Film Exhibition Yearbook ｜2022
Ⅰ.Film Exhibition at Theaters

4.General Situation in Each Prefecture
The “Japanese Film Industry Statistics” of the Japanese Film Producers Association does notinclude the statistics of the film attendance of each prefecture. The “Special Service Industry
Situation Research Report: Film Theaters” (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, until 2019)
and

the

“Economic

CensusActivities

Research”(MinistryofInternal

AffairsandCommunications and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, once in every 5 years) include
the number of film theater attendance in each prefecture. In this almanac, we calculated theaverage share of the attendance in each prefecture against Japan’s total attendance in eachyear, based on the “Special Service Industry Situation Research Report” of 2015, 2017, and2018 (which listed the data of 2014, 2016, and 2017) and the “Economic Census Activities
Research” of 2018 and 2023 (which listed the data of 2015 and 2020). We then multiplied thesepercentages by Japan’s total attendance in the “Japanese Film Industry Statistics” in order toobtain the rough attendance of each prefecture.

The average number of films a person went to see annually was obtained for eachprefecture. The total attendance nationwide in 2022 was 152,005,000, showing a 32% increase
from that in 2021, however, around a 22% decrease from that in 2019. The average number offilms a person went to see annually was 1.2 films, as high as that in the first half of the 2010s. 9
prefectures scored above the national average of 1.2 films: Tokyo (1.9), Yamagata (1.8), Kyoto(1.5), Osaka (1.4), Kanagawa (1.4), Fukuoka (1.4), Chiba (1.3), Aichi (1.3) and Saitama (1.3).

The number of screens in each prefecture was high, like that of attendance, in theprefectures with big cities. From 2021 to 2022, the total number of screens nationwide
decreased by 15. Until 2021, this number had been constantly increasing between 30 to 50
screens: from 2016 to 2017, 30 screens were added; from 2017 to 2018, 39 screens; from 2018
to 2019, 57 screens; and from 2019 to 2020, 42 screens were added. However, from 2021 to
2022, the number decreased.

The national average population per screen was 34,044. When this figure is lower, itmeans that there are more screens in the area, and the inhabitants feel that the screens areeasily accessible. The numbers in only two prefectures, Ishikawa (18,029) and Yamagata(19,277), were between 10,000 and 19,999, and these are the “prefectures with many movie
houses.” In these two prefectures, the average number of films a person went to see annually
was also above the national average. Oita (25,143), Kumamoto (25,261), Okinawa (27,197)
and Fukuoka (27, 516) scored well with relatively low numbers because multi-screen theaters
opened in these prefectures during the last 5 years.

1Film Exhibition Yearbook ｜2022
Ⅰ.Film Exhibition at Theaters

On the other hand, 7 prefectures whose average population per screen exceeded 50,000 were:
Kochi（67,571）, Yamanashi（66,802）, Fukushima（55,913）, Okayama (54,765), Akita(51,663), Iwate（51,327）, and Nagasaki（51,303）. In these prefectures, the number of films
a person went to see annually was also low, below the national average. However, in theseareas with a lower number of theaters, there have been a number of traveling screenings at
public auditoriums and other independent film exhibition activities not reflected in their numberof theater screenings. We must keep in mind that rich film exhibition environments could be
uncounted in these film business statistics.
fig.27 General Situation in Each Prefecture （2022）

In Each Prefecture [Number of Screens]
The nationwide number of screens in Japan increased by 310 from 3,362 to 3,672 during the 10
years from 2013 to 2022. On the other hand, the number of screens decreased by 15 in 20212022. The Great East Japan Earthquake took place on March 11, 2011; and around the sametime, a big change took place in the form of the theatrical digitalization (transition from film
projection to DCP [Digital Cinema Package] projection). Because of these elements, the numberof screens decreased by as many as 180 from 3,496 in 2011 to 3,316 in 2014. However, from2014, the number of screens once again increased until 2021. In 2022, the number of thescreens decreased by 15 compared with that in 2021, while several new multi-screen theaters
are scheduled to open in 2023: 109 Cinemas Premium in Shinjuku and TOHO Cinemas Lala
Port Kadoma (Kadoma City, Osaka) in April, Aeon Cinema Tonami (Tonami City, Toyama) andCinema Sunshine Iizuka (Iizuka City, Fukuoka) in July, and TOHO Cinemas Sapporo Susukino
in the fall.
The prefectures where the number of screens has notably increased are: Tokyo (by 66
screens), Osaka (by 34 screens), Saitama (by 26 screens), Okinawa (by 22 screens), andChiba, Aichi and Kyoto (each by 21 screens). During these 10 years, 70 multi-screen sites with
671 screens were added, and among them, 10 sites are in Tokyo, 6 sites are in Chiba andSaitama, and 5 sites are in Aichi and Osaka, each around the big cities.
The two cinema chains that are the main forces behind these increases during the past 10
years are TOHO Cinemas and Aeon Cinemas, occupying 40% of the total number of screens in
2022. Aeon Cinema (until 2013, Warner Mycal Cinemas) has opened 25 sites and 239 screens
since 2013, becoming the biggest multi-screen theater chain in Japan. TOHO Cinemas has
opened 16 sites and 156 screens during the last 10 years, including ones in city centers like
Nihonbashi, Shinjuku, Ueno, Hibiya and Ikebukuro, all of which have opened since 2016. In
addition, Cinema Sunshine opened 5 sites with 47 screens, United Cinema opened 10 sites

