Vol.178 / Farewell, Haiyuza Theater
This month, the Haiyuza Theater will bring down its curtain for the final time.
A column by Mr. Kazuhiko Miyazawa, one of the people who has supported the theater over the years, was published in the Asahi Shimbun in mid-March.
The title was "The Theater Closure and What It Asks of Cultural Policy."
Written with the belief that theaters are public assets, the article introduces the vital role the Haiyuza Theater has played and the many struggles it faced.
It expresses the sorrow behind the decision to close and questions the responsibility of government in supporting the arts.
I may not dare compare myself to something so grand, but as someone who has run a small music studio for over 30 years, this column truly resonated with me.
Chances are, something new and economically efficient, managed by a capable company, will soon begin at that location.
Mr. Miyazawa states, “It’s not that the Haiyuza theater company itself is disappearing, so some may see this as just a small business shifting strategies under financial pressure.
But the closure of this theater is, in fact, a matter that questions the state of Japan's cultural policy.”
The Haiyuza Theater opened in 1954.
The National Theatre in Hanzomon didn’t open until 1966, and through Mr. Miyazawa’s words, I could sense a strong pride in having started 12 years earlier than any government-run venue.
It takes time to move government institutions.
But what’s amazing about private initiatives is their almost reckless sense of speed.
At the same time, they tend to lack long-term stability.
And yet, this theater undeniably led Japan’s private theater culture for over 70 years.
Although the Haiyuza Theater will be gone starting next month, the culture born there will live on.
From now on, the many people who stood on that stage will surely take the lead in shaping Japanese theater culture and leading society forward.
Culture has that kind of strength and resilience.
Thank you, Haiyuza Theater!
Bravo, Haiyuza Theater!
＝ April 22, 2025 MoTets ＝
・this page in Japanese
・column page top（Japanese）
・website top（Japanese）