Second Floor
The second floor offers a commanding view of the hanamichi and the stage. It contains boxes on both sides and a section of seating at the back. The latter is called muko sajiki (lit. “the boxes beyond”). This area is divided into three tiers, or sections: front, middle, and rear. These sections are known by the names, “front boat” (maebune), “middle boat” (nakabune), and “rear boat” (atobune).
Historically, there were general admission seats on the first floor, in the section called hinode next to the hanamichi on the side away from the stage. This seating area is not divided into sections. The name hinode (“sunrise”) relates to its location, on the east side. Hinode means “rising sun.”
* For performances of Shikoku Konpira Kabuki Oshibai, the names of the seating sections may be slightly different.