I. Film Exhibition at Theaters
General Situation in Each Prefecture
General Situation in Each Prefecture
At this point when this manuscript is written, the statistics of the film attendance of each prefecture have not beenannounced. Until 2019, “Special Service Industry Situation Research Report” (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)
used to include the number of film theater attendance in each prefecture. This report was cancelled in 2020 when it was
included and reorganized in the statistics of economic structures. Its 2020 report does not include the film audience size ofeach prefecture. In this almanac, we calculated the average share of the attendance in each prefecture against Japan’s total
attendance in each year, based on the “Special Service Industry Situation Research Report” from 2014 to 2019. We thenmultiplied these percentages by Japan’s total attendance of 2020 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 each prefecture. The total attendance
nationwide in 2020 showed a large decrease from the previous year, by around 54.5%. The average number of films a
person went to see annually also decreased by 50%. The national average in 2020 was 0.8 films. Only four prefecturesscored above 1.0: Tokyo (1.3), Kanagawa (1.0), Kyoto (1.0), and Osaka (1.0).
The number of screens in each prefecture was high, like that of attendance in the prefectures with big cities. From 2019
to 2020, the total number of screens nationwide increased by 37. During the last several years, this number has been
constantly increasing. From 2015 to 2016, 29 screens were added; from 2016 to 2017, 54 screens; from 2017 to 2018, 61
screens; and from 2018 to 2019, 36 screens were added.
The national average population per screen was 34,273. When this figure is lower, it means that there are more screens in
the area, and the inhabitants feel that the screens are easily accessible. The numbers in only two prefectures, Ishikawa(18,538) and Yamagata (19,017), 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.
On the other hand, six prefectures whose average population per screen exceeded 50,000 were: Kochi（68,858）,
Yamanashi（62,016）, Fukushima（57,033）, Iwate（52,704）, Nagasaki（52,426）, and Tottori（50,127）, mostly thesame prefectures as the previous year’s. In these prefectures, the number of movie theaters and the average number of thefilms a person went to see annually were low. However, in these areas with less number of theaters, there have been anumber of traveling screenings at public halls and other types of film exhibition activities not reflected in the number oftheater screenings. We must keep in mind that rich film exhibition environments could be uncounted in these film businessstatistics.

fig.26 General Situation in Each Prefecture (2020)

In Each Prefecture [Number of Screens]
The nationwide number of screens in Japan increased by 176 from 3,496 to 3,672 during the 10 years from 2011 to 2020. At
the beginning of this period, the Great East Japan Earthquake took place on March 11, 2011; and around the same time, 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 number of screens decreased by as many as 146 from 3,496 in 2011
to 3,350 in 2012. However, after 2013, the number of screens has once again been increasing.
The prefectures where the number of screens has notably increased are: Tokyo (by 49 screens), Chiba (by 30 screens),
Aichi (by 23 screens), and Okinawa (by 23 screens). During these 10 years, 37 multi-screen sites with 690 screens wereadded, and among them, 7 sites are in Chiba, 11 sites are in Tokyo, and 5 sites are in Aichi and Fukuoka each.
The two cinema chains that are the main forces behind these increases during the past 10 years are TOHO Cinemas andAeon Cinemas. Aeon Cinema (until 2013, Warner Mycal Cinemas) opened 21 sites and 201 screens between 2011 and2020, becoming the biggest multi-screen theater chain in Japan. TOHO Cinemas has opened 18 sites and 170 screens
during the last 10 years, including ones in city centers like Nihonbashi, Shinjuku, Ueno, Hibiya, and Ikebukuro, all of whichhave opened since 2016. In addition, Cinema Sunshine opened 5 sites with 44 screens, and United Cinema opened 7 sites
with 73 screens.
During the last 10 years, 32 multi-screen sites and 275 screens were closed. The prefectures where the number of screenshas decreased more than 10 during the last 10 years are: Hokkaido (by 15 screens), Miyagi (17 screens), Yamanashi (18screens), Gunma (19 screens), and Gifu (20 screens). 1 to 3 multi-screen sites have been closed in each of these
prefectures.

