1Chapter 1

Exhibitions at Film Theaters[1]General Situation
Changes in Number of Screens (1993-2017)

screens in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture), and Aeon Cinema Theatus

Multi-screen theaters (Cinema Complexes) are believed to have

Chofu (11 screens in Chofu City, Tokyo).

appeared for the first time in Japan in 1993. In this paper wesites with 70 screens during these two years, dramaticallywill review the subsequent changes over time. In 2017, theadding to its theaters and screens.

total number of screens in Japan was 3,531, increasing by 55

Other types of theaters have endeavored to find new ways offrom the year before.

theater operation by presenting unique profiles and hosting

During the last 10 years, the total number of screens ofbarrier-free screenings regularly. During the last two years,

multi-screen theaters increased to 3,109, as 839 screenssuch theaters opened as Cinema Chupki Tabata (Kita-district,were added at 90 multi-screen theaters (sites), occupying 88%Tokyo), Amaya-za Theater (Naka City, Ibaragi Prefecture), Cinekoyaof the total number of screens in Japan. From 2000 to 2016,(Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture), Kokoro o ugokasu eigakan ○the number of screens at other types of theaters decreased(Musashino City, Tokyo), Ueda Eigeki (Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture),

yearly, however, in 2017, it increased by 1 to become total 422.

Demachi-za Theater (Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture) and Weekend

During the years of 2016 and 2017 combined, 22 theaters (139Kinema M (Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture). These theaters eachscreens) opened. Among them, 14 theaters and 120 screens

operate one screen, and an accompanying bakery, café,

belong to multi-screen theaters. There have been many

bookstore (small library) and so on, to present something more

multi-screen theaters added in city centers such as Tohothan a movie theater. Amaya-za Theater, Ueda Eigeki, andCinemas Sendai (9 screens in Aoba-district, Sendai City), Toho

Weekend Kinema M opened in local areas of population lessCinemas Ueno (8 screens in Taito-district, Tokyo), J-Max Theaterthan 200,000 and they work with their local communities byToyama (8 screens in Toyama City), Midland Square Cinema 2 (7presenting collaborative events.

screens in Nakamura-district, Nagoya City), Toho Cinemas Kashiwa (9Aeon Cinema opened 82Changes in Attendance (2008-2017)

constantly increasing. After 2008, the pace slowed down andIn 2017, the Japanese nationwide cinema attendance was

5 to 10 new theaters have appeared annually. During the last

174,483,000, decreasing by 5,706,000 (3.2%) from 2016 when

10 years, 68 new multi-screen theaters opened and 26 havethe attendance was the highest since 2000. Nonetheless, theclosed.

attendance in 2017 shows a solid result thanks to the success

The number of conventional theaters has decreased to lessof BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (124 billion yen box office income) andthan half during the last 10 years, to 80 theaters and 185

popular anime series such as CONAN THE DETECTIVE,screens, decreasing by 115 theaters and 218 screens.

DORAEMON and DESPICABLE ME.

Multi-screen theaters have increased in the city centerswhere conventional theaters have closed. Some conventional

Changes in Number of Theaters and Screens according totheaters changed themselves to mini- and repertory theaters

Theater Type (2008-2017)(Hikari-za in Utsunomiya City, Chiba Theater, Shiojiri Azuma-za, Nagano Roxy

During the last 10 years, the number of theaters has fallen toTheater, etc.), and some closed and later re-opened as mini- and587, decreasing by 118. On the other hand, the number ofrepertory theaters (Onari-za, Yokohama Cinemarine, Takada Sekaikan,

screens has increased by 170.

Toyooka Gekijo, Theater Shiema, Hita Liberte, etc.). The total number ofIf we look at the statistics according to theater type,conventional, mini- and repertory theaters has remained

multi-screen theaters have increased the most, with arelatively steady, while the percentages of each havecurrent total number of 349 theaters and 3,109 screens,changed.

increasing by 42 theaters and 432 screens during the last 10

The number of adult film theaters has decreased to less thanyears. Between 2000 and 2008, 20 to 30 new multi-screen

half its original number during the last 10 years, to 39 theaters

theaters were created every year, and its number has beenand 45 screens, decreasing by 44 theaters and 49 screens.

Graphs and Charts:

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Changes in Numbers of Theaters and Screens according to Theater Type in Local Areas (2008-2017)
In 2017, the total number of movie theaters in Japan was 587, decreasing by 118 (about 20%) during thelast 10 years. Meanwhile, the total number of screens in Japan has increased by 170 to 3,531. Only in theHokkaido and Tohoku Region, the numbers have decreased. Their population has also decreased by5.2%, higher than that in other regions where the number of theaters has decreased and the number ofscreens has increased slightly.
When comparing the number of screens to population in the Kanto and Chubu Region, their screen
increase rate is higher than their population increase rate. Particularly in Chubu, where they have
20.2% of the nation’s screens and 16.8% of the nation’s population, a difference is approximately 3%.
Multi-screen theaters have increased in all regions in terms of both the number of theaters and thenumber of screens. Particularly in the Kanto Region, the number of theaters has increased by 12 andthe number of screens by 127; in the Kinki Region, the number of theaters has increased by 9 and thenumber of screens by 110.
In contrast, the number of conventional theaters has decreased by 35 and the number of screens by 61
in Kanto, in addition, the number of theaters has decreased by 22 and the number of screens by 44 inKinki. In their early days, multi-screen theaters were built along the major highways in the suburbs,
however during the last 10 years, they have spread to the city centers. During this same time,
conventional theaters in the big city’s centers of Tokyo, Osaka and Hyogo Prefectures began to close.
A large number of mini- and repertory theaters are concentrated in Kanto (82 screens out of the nationwide
number of 192, making 42%). However, several in Tokyo around Shibuya began to close, with 5 screens

having closed since 2008 in Kanto.
The number of adult film theaters has decreased in all areas, however, Okura Theater in Ueno
re-opened in 2010 after its renovation.

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Changes in Numbers of Theaters and Screens according to Theater Type in Local Areas (2008-2017)5

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