2Film Exhibition Yearbook ｜2022
Ⅰ.Film Exhibition at Theaters

with 98 screens, and Cinema Sunshine opened 5 sites and 47 screens. Other types of theaters
have opened 58 sites and 96 screens during the last 10 years. In particular, 48 mini-theater
sites and 82 screens have opened (including relocations and re-openings of once-closed
theaters) during the last 10 years.
Also during the last 10 years, 42 multi-screen sites and 357 screens have closed. The
prefectures where the number of screens has decreased by 8 or more during the last 10 years
are Gunma (10 screens) and Aomori (8 screens), due to the closing of multi-screen sites(Korona World Aomori and Previ Theater Isezaki Cinema). As for other types of theaters, 101
sites with 157 screens have closed nationwide.
fig.28 Changes of the Number of Screens in Each Prefecture （2013-2022)

Changes in Number of Theaters and Screens According to Theater Types
in Each Prefecture（2013～2022）

We will see how the number of theaters and that of screens have changed according to theater
types in each prefecture during the last 10 years.

Hokkaido and Tohoku Region [Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, andFukushima]
In the Hokkaido and Tohoku Region, the number of screens in 2022 was 352, increasing by 5from that in 2013; and the number of theaters in 2022 was 64, decreasing by 7 from that in2013. Their number of screens occupied 9.6% of the nationwide number and the number oftheaters occupied 10.9% (its population occupied 10.9% of the nationwide population). During
the last 10 years, its population decreased by 6.3% (the national average was a decrease of
1.8%). Their decrease rate was more dramatic compared with that in other regions.
The population per screen in Hokkaido (46,275), Iwate (51,327), Akita (51,663), and Fukushima(55,913) were considerably higher than that of the nationwide average (34,034), meaning thatthese prefectures have fewer theaters.
In 2021-2022, the number of screens changed only in Aomori. In Aomori Prefecture, a multiscreen theater Korona World Aomori in Aomori City closed in August 2021. Forum Hachinohe in
Hachinohe City was also closed in January 2023 due to its building demolition related to its
area’s redevelopment. In Hokkaido, Sugai Dinos Inc. operating Dinos Cinemas submitted an
Application of the Civil Rehabilitation Law in May, 2022, and Dinos Cinemas Asahikawa closed
in September. On the other hand, TOHO Cinemas multi-screen theater (10 screens) joined the3Film Exhibition Yearbook ｜2022
Ⅰ.Film Exhibition at Theaters

