Luna Park, Tokyo
| Company type | Amusement park |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 1910 |
| Founder | Ken'ichi Kawaura |
| Defunct | April 1911 |
| Fate | Destroyed by fire; sold to Shōkichi Umeya |
| Headquarters | Tokyo , Japan |
| Owner | Yoshizawa Shōten |
Operating during 1910 and 1911, Tokyo's Luna Park (Runa pāku, also referred to as Asakusa Luna Park) holds the distinction of being Japan's inaugural park bearing that name. Constructed and owned by the Japanese film enterprise Yoshizawa Shōten under the leadership of Ken'ichi Kawaura, it was situated in the Asakusa area of Tokyo and drew inspiration from the original Luna Park established in Brooklyn, New York in 1903.
Although it attracted considerable attention, the park remained open for just eight months before it was destroyed by fire in April 1911 under questionable conditions. This blaze occurred simultaneously with two other fires at Yoshizawa Shōten's theaters located in Osaka. During its short lifespan, Luna Park became known for issues related to youth misconduct, with reports suggesting that local authorities either overlooked or tacitly endorsed pickpocket groups.
These challenges adversely affected Kawaura and his firm amid mounting competition from American film companies. In response, Kawaura sold Yoshizawa Shōten to Shōkichi Umeya, proprietor of M. Pathe, for approximately $375,000 USD. Following this transaction, he redirected his efforts toward Osaka by inaugurating a new Luna Park in 1912, which remained operational until 1923.