70820-0009 - Isezakicho

Isezakicho, Yokohama, Japan. The street was lined with theaters and commonly known as “Theater Street”. The building in the back with the little tower on the roof is the Ryokokuza Theater, opened in 1868 (Meiji 22). Renamed to Kirakuza in 1899 (Meiji 32), it was Yokohama’s foremost theater during the late Meiji Period.

The large building on the right is the Soda Bank, for a long time one of Yokohama’s largest and best known banks. Founded in 1895 by Kinsaku Soda (左右田金作), father of famed economist Kiichiro Soda (左右田喜一郎, 1881-1927), the bank failed in 1927. Late 19th century albumen photograph.