big-scale commercial facilities in the middle of Susukino District of Sapporo City and will open in
the fall of 2023. In Iwate Prefecture, Art Forum will close in April 2023 at the Film Theater Street,due to the building demolition. In Yamagata Prefecture, Tsuruoka Machinaka Kinema closed in
May 2020. Many citizens and film fans all over Japan wanted it to re-open, and it was re-opened
by Sanno Machizukuri Co., Ltd. as its main operation force. After its crowdfunding, the theater
reopened with 2 screens in March 2023.
During the last 10 years, notable changes have been as follows: Hokkaido’s number of theaters
have decreased by 5 and its number of screens decreased by 6; and Miyagi’s number ofscreens decreased by 13. In Hokkaido, several conventional and mini-theaters closed between
2013 and 2015: Once closed Sapporo Toho Plaza reopened in 2020 after its renewal as themini-theater Satsugeki.
In Miyagi Prefecture, movie houses were severely damaged by the 2011 Great East Japan
Earthquake. Ruined by the earthquake and tsunami, some movie houses temporarily closed,
then, permanently closed. In 2012, Miyagi’s number of screens dropped from 95 to 64.
However, TOHO Cinemas Sendai opened in 2016, United Cinema Forte Miyagi-Ogawara reopened in 2018, and Aeon Cinema Shin-Rifu opened in 2021. The number of screens in Miyagi
was 77 in 2022. In addition, Okada Planning operating Okada Theater in Ishinomaki City wasonce closed upon the damage of the Great East Japan Earthquake, however, started a travelingscreening operation in the Tohoku Region.
In Iwate Prefecture, Miyako Cinemarine closed in 2016 but started screenings of new films twicea month using the same theater, and has continued to operate traveling screenings in Miyako,
Kamaishi, Ozuchi, Iwaizumi, etc., in the prefecture. In addition, a new film exhibition venue,
Cinema de Aeru, was founded in Miyako City, and after renovating an old warehouse, hasoperated a screening once a month.
In Akita City, Akita Forus Cinema Palais and others closed and there is no mini-theater. Then, alocal film production company renovated an old traditional house in Akita City, created a small
screening room with 16 seats, named it Out Crop Cinema, and started its regular operation in
2021. In Odate City, a wooden building structure Onari-za reopened in 2014, creating lots ofbuzz. In Fukushima Prefecture, Pole Pole Cinema Iwaki Onahama opened in 2018. In Iwaki
City, in a hot spring town, a new mini-theater Kuramoto opened in 2019 near the Yumoto stationand they host screenings around 4 days a week.
fig.29 Hokkaido Tohoku Region

Kanto Region [Ibaragi, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, and Kanagawa]In the Kanto Region, the number of screens was 1,288 in 2022, increasing by 113 from that in4Film Exhibition Yearbook ｜2022
Ⅰ.Film Exhibition at Theaters

2013; and the number of theaters in 2022 was 202, decreasing by 11 from that in 2013. Thisregion’s number of screens occupied 35.1% of the nationwide number, and the number oftheaters occupied 34.2%. The population during these 10 years increased by 2.0% (Japan’s
average was a decrease of 1.8%), and the population in this region occupied 34.8% of thenationwide population.
During the period between 2021 and 2022, the number of screens changed largely in Saitama
and Tokyo. In Saitama Prefecture, United Cinema Chichibu opened in July 2022 and 7 screens
were added. In Tokyo, old theaters one after another closed permanently or temporarily. In May
2021, Uplink Shibuya closed, and Iwanai Hall, a pioneer of mini-theaters, closed in July 2022
after 54-year operation. In November, a repertory theater Ginrei Hall founded in 1974 closed
due to its building demolition, and is looking for a new location. In December, Shibuya TOEI,
directly operated by Toei Co., Ltd. since 1953, closed. Bunkamura Le Cinema closed in April
2023 due to its building renovation, and will reopen in June 2023 at the location having been
occupied by Shibuya TOEI.
On the other hand, two mini-theaters started operation in Tokyo in 2022. In January,
Shimokita_Ekimae_Cinema K2 (with 1 screen and 71 seats) opened along the railway inShimokitazawa. In September, Stranger (with 1 screen and 49 seats) opened in front of
Kikukawa station of Tokyo Metropolitan subway’s Shinjuku line. In the whole Kanto Region, 2
theaters and 6 screens were added during the last year.
In the Kanto Region, 24 multi-screen theaters have opened during the last 10 years, and 23
among them are located in the metropolitan area of 4 prefectures (Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba andKanagawa). Especially in Tokyo, since 2014, 9 multi-screen theaters have opened around thecity center area including TOHO Cinemas Hibiya and Grand Cinema Sunshine Ikebukuro.
During the last 10 years in Tokyo, 8 multi-screen theaters and 92 screens have been added.
The multi-screen theaters opened in Saitama and Chiba mostly belong to a “road-side” model
joining in big commercial facilities. 9 new theaters have opened in these two prefectures
together during the last 10 years, including Aeon Cinema Kawaguchi and United Cinema
Terrace Mall Matsudo.
In Tokyo, during the last 10 years since 2013, 11 mini-theaters and 9 conventional theaters haveclosed. The closing of Cinema Rise (in 2016) and Kichijoji Baus Theater (in 2014), symbols of
the mini-theater culture, drew attention. Many conventional theaters loved by film fans for a longtime and known for creating cinema culture in Tokyo also closed, including: TOHO Cinemas
Nichigeki, Shinjuku Milano, Yurakucho Subaru-za, and Shibuya Tokyu. On the other hand, minitheaters also opened including Chupki Tabata, Japan’s first barrier-free movie house, Uplink
Kichijoji, Kino Cinema Tachikawa Takashimaya SC and others. As a whole, 66 screens havebeen added during the last 10 years.

