Discussing Shinjuku’s past and future with the Big Three
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Dates
One June 30 (Thurs), Waseda University welcomed Shinjuku Ward Mayor Kenichi Yoshimizu, Kinokuniya Co. Ltd. Chairman and CEO Masashi Takai, Nakamuraya Co. Ltd. Executive Director and Senior Adviser Shozo Sometani, and Takano Co. Ltd. Chairman and CEO Yoshitaro Takano for a roundtable talk titled “Shinjuku’s History and Future: the Leaders Shaping the City.”
This event inviting Shinjuku’s top business executives was part of “Ah, Shinjku, the City as a Spectacle,” an exhibition currently taking place at Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum (also known as Enpaku). University President Kaoru Kamata joined the Big Three to discuss the city of culture, Shinjuku, and its past, present, and future. Enpaku’s Director Minako Okamuro served as the MC. The roundtable talk reexamine the relationship between Shinjuku and Waseda University.
Shinjuku’s rich cultural history parallels with business strategies of long-established stores in the area. Shinjuku Takano, Nakamuraya, and Kinokuniya Bookstore are known as Shinjuku’s Big Three. From the time of their respective founders, Yoshitaro Takano, Aizo and Kosso Souma, and Moichi Tanabe, the Big Three have contributed to enriching and evolving Shinjuku into a cultural hub through theatre, art, sculpture, and gourmet. Shinjuku’s unique atmosphere is supported by the traditional stores building their community culture.
“Ah Shinjuku, the City as a Spectacle” exhibition is open until August 7. See below for more information.
Exhibition information
Date: May 28 (Sat) – August 7 (Sun), 2016
Closed: June 1 (Wed), June 15 (Wed), July 6 (Wed), July 20 (Wed)
Venue: Waseda University Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum, Second Floor Exhibition Room
Hours: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (until 7:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays)
Free admissions
Organized by: Waseda University Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum/Collaborative Research Center for Theatre and Film Arts
Sponsored by: Shinjuku Ward
In cooperation with: Arata Isozaki & Associates, Shinjuku Historical Museum, Kinokuniya Company Ltd., Kara-gumi, Kara-zemi☆
Planned with the assistance of: Akio Miyazawa (playwright/director/critic), Shigeru Matsui (poet/Associate Professor at the Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences), Satoshi Otsuka (architect/stage designer)