□Structure
The Yachiyoza Theateris a two‐storied wooden buildinginthe kabuki
theater style ofthe Edo era（1603−1867）・ln spite of being a Japanese‐styIe theater，some portions of the Yachiyoza Theater are quite western：forexample，iron tubes for centain columns，and a western‐styIe girder structure.
Audience seats，covered with　tatami mat,are located at the1st and 2nd floor．The seating capacityis about is700 at present．

Hanamichi（flower avenue）

lt is said that the word“Hanamichi”comes from the way the actors would enter the stage，as
brilliant as flowers．They are straight passages ofthe same height as the stage,running through
the audience seating to the back．The Ieft one,when facing tothe stage，is called hon-hanamichi（main hanamichi),and the right one is calIed kari‐hanamichi（temporary hanamichi).They are mainly used when major characters enter or Ieave the stage．Actors walking on these raised waIks entire audience．

Suppon

A small stage located on the hanamichi about a third of the way along it　from the stage．
lt can move verticalIy for special efect．ln dramas，ninja or ghosts appear here,rising from under the floor．

A "Suppon"is a kind of turtle.It is said that ahe head of a ninja appearing here Iooks like an emerging turtle，leading to the devices name．On the stage proper，the same device is caIIed the“seri”


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