The lovely Kokusai Gekijo was started over 25 years ago. The actual construction began in May 1936 as the permanent home for the Shochiku Shojo Kageki (the predecessor to today's Shochiku Kageki Dan or Shochiku Revue Troupe). The Kokusai was also to be one of the big attractions for the 1940 Olympics which were held in Japan.

Finished in July 1937, the curtain was soon raised for the first time by the SSK Grand Revue. Besides the regular SSK performances there were also various other types of stage shows and plays including Kabuki and Shimpa.

During the war the scarcity of such entertainment closed the theatre in February 1944, and in March 1945, it was severely damaged by an allied bombing on Tokyo.

After the war, however, the Kokusai started off again with popular entertainment.  Until the Kabuki Theatre was built in 1946 the Kokusai was often visited by those classic plays.   Besides movies,  light dramas and revues, something new was introduced to the Japanese entertainment world through the Kakusai -- Burlesque.

The demand for more popular entertainment brought on the construction of the theatre and November 1947, the sacred Kokusai Gekijo was opened giving a fresh rebirth in the Japanese stage surpassed by nothing.

As the largest theatre in the Orient, the Kakusai uses over 10,000 lights, seats over 3000 people and has a stage over 84 ft by 90 ft and 36 ft high.