fig.27 Changes in Number of Screens in Each PrefectureChanges in Number of Theaters and Screens According to Theater Types in Each prefecture

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

Hokkaido and Tohoku Region
In the Hokkaido and Tohoku Region, the number of screens in 2020 was 365, decreasing by 27 from that in 2011; and thenumber of theaters in 2020 was 65, decreasing by 19 from that in 2011. Their number of screens occupied 10% of thenationwide number, and the number of theaters occupied 10.9%. During the last 10 years, its population decreased by 5.8%
(the national average was a decrease of 1.5%). Their decrease rate was more dramatic compared with that in other regions.
In 2020, its population occupied 11.0% of the nationwide population.
The population per screen in Hokkaido (46,875), Iwate (52,704), Akita (49,100), and Fukushima (57,033), were considerably
higher than that of the nationwide average (34,273), meaning that these prefectures have fewer theaters.
During the last 10 years, notable changes were as follows: Hokkaido’s number of theaters decreased by 10 and its numberof screens decreased by 15; and Miyagi’s number of theaters decreased by 4 and its number of screens decreased by 17.
In Hokkaido, several conventional and mini-theaters closed between 2011 and 2014: Sapporo Toho Plaza and Dinos
Cinema in 2011, Cine Tokachi Prince Theater in 2012, Theater Voice in 2013, and Sasori-za in 2014. There was aconventional theater in each of Asahikawa City, Bibai City, and Nayoro Town, but all of them closed. Sapporo Toho Plaza,
having been operated as a rental theater after closing in 2011, reopened in July 2020 after its renewal as Satsugeki (with 4
screens).
In Miyagi Prefecture, movie houses were severely damaged by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Okada Theater in
Ishinomaki City was destroyed, leading to its closure, and 2 multi-screen theaters in Sendai City (Sendai Korona World andIzumi Korona World) temporarily closed after the 2011 earthquake, followed by their permanent closing. At one time,
Miyagi’s number of screens dropped from 95 to 64. However, TOHO Cinemas Sendai opened in 2016, and Theater Forte,
which was closed after the 2011 earthquake, re-opened as United Cinema Forte Miyagi-Ogawara in 2018. By 2019, thenumber of screens was increased by 14 to 78. In October 2020, MOVIX Rifu in Rifu City closed, however, in March 2021,
Aeon Cinema Shin-Rifu opened. In 2018, Sakurai Pharmacy Central Hall, a mini-theater loved by the community for a longtime, was closed and Forum Sendai became the only mini-theater in Sendai City.
In Iwate Prefecture, Miyako Cinemarine, a movie theater managed by Miyako Film Life Co-op and operating travelingscreenings along the seashore after the 2011 Earthquake, closed in September 2016. As a result, there is currently no
movie theater in this seashore area.
In Akita City of Akita Prefecture, Lemiere Akita (with 5 screen) inside Akita Station Building Alve, closed in May 2020. The
local film fans were relieved when this site reopened as Alve Theater (with 3 screen) in December 2020. In Akita City, Akita
Forum Cinema Palais and Theater Play Town closed and there is no mini-theater. However, in Odate City, a family who
moved in from another area reopened the old Onari-za movie house, and it has become a popular theater creating lots ofbuzz.

