Cinema Walk 2nd: Fujidana Shopping Arcade in Yokohama "Cinema Novecento"
"Kinema Stroll" introduces mini-theaters in Kanagawa Prefecture. The star of the second installment is a truly unique mini-theater that boasts of being the world's smallest, consisting of a theater with only 28 seats and a trattoria.
A 10-minute walk from either Tobe Station on the Keihin Kyuko Main Line or Nishi-Yokohama Station on the Sagami Railway Main Line will lead you to a small shopping street bustling with locals. Fujidana Shopping Street, also known as Yokohama's old downtown area, boasts a good balance of long-established shops dating back to the Taisho era and new shops incorporating the latest trends.
Stepping into the back of this shopping street, which retains a nostalgic atmosphere, a sign featuring a row of faces of world-famous stars catches the eye. The words "Cinema Novecento" are displayed on a white, temple-like gate.
With its exterior that perfectly blends in with the shopping street's atmosphere, it gives the impression that it has been watching over this place for a long time, but it actually only opened in 2015. It has a presence that makes it hard to believe it has been open for less than 10 years. The representative, Katsuhiko Minowa, originally ran a cinema bar called "The Grissom Gang" in Kawasaki, but closed it in 2013 due to the aging of the building, and decided to open "Cinema Novecento" in this location.
The narrow staircase just beyond the gate is covered in still photographs on the walls and ceiling, giving you the feeling of stepping into the world of film with each passing step. Upon reaching the second floor, you are greeted by a reception area that also serves as a shop, and then a spacious bar area appears. In this theater, the lobby area is a bar, so you can grab a drink right after enjoying a movie! Like Novecento (meaning 1900 in Italian), this bar is also affectionately known as a "trattoria" (a casual restaurant) in Italian.
This theater, which boasts of being the world's smallest, has only 28 seats! Its size certainly lives up to its claim of being the "smallest," but this also means that the distance to the screen is closer, making it easier to immerse yourself in the world of the film. It offers a different kind of movie-watching experience than watching in a large theater or at home. The purple and yellow seats that add color to the predominantly black theater were apparently inherited from the now-closed Kichijoji Bau Theater.
This theater uses 35mm and 16mm film projectors to screen about three films a day, but what's particularly noteworthy is its lineup, which could be described as niche. The program, which is dedicated to film, has captured the hearts of film fans. They sometimes introduce foreign films that have not been released in Japan under the "Cinema Novecento Distribution" label, so you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with films that can only be seen here. Whether it's your favorite film that you've watched repeatedly on video, DVD, or Blu-ray, or an undiscovered film that hasn't been captured on those formats, from masterpieces to cult classics, it's a unique lineup that you won't easily see anywhere else.
This theater, where you can feel the owner's love for film in every detail, is loved by many regulars, and apparently some even travel from far away to visit. They also incorporate audience opinions into the selection of films and talk show guests, making it a place that truly feels like it's built by the theater, the audience, and film industry professionals working together as one.
Cinema Novecento is one of those movie theaters you absolutely must visit, for the unique films you can only see there, for hidden gems you haven't yet seen, and for the once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Click here for the first installment of Kinema Stroll: "Cinema Jack & Betty"
Click here for the third installment of Kinema Stroll: "Yokohama Cinemarine"