5Film Exhibition Yearbook ｜2022
Ⅰ.Film Exhibition at Theaters

In Kanagawa Prefecture, during the last 10 years, 2 multi-screen theaters have closed while 2
multi-screen theaters opened in 2022 including Aeon Cinema Zama and T Joy Yokohama. As
for other types of theaters, Yokohama New Theatre in Isesaki-cho, loved by the community for along time, closed in 2018. Meanwhile, 5 mini-theaters have opened including Yokohama
Cinemarine, Cinema Novecento, Kino Cinema Yokohama Minato Mirai, Cine-koya, and Atsugi
no Eigakan kiki.
In this region, the numbers of theaters and screens were both decreased in Ibaragi and Gunma
prefectures. In Ibaragi, multi-screen theater Iwai Cinema Sunshine in Bando City closed in2013, while mini-theater Amaya-za opened in Naka City in 2017, and Cinema Sunrise Hitachi
opened in Hitachi City in 2020. As a result, Ibaragi added 1 theater and lost 4 screens. In
Gunma, multi-screen theater Previ Isezaki closed in 2019, while in Takasaki’s city center,
Takasaki Denkikan, with its long history, revived in 2014 as a repertory theater. As a whole, only
the number of screens decreased by 10.
In this region, 109 Cinemas Premium Shinjuku is scheduled to open in April 2023 in thecommercial district Kabuki-cho, and 6 more multi-screen theaters are expected to open aroundcity centers in and after 2023.
fig.30 Kanto Region

Chubu Region [Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Yamanashi, Nagano, Gifu,
Shizuoka, and Aichi]
In the Chubu Region, the number of screens in 2022 was 694, increasing by 31 from that in2013; and the number of theaters in 2022 was 104, decreasing by 10 from that in 2013. The
region’s number of screens occupied 18.9% of the nationwide number; and the number oftheaters occupied 17.6%. During these 10 years, its population decreased by 3.1% (Japan’s
average was a decrease of 1.8%), and the population outside of Aichi Prefecture decreased.
The region’s population occupied 16.7% of the nationwide population.
In 2021-2022, the number of screens changed notably in Ishikawa and Yamanashi Prefectures.
In Ishikawa Prefecture, Aeon Cinema Hakusan in Hakusan City opened in 2021, while a nearby
theater Aeon Cinema Okyozuka closed. As a whole in Ishikawa, the number of theaters
decreased by 1, and that of screen decreased by 8, however, the number of screens per
population of Ishikawa was 18,029, still the highest in Japan. In Yamanashi Prefecture, an adultmovie house Konan Gekijo closed in 2021 and Theater Central Be-kan became the only movie
house in Kofu City.
In this region, the numbers of conventional and adult theaters have decreased during the last 10
years from 2013 to 2022. Takada Sekai-kan in Niigata Prefecture, Nagano Roxi/Nagano

6Film Exhibition Yearbook ｜2022
Ⅰ.Film Exhibition at Theaters

Shochiku Aioi-za, Ueda Eigeki, and Shiojiri Higashi-za in Nagano Prefecture, and Royal Gekijo
and CINEX in Gifu Prefectures had been loved by local fans for a long time, and all changed
their programming from that of conventional theaters to that of mini-theaters and repertory
theaters, seeking new opportunities.
In Tokamachi City in Niigata Prefecture, a mini-theater Tokamachi Cinema Paradise closed in
2018. On the other hand, café cinema Gashima Cinema opened in 2017 with 5 days a week
operation in Sadogashima Island.
In Toyama Prefecture, multi-screen theater JMAX Theater Toyama opened in 2016, and Toyama
Theater Daitokai closed in 2018. Hotori-za Theater, during the COVID-19 pandemic in June
2020, moved to the former location of the renovated Forza Sogawa and opened as a new
Hotori-za.

