature. 
> 
> They are currently showing Kinugasa's _Jigokumon_ and _Jusannin no
> shikyaku_, a Kudo Eiichi film with Chiezo and Arakan. They'll be finishing
> their 40-odd year run with a Naruse retrospective.
> 
> Markus
>