Cinema Walk 1st "Cinema Jack & Betty" in Wakabacho, Yokohama
I like going to the movies.
In today's world, with a wealth of streaming services available, it's easy to enjoy movies at home.
But there's something about the experience of watching a movie in a cinema that can't be replaced by anything else.
A big screen and great sound. It's that moment when you are separated from your everyday life and drawn into the world of the movie.
It makes you cry and laugh with all your heart, and makes you think, "I'll try my best tomorrow too."
I loved those few hours of escapism.
For many people, movie theaters may be a place to go to watch the movies they want to see,
I want people to know the joy of going to see a movie with the goal of going to a movie theater they want to go to.
In this column, we will introduce some recommended mini-theaters in Kanagawa Prefecture that are perfect for this type of enjoyment.
For the first installment, we will be introducing Cinema Jack & Betty, located a five-minute walk from Kogane-cho Station on the Keikyu Line.
After a swaying red train, we arrived at Kogane-cho. Contrary to its glittering name, Kogane-cho once had a strong image as a dark town, having been the setting for Kurosawa's film "High and Low." Now, it is a worthwhile area to stroll around, dotted with fashionable shops and art, amidst vestiges of the Showa era. In this town where cultures mingle, Cinema Jack & Betty is the one that exudes a particularly strong Showa era scent. It is a souvenir from the time when the area was once a thriving movie town.
Its retro exterior is by no means just for show, but truly tells the story of the history of this mini-theater. It opened as "Yokohama Meigaza" on the site of a former US military airfield at Christmas in 1952. It was renamed "Cinema Jack & Betty" in 1991 and renovated, but closed in 2005, much to the disappointment of many movie fans. Although another company reopened it in the same year, difficult times continued, and in 2007 the current management structure took over. Thanks to the strong will of the current manager to "preserve the movie theater, which is an asset to the town," and the support of countless fans, it has gradually regained its vitality, and it is still a beloved local movie theater to this day.
The building has an atmosphere that makes you feel as if you have traveled back in time. For a moment, I was afraid that they might not welcome a newcomer like me, but then the flyers and posters in front of the store piqued my curiosity, and I was drawn to the top of the stairs. At the top, I was greeted by a melancholy lobby with a homey atmosphere, and I was able to take a sigh of relief. There was a corner filled with flyers and a whiteboard with screening information. The entire space, including the time I was waiting, was dedicated to providing me with the entertainment known as "movies."
This theater allows you to bring your own food, but the concession stand also has a variety of tempting and delicious items on display. One of the most popular items is bread from Kameya, a popular store in Kogane-cho! It's such a luxury to be able to eat local gourmet food while watching a movie. It makes you feel like it was worth the effort to come here instead of to a nearby movie theater.
Let's now introduce "Jack" and "Betty," which are also the names of the mini-theater. "Jack" is visible to the right from the lobby, and "Betty" is on the left. Yes, "Jack & Betty" are the names of the two screens. "Jack" is a chic blue art house, while "Betty" is a mini-theater that is all dressed up in red. It's quite rare to see a movie theater where the atmosphere changes so much depending on the theater! Initially, it seems that each theater had separate films for men and films for women, but now they mainly show one-off new releases, as well as high-quality Japanese and foreign films of all genres.
As advertised as "a mini-theater where you can enjoy movies at your leisure," you can spend a whole day here carefully watching a movie. The carefully selected films include some that can only be seen at Jack & Betty in Yokohama, and they screen works from different eras and different countries, from the debut of a young director who is currently attracting attention, to an American love story from the 1990s. The number of films screened in a day is so large that it's hard to believe it's a two-screen mini-theater. You can feel the desire of the theater to "introduce as many good films as possible."
They also actively hold events such as special screenings of directors and actors, film festivals based on a theme, talk shows and live performances, and a salon is held once a month, providing a place where people can exchange opinions about movies, such as their impressions of the films they have been shown or films that they are interested in. It is not just a place to "watch" movies, but also a space where people can "discover" new works and enjoy "interacting" with other movie fans.
It's the perfect theater to discover hidden masterpieces you've never heard of before. It's the perfect place to choose a theater and then watch a movie you're interested in, rather than deciding on a movie and then going to the theater.
This theater is loved by many movie fans and regulars. As I mentioned earlier, some people may feel a little uneasy when they first visit. So, let me introduce the logo of the theater, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary on December 21st this year. The catchphrase is "Climb the stairs to adulthood."
Be brave and climb the stairs to Cinema Jack & Betty. Once you reach the top, you will find a number of films that you can only find here and that could become the film of your life.
Cinema Walk No. 2 "Cinema Novecento" is here
Cinema Walk No. 3 "Yokohama Cinemarin" is here