Hotori-za also opened a cinema café, starting a permanent film exhibition at arestaurant in Takaoka City in July 2020, as DaFriendsxHOTORIZA.
In Nagano Prefecture, Shinsei Gekijo in Chino City closed in 2013, however, its building has
been used as a main site for the Tateshina Kogen Film Festival commemorating Yasujiro Ozu.
In Ueda City, Ueda Eigeki re-opened in 2017, and its non-profit organizatonrevived an operation
with one screen of the former Ueda Denki-kan as Traum Raise in July 2020. Since 2021, they
have been engaged in film exhibition programs for children with local non-profit organizations,presenting Ueda Children Cinema Club and Weekend Children Movie House.
In Aichi Prefecture, 5 multi-screen theaters have opened since 2014, and 4 of them are Aeon
Cinemas. TOHO Cinemas Nagoya Bay City and 3 other multi-screen theaters have closed. No
mini theaters have closed or opened during the last 10 years, however, Meien Shogekijo
announced that it would close temporarily in March 2023. On the other hand, Mitsukoshi Eiga
Gekijo, closed temporarily since 2020, reopened in March 2023.
In Shizuoka Prefecture, Sasaki Kogyo Inc. opened its second theater Cinema Sunshine Lala
Port Numazu in Numazu City in 2019, while conventional theaters Numazu Takarazuka andNumazu Yurau-za closed in 2015, and only Shizuoka Toho Kaikan has survived among
conventional theaters.
In Niigata, Fukui, Yamanashi, and Gifu Prefectures, the number of theaters and that of screensboth decreased. In Niigata, the only surviving conventional theater and adult movie theater bothhave closed or stopped operation during the last 10 years. In Fukui Prefecture, one-hundredyear old Fukui Cinema closed in 2018. In Yamanashi, Koho Cinema and Theatre Isawa, bothwith a long history, closed (the former in 2013 and the latter in 2018). In Gifu, in 2014, the only
theater in Hida, Takayama Asahi-za, closed. Since then, the movie theater situation has notchanged.
fig.31 Chubu Region

7Film Exhibition Yearbook ｜2022
Ⅰ.Film Exhibition at Theaters

Kinki Region [Mie, Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, and Wakayama]
In the Kinki Region, the number of screens in 2022 was 603, increasing by 69 from that of 2013;
and the number of theaters in 2022 was 96, decreasing by 5 from that of 2013. This region’s
number of screens occupied 16.4%, and that of theaters occupied 16.3% of the nationwide
numbers. During these 10 years, the region’s population decreased by 2.4% (Japan’s average
was a decrease of 1.8%), and this regional population occupied 17.7% of the nationwide
population. In all prefectures in the Kinki Region, population decreased during the last 10 years.
During the period between 2021 and 2022, there were a variety of changes. In Osaka, an adultfilm theater Kokumei Shogei closed in December 2021, and Theatre Umeda (with 4 screens),
having led mini-theater culture in the Kansai Region, closed in September 2022, which is notreflected in the chart. In Hyogo, conventional theater Kobe Kokuai Shochiku, directly operated
by Shochiku Col., closed in March 2022, and reopened as a mini-theater Kino Cinema Kokusai
Shochiku in April 2022 operated by Kinoshita Group. KAVC Cinema of Kobe Art Village Center
that had operated a film exhibition business for a long time, stopped its operation at the end of
March 2022.
Toyooka Gekijo, the only movie house in the north of Hyogo Prefecture, reopened in 2014,
however, closed in August 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Its former employees andothers established an institute named Toyooka Community Cinema, and reopened its exhibitionin March 2023. A multi-screen theater Otsu Alex Cinema in Shiga Prefecture closed in March
2022, and Aeon Cinema Nishiyamato in Nara Prefecture closed in August 2022.
During the last 10 years, Kyoto (by 21 screens) and Osaka (by 34 screens) Prefectures showednotable increase in their number of screens. In Kyoto, Aeon Cinema Kyoto Katsuragawa, amulti-screen theater, opened in 2014; Demachi-za, a mini-theater, opened in 2017; Kyoto
Minami Kaikan reopened in August 2019 increasing its number of screens from 1 to 3; andUplink Kyoto opened in 2020. In Nishi Maizuru, a “semi-movie house” (café cinema) Cine
Grulla, opened in 2019 and has operated 4-5 days a week.
In Osaka, Theatus Shisaibashi and TOHO Cinemas Seven Park Amami opened in 2021, and 5
multi-screen theaters opened during the last 10 years. On the other hand, a total of 8 minitheaters, conventional and adult film theaters closed, and as a whole the number of theaters
decreased by 4 and the number of screen increased by 34.
In Hyogo Prefecture, OS Cinemas Kobe Harborland opened in 2013, and Earth Cinemas Himeji
opened in 2015. In Himeji City, 3 theaters closed including Himeji Daigeki Cinema, Cine Palace
Sanyo-za, and Himeji OS. In Kobe City, Cinema KOBE was operating one of its two screens as
an adult movie venue, however, since 2021, both screens have become mini-theater venues.
In Mie Prefecture, Jisto Cinema Iga Ueno closed in March 2018 and currently there is no8

