 Morita Kanya XII, then head of the theater ("zamoto") was forced to hand over official management duties in 1894, due to financial problems, but stayed on as producer until his death three years later.In 1909, the theater was bought out by the Shōchiku Corporation, though it continued to be managed by members of the Morita family.Finally, in 1923, the Great Kantō earthquake destroyed much of the capital, including the Shintomi-za, which was never rebuilt.