Touring entertainers became big names in this city.

In 1603, Izumo Akuni gave a performance of Kabuki dance at Shijo gawara in Kyoto. After that, in 1624, Ganso (the originator) Saruwaka and Nakamura Kanzaburo established the Saruwaka Nakamura za theatre at Nakahasi Nanchi (between Kyoubashi and Nihonbashi) and that was the start of Edo Kabuki. The three main theatres of Edo -- Nakamura za, Ichimura za, and Morita za -- were later moved to Saruwaka-town in Asakusa, under the influence of 'Tempo no Kaikaku (1842)' (the Tempo Reformation), which became a Mecca of plays.