In the Hokkaido and Tohoku Region, Yamagata Prefecture increased its number of screens mostly due to the opening ofAeon Cinemas Tendo in 2014. In Fukushima Prefecture, the number of screens also increased when Polepole Cinema Iwaki
Onahama opened in 2018. In Yamagata, the local theater owners changed their theaters from conventional to multi-screen
theaters at a relatively early stage. This is behind Yamagata Prefecture’s maintaining their number of screens prefecturewide. In May 2020, Tsuruoka Machinaka Kinema, a movie house opened in Tsuruoka City in Yamagata Prefecture in 2010
and operated by a company specialized in building communities, closed. Many citizens and film fans from all over Japan
requested its reopening, and various plans have been discussed in order to reopen this theater.
There are many areas in this region with no theaters at all, not only the areas along the Pacific Ocean shore. Historically,
traveling screenings have been active. Miyako Film Life Co-op’s Miyako Cinemarine was closed, however, they collaborate
with the traveling screenings in Miyako, Kamaishi, Otsuchi, Iwaizumi, etc., and screenings at public halls, as well as hosting
film festivals. In Miyako City, a new film exhibition venue, Cinema de Aeru was founded. With population shrinking, theactivities providing local people with film culture and the experience of watching films on a big screen are becoming
increasingly important in areas with no theaters.

Kanto Region
In the Kanto Region, the number of screens was 1,270 in 2020, increasing by 81 from that in 2011; and the number oftheaters in 2020 was 198, decreasing by 20 from that in 2011. This region’s number of screens occupied 34.6% of thenationwide number, and the number of theaters occupied 33.2%. The population during these 10 years increased by 2.1%
(Japan’s average was a decrease of 1.5%), and the population in this region occupied 34.6% of the nationwide population.
During the last 10 years in this region, 26 multi-screen theaters opened, and 24 out of the 26 opened in the metropolitan
areas of Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, and Kanagawa Prefectures.
In Tokyo, 9 multi-screen theaters have opened since 2014. In July 2020, TOHO Cinemas Ikebukuro (with 10 screens) opened
inside Hareza Ikebukuro, a half-governmental, half-commercial business facilities created after Toshima City Hall and Public
Auditorium were demolished in Ikebukuro. TOHO Cinemas Tachihi opened in Tachikawa City in September. During the last
10 years, the number of multi-screen theaters has increased by 8 theaters with 92 screens, while the number of other typesof theaters has decreased by 28 theaters with 43 screens. Since 2011, 15 mini- and repertory theaters closed. The closingof Cinema Rise, a symbol of the mini-theater culture, drew attention in 2016. In 2020, Yujiku Asagaya permanently closed
after its temporary closing. In addition, many conventional theaters loved by film fans for a long time and creating cinema
culture in Tokyo closed, including: TOHO Cinemas Nichigeki (in 2018), Ginza Cine Pathos (in 2013), Asakusa Meiga-za (in2012), Shimbashi Bunka Gekijo/Shimbashi Roman Gekijo (in 2014), Sangenjaya Cinema (in 2014), Shinjuku Milano-za (in2014), and Ueno Tokyu (in 2012). On the other hand, 7 mini-theaters opened including Chupki Tabata, Japan’s first barrierfree movie house (in 2016), Uplink Kichijoji with 5 screens (in 2018), Kinoshita Group’s Kino Cinema Tachikawa
Takashimaya SC (in 2019) and so on. Some mini-theaters are scheduled to open in 2021. The map of Tokyo film theaters
keeps changing.
In Kanagawa, during the last 10 years, 3 multi-screen theaters closed including Aeon Cinema Tsukimino, 109 Cinemas MM
Yokohama, and MOVIX Honmoku; however, in June 2020, Aeon Cinema Zama and T Joy Yokohama with 9 screens inside
Yokohama Station Building NeWoMan Yokohama opened. As for other types of theaters, Yokohama New Theater in Isesaki-cho, loved by the community for a long time, closed in 2018. On the other hand, 5 mini-theaters opened including
Yokohama Cinemarine, Cinema Novecento, Kino Cinema Yokohama Minato Mirai, Cine-koya, and Atsugi no Eigakan kiki. In
addition, in October 2019, Typhoon #19 attacked many areas in Japan, and Kawasaki City Museum was flooded. Numerous
valuable items in its collection including films and film related documents were damaged severely, and the restoration work
has continued.
In Gunma Prefecture, 2 multi-screen theaters, Ota Korona World and Previ Isezaki, closed. On the other hand, in Takasaki
City, Takasaki Eiga-kan, with its long history, revived in 2014 as a repertory theater. As a result, in Gunma, the number oftheaters decreased by 1, and the number of screens decreased by 19.
In Ibaragi Prefecture, mini-theater Amaya-za opened in Naka City, and Cinema Sunrise Hitachi opened in Hitachi City, bothin 2017.