Film Exhibition Yearbook ｜2022
Ⅰ.Film Exhibition at Theaters

theater in Iga City. In Wakayama Prefecture, Aeon Cinemas Wakayama opened in 2014, and in
the cities of Wakayama, Gobo, Tanabe, and Shingu, Jisto Cinema, a conventional theater, hascontinued to operate. However, adult theaters closed in 2013. As a whole, 9 screens wereadded during the last 10 years.
fig.32 Kinki Region

Chugoku and Shikoku Region [Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi,
Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, and Kochi]
The number of screens in the Chugoku and Shikoku Region in 2022 was 272, increasing by 16
from that in 2013, and the number of theaters in 2022 was 48, decreasing by 5 from that in2013. The number of screens in this region occupied 7.4% of the nationwide number, and thatof theaters was 8.1%. During these 10 years, the region’s population decreased by 5.4%
(Japan’s average was a decrease of 1.8%), and its population occupied 8.6% of the nationwide
population.
The prefectures whose number of screens changed notably in 2021-2022 were Shimane,
Okayama and Ehime Prefectures. In Shimane, Onozawa Cinema reopened in January 2022
where Digital Theater Masuda Chuo was operating until 2008 in Masuda City. In Okayama
Prefecture, Merpa (4 screens) in front of Okayama Station closed in January 2022 due to thearea’s redevelopment plan. Jolie Toho (1 screen) in Okayama City was renamed Merpa and has
continued to operate with 1 screen. In Ehime Prefecture, multi-screen theater Cinema Sunshine
Daikaido in the city center of Matsuyama City closed in January 2021, making the number oftheaters decrease by 1 and that of screens decrease by 5.
In the Chugou and Shikoku Region, the numbers of other types of theaters except that of multiscreen theaters have decreased during the 10 years from 2013 to 2022.
In Hiroshima Prefecture, a multi-screen theater Aeon Cinema Hiroshima Seifu-Shinto (with 9
screens) opened in Hiroshima City in 2018, while Cine Twin Shintenchi in the middle ofHiroshima City closed in 2013, Cine Twin Hondori closed in 2016, and Cinefuku Daikoku-za,
with a long history in Fukuyama City also closed in 2014.
In Yamaguchi Prefecture, a multi-screen theater Cinema Sunshine Shimonoseki (with 8
screens) opened in Shimonoseki City in the shopping mall where mini-theater Theater Zero was
located, then, Theater Zero closed in 2014. In the prefectural capital city of Yamaguchi, there
has been no movie theater after Yamaguchi Scala-za closed in 2012. However, Yamaguchi
Center for Arts and Media has been compensating for this situation by showing diverse kinds offilms every weekend.
In Kochi Prefecture, an adult film theater Kochi Shogekijo closed in 2013. In Kochi City,

9

Film Exhibition Yearbook ｜2022
Ⅰ.Film Exhibition at Theaters

Weekend Kinema M opened in 2017, however, temporarily closed in January 2019, andprepares to reopen at a new location in 2023. In Yurihama Town in Tottori Prefecture, Zig
Theater opened in 2021 renovating an abandoned elementary school building and screening
one project (for about 10 days) every month regularly. In Tokushima Prefecture, Ufotable
Cinema opened in 2021 operated by an animation production company and screening mostly
animations. After Aeon Cinema Tokushima opened in 2017, the former changed its
programming to that of a mini-theater.
In the Chugoku Region’s Japan Sea shore areas and in Shikoku, there are not many theaters.
Some prefectures have only 2-3 theaters altogether in their prefectures. In Kochi, Okayama andTottori, the population per screen is between about 50,000 and 68,000, indicating prefectureswith very few theaters.
In Shimane Prefecture, the Shimane Film Festival has been hosting screenings in various areasof the prefecture and circulating its programs to the areas with no theaters. In Kochi, Cinema
Shikoku, operating traveling screenings, opened a screening venue Tosapic Theater in Kochi
City and isscreening films regularly. In Okayama Prefecture, a library in Maniwa City in the
middle of the mountains has a monthly film screening. In March 2022, a permanent film
exhibition venue Victory Theater was created, and they are operating a film festival in March
2023. In Maniwa City, elementary and junior high schools are engaged in film education
programs, providing their local people with opportunities of watching films on a big screen in theareas with no movie houses.
fig.33 Chugoku Shikoku Region

