点评:Kanamaruza was one of the most memorable stops of my Kagawa trip. I visited during the Shikoku Konpira Kabuki season, when the whole Kotohira area felt lively with banners, crowds, and people gathering for the afternoon performance.
The theater itself is special: built in 1835, Kanamaruza is Japan’s oldest surviving kabuki playhouse, with a warm Edo-period atmosphere that feels very different from a modern theater. While waiting for the afternoon performance, I was told that English explanations had been included in the program for the first time this year. I bought a program and read the Japanese and English explanations side by side, and was surprised to find that in some places the English version was actually more detailed than the Japanese text.
Seeing kabuki in this historic setting made the performance feel much closer and more intimate. One practical note: much of the seating is on tatami, so sitting for a long performance can be physically demanding. If that is a concern, check whether chair seating is available.
Overall, Kanamaruza is highly recommended, especially if you can visit during the April kabuki performances. It combines history, architecture, local festival atmosphere, and traditional performing arts in a way that is hard to find elsewhere.
翻译:金丸座是我香川之旅中最难忘的一站。我是在四国金比良歌舞伎演出季期间到访的,当时整个琴平地区都洋溢着热闹的气氛,到处都是彩旗飘扬、熙熙攘攘的人群,大家都在翘首期盼下午的演出。
金丸座剧院本身就非常特别:它建于1835年,是日本现存最古老的歌舞伎剧院,散发着浓郁的江户时代气息,与现代剧院截然不同。在等待下午演出的时候,我听说今年的节目单里首次加入了英文解说。我买了一份节目单,把日文和英文的解说对照着阅读,惊讶地发现有些地方英文版的解释比日文版还要详细。
在这样充满历史气息的剧院里欣赏歌舞伎,让演出感觉更加亲切动人。温馨提示:剧院里的大部分座位都是榻榻米,所以长时间坐着观看演出可能会比较累。如果您担心这一点,建议您提前确认是否有椅子座位。
总而言之,金丸座非常值得推荐,尤其是在四月歌舞伎演出期间前往。它完美融合了历史、建筑、当地节日氛围和传统表演艺术,这种体验在其他地方很难找到。