Chubu Region
In the Chubu Region, the number of screens in 2020 was 707, decreasing by 11 from that in 2011; and the number oftheaters in 2020 was 109, decreasing by 24 from that in 2009. The region’s number of screens occupied 19.3% of thenationwide number; and the number of theaters occupied 18.3%. During these 10 years, its population decreased by 2.5%
(Japan’s average was a decrease of 1.5%), and the population outside of Aichi Prefecture decreased. The region’s
population in 2020 occupied 16.8% of the nationwide population.
In Aichi Prefecture, 5 multi-screen theaters opened during the last 10 years, and the number of screens kept increasing
through 2018. In 2019, Kinoshita Hall (with 1 screen) in Nagoya City, Toyota Grand (with 2 screens) in Toyota City, andHanda Korona World (with 11 screens) in Handa City closed, and in November 2020, TOHO Cinemas Nagoya Bay City (with
12 screens) closed, thereby, shifting the number of screens to decreasing over the last 2 years. However, the population per
screen of Aichi Prefecture was 26,837, and the number of screens is the highest among the prefectures with big cities.
The number of screens per population of Ishikawa Prefecture is the highest in Japan. During the last 10 years, there havenot been many changes except for the closing of Aeon Cinema Shin-Komatsu in 2017. In March 2020, Ekimae Cinema in
Kanazawa City, a movie house with more than 60 years of history, closed.
In Niigata, Fukui, Yamanashi, Gifu, and Shizuoka Prefectures, the number of theaters and that of screens both decreased.
Particularly, it is noteworthy that the number of screens decreased by 18 in Yamanashi, and by 20 in Gifu. In Yamanashi,Gran Park Toho (with 8 screens) and Kofu Musashino Cinema Five (with 5 screens) both closed in 2011, followed by two
historical movie houses, Koho Cinema in 2013 and Theatre Isawa in 2018. In Gifu, United Cinema Shinsei, a multi-screen
theater with 16 screens, closed in 2011, and in 2014, the only theater in Hida, Takayama Asahi-za, closed disappointing
many film fans. Royal Gekijo and CINEX in Gifu City currently present mini-theater programs.
The numbers of conventional and adult theaters have decreased nationwide. Takada Sekai-kan in Niigata Prefecture,
Nagano Roxi/Nagano Shochiku Aioi-za, Ueda Eigeki, and Shiojiri Higashi-za in Nagano Prefecture, all changed theirprogramming from that of a conventional theater to that of mini- and repertory theater, creating new images. Cinema Point,a conventional theater in Nagano City, closed in June 2020.

In Shizuoka Prefecture, during the past 10 years, 8 conventional and 1 adult theaters closed, and only Shizuoka Toho Kaikan
has survived among conventional theaters. In Niigata and Toyama Prefectures, there are no conventional or adult theaters.
In Fukui Prefecture, one-hundred-year old Fukui Cinema closed in 2018.
In Toyama Prefecture, multi-screen theater JMAX Theater Toyama opened in 2016, and Toyama Theater Daitokai closed in
2018. Mini-theater Forza Sogawa, operated by a community collaborative organization, closed in 2016 and Hotori-za
Theater took over its programming. In 2020, the former Forza Sogawa was renovated and Shin-Hotori-za opened there.
Hotori-za also operates film exhibition activities at a restaurant named Da Friends in Takaoka City, as Hotori-za Satellite
House.
In Tokamachi City (population 50,000) in Niigata Prefecture, the mini-theater Tokamachi Cinema Paradise, operating since2007, closed in 2018. On the other hand, Gashima Cinema opened with 5 days a week operation in Sadogashima Island.