Kyushu and Okinawa Region [Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki,
Kagoshima, and Okinawa]
In the Kyushu and Okinawa Region, the number of screens in 2022 was 463, increasing by 76
from that in 2013; and the number of theaters was 76 in 2022, increasing by 8 from that in 2013.
The number of screens in this region occupied 12.6% of the nationwide number, and thenumber of theaters was 12.9%. During these 10 years, the region’s population decreased by
2.8% (Japan’s average was a decrease of 1.8%), occupying 11.3% of the nationwide populationin 2022. In Fukuoka and Okinawa Prefectures, their population increased.
In Fukuoka Prefecture, TOHO Cinemas Tenjin (Main Building) closed in 2017, while TOHO
Cinemas Lala Port Fukuoka opened in April 2022 inside a commercial project Lala Port
Fukuoka in the suburbs of Fukuoka City. In Fukuoka City, there was only one mini-theater, KBC
Cinema, for a long time, until 2020 when Kinoshita Group added Kino Cinema Tenjin. Fukuoka
City Public Library presents screenings every day in its Auditorium Ciné-là, functioning as a10Film Exhibition Yearbook ｜2022
Ⅰ.Film Exhibition at Theaters

repertory theater.
In August 2022, a repertory theater Ogura Showa-kan in Kita-Kyushu City caught fire at Tanga
Market and unfortunately was burned down completely. Through a signature gathering andcrowdfunding activity started by people in the film business and fans,its reconstruction has beenplanned, targeting its reopening in December 2023.
In Saga Prefecture, there used to be no movie houses outside of Saga City after 2009. In
October 2019, a mini-theater named Theater Enya opened in Karatsu City, the first movie housein about 30 years in this city. In Nagasaki Prefecture, there has been no particular change
during the last 10 years except the closing of an adult film theater Nagasaki Sennichi Gekijo.
There are movie theaters only in Nagasaki City (United Cinema Nagasaaki, TOHO Cinemas
Nagasaki, and Nagasaki Central Gekijo) and in Sasebo City (Sasebo Cinema Box Taiyo).
In Kumamoto Prefecture, Kumamoto Piccadilly opened in 2021 inside the Kumamoto Station
Building. TOHO Cinemas Kumamoto Sakuramachi opened in 2019. During the 10 years from2013 to 2022, 1 theater and 18 screens were added.
In Oita Prefecture, TOHO Cinemas Amu Plaza Oita opened inside the Oita Station Building in
2015, and in 2020, a local theater company Central Kanko opened Central Cinema Sanko in thesuburbs of Nakatsu City. A historical movie house, Beppu Bluebird Theater, currently operates
with a mini-theater-like programming, hosting film festivals and gaining popularity. In Hita City,
Hita Cinematheque Liberte has been operating as a mini-theater accompanying a cafe andgallery since 2009.
In Miyazaki Prefecture, a multi-screen theater Wonder Attic Cinema (with 7 screens) opened in2020 inside the Miyazaki Station Building. Miyazaki Kinema-kan moved to a new location,
renovated, and reopened in April 2021 adding 2 more screens.
In Okinawa Prefecture, a multi-screen theater Cinema Rycom (with 9 screens) opened inside
the commercial facilities in 2015, constructed on the site of the land returned by the US militarybase in Kitanakagusuku Village. In 2019, United Cinema PARCO CITY Urasoe opened in
Urasoe City. In Okinawa City, a café cinema named Theater Donut opened in 2015, and minitheater Cinema Plaza House 1954 opened in 2016. On the other hand, the oldest movie house
in Okinawa, Shuri Theater closed in April 2022 due to the passing of its owner and the people
around have been searching for the way preserve this theater. As a whole in Okinawa
Prefecture, 3 theaters and 22 screens have been added during the 10 years.
fig.34 Kyushu Okinawa Region11