Kinki Region
In the Kinki Region, the number of screens in 2020 was 594, increasing by 52 from that of 2011; and the number of theaters
in 2019 was 96, decreasing by16 from that of 2011. This region’s number of screens occupied 16.2%, and that of theaters
occupied 16.1% of the nationwide numbers. During these 10 years, the region’s population decreased by 2.1% (Japan’s
average was a decrease of 1.5%), and this regional population in 2020 occupied 17.7% of the nationwide population. In all
prefectures in the Kinki Region, population decreased during the last 10 years.
During the last 10 years, the number of screens largely increased in Mie (by 15) and Kyoto (by 19).
In Kyoto Prefecture, Aeon Cinema Kyoto Katsuragawa, a multi-screen theater with 12 screens, opened in 2014; Demachi-za,
a mini-theater, opened in 2017; Kyoto Minami Kaikan reopened in August 2019 increasing its number of screen from 1 to 3;
and Uplink Kyoto opened in April 2020. In Nishi Maizuru, a “semi-movie house” (café cinema) Cine Grulla, opened operating
at night and over the weekends. On the other hand, 2 historical movie houses closed including Shin Kyogoku Cine La Liebeand Gion Kaikan, stopping their operations.
In most big city centers, conventional theaters have shifted to multi-screen theaters. It stands out that in Hyogo and Osaka
Prefectures, conventional theaters began to close. In Osaka during these 10 years, 7 closed and there is no conventional
theater now. In February 2020, a multi-screen theater Fuse Line Cinema (with 7 screens) closed in Higashi-Osaka City.
In Hyogo Prefecture, 6 conventional theaters were closed during the last 10 years. Among them, Toyooka Gekijo changed
its management, and after a large-scale renovation, it re-opened in 2014 with a program including mini-theater
programming. In Mie Prefecture, Jisto Cinema Iga Ueno closed in March 2018 and there is now no conventional theater.
In Nara Prefecture, there is no increase or decrease of the number of theaters during the last 10 years. However, 2 multiscreen theaters closed (Cinema Dept Yuraku Cinema and MOVIX Kashihara), and 2 opened (Cinema Sunshine YamatoKoriyama and United Cinema Kashihara).
In Wakayama Prefecture, Aeon Cinemas Wakayama opened in 2014, and in the cities of Gobo, Tanabe, and Shingu, Jist
Cinema, a conventional theater, has continued to operate. However, two adult theaters closed. In Shiga Prefecture, there
has been almost no change during the last 10 years.

Chugoku and Shikoku Region
The number of screens in the Chugoku and Shikoku Region in 2020 was 288, increasing by 15 from that in 2011, and thenumber of theaters in 2020 was 52, decreasing by 8 from that in 2011. The number of screens in this region occupied 7.9%of the nationwide number, and that of theaters was 8.7%. During these 10 years, the region’s population decreased by 4.9%
(Japan’s average was a decrease of 1.5%), and the 2020 population occupied 8.7% of the nationwide population.
There were not many changes during these 10 years in numbers. The prefectures whose number of screens increased or
decreased by more than 10 screens are Okayama and Tokushima Prefectures with 1 multi-screen theater each opened.
During these 10 years, there was no change in numbers in Shimane and Kagawa Prefectures.
In Hiroshima Prefecture, a multi-screen theater Aeon Cinema Hiroshima Seifu-Shinto with 9 screens opened in Hiroshima
City in 2018, while 3 conventional theaters, 2 mini- and repertory theaters, and 2 adult theaters closed.
In Yamaguchi Prefecture, a multi-screen theater Cinema Sunshine Shimonoseki with 8 screens opened in Shimonoseki Cityin 2014, while 5 conventional and mini-theaters with 13 screens closed, resulting in no conventional theater in theprefecture. In the prefectural capital city of Yamaguchi, there has been no movie theater after Yamaguchi Scala-za closed in2012. However, Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media has been compensating for this situation by showing films every
weekend.
In Ehime Prefecture, there were 8 multi-screen theaters. Ehime’s number of screens per population, 22,483, is the thirdlargest after Ishikawa and Yamagata Prefectures, and there are many screens for its population.
In the Chugoku Region’s Japan Sea shore areas and in Shikoku, there are not many theaters. Some prefectures have only 23 theaters altogether. In the 5 prefectures of Kochi, Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, and Yamaguchi, the population per screen is
between 44,000 and 69,000, becoming prefectures with very few theaters. In Kochi, Weekend Kinema M temporarily closed
in January 2019, and is scheduled to reopen at a new location in 2021.
In Shimane Prefecture, the Shimane Film Festival has been hosting screenings in various areas of the prefecture, and in
Okayama Prefecture, a library in Maniwa City in the middle of mountains hosts a monthly film screening. These projects inthe areas with no movie houses have become regular programs providing their local people with opportunities of watchingfilms on a big screen.

Kyushu and Okinawa Region
In the Kyushu and Okinawa Region, the number of screens in 2020 was 447, increasing by 65 from that in 2011; and thenumber of theaters was 77, increasing by 5 from that in 2011. The number of screens in this region occupied 12.2% of thenationwide number, and the number of theaters was 12.9%, about a 2% increase. During these 10 years, the region’s
population decreased by 1.5% (Japan’s average was a decrease of 1.5%), resulting in 11.3% of the nationwide population in
2020. In Fukuoka and Okinawa Prefectures, their population increased.
In this region, during these 10 years, three prefectures increased their numbers of screens by more than 10. In Oita andKagoshima Prefectures each, 2 multi-screen theaters opened, and in Okinawa Prefecture, the number of screens increased

by 23 where 2 multi- screen theaters and 3 mini-theaters opened.
In Okinawa Prefecture, in 2019, United Cinema PARCO CITY Urasoe (11 screens) opened in Urasoe City, and in Okinawa
City, mini-theater Cinema Plaza House 1954 opened. In addition, 2 small theaters opened: Theater Donuts (in Okinawa City)in 2015, and Yui Road Theater (in Ishigaki City) opened as Japan’s south-most small theater in Japan in 2018. However,during COVID-19 pandemic, the latter was closed for a long term, prompting its ex-employees to set up a movement,
Society to Protect Yui Cinema: The Revival Project of Japan’s South-most Small Theater, working for its re-opening.
In Oita Prefecture, TOHO Cinemas Amu Plaza Oita opened in 2015, and Central Cinema Sanko (8 screens) opened inside
Aeon Mall Sanko in Nakatsu City in March 2020. In Oita Prefecture, there is no conventional theater, however in Oita City,
after Central Cinema closed in 2010, its basement theater reopened as Cinema 5bis. 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 and gallery since 2009.
In Fukuoka Prefecture, two mini-theaters (Cineterie Tenjin and Cine Libre Hakata Station) closed in Fukuoka City, resulting
in one mini-/repertory theater, KBC Cinema, in this city. In April 2020, Kino Cinema Tenjin, Kinoshita Group’s third movie
house, opened. In addition, Fukuoka City Public Library presents screenings every day in its Auditorium Ciné-là, functioning
as a repertory theater.
In Saga Prefecture, there used to be no movie house outside of Saga City after 2009. In October 2019, the mini-theater
named Theater Enya opened in Karatsu City, the first movie house in 30 years. In Nagasaki Prefecture, a conventional
theater closed in both Sasebo City and Isahaya City in 2011, resulting in no movie house except in Nagasaki City and
Sasebo City.
In Kumamoto Prefecture, the earthquake in 2016 severely damaged many areas, however, no theater closed as a result. In
2019, TOHO Cinemas Kumamoto Sakuramachi opened, adding 7 more screens.
In Miyazaki Prefecture, there was no change during these 10 years. In November 2020, Wonder Attic Cinema (7 screens)
opened inside a shopping mall Amu Plaza Miyazaki in front of Miyazaki station, and Miyazaki Kinema-kan with 2 screens
moved to a new location, reopening a theater in April 2021 with 4 screen.