Cinema Walk 1st: Wakabacho, Yokohama "Cinema Jack & Betty"
I like going to the cinema.
In today's world, where streaming services are abundant, it is now possible to enjoy movies at home.
However, there is something about the experience of watching a movie in a cinema that can't be replaced by anything else.
The big screen and the 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 do my best tomorrow too."
I love those few hours of escapism.
For many people, movie theaters may be a place to go to see the movies they want to see,
I would also like people to know the joy of going to the movies with the goal of going to a movie theater they want to visit.
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 Koganecho Station on the Keikyu Line.
After a swaying ride on the red train, we arrived at Koganecho. Contrary to its glittering name, Koganecho once had a strong image as a dark town, having been the setting for Kurosawa's film "High and Low." Now, it has become a place worth strolling around, dotted with stylish shops and art, amidst vestiges of the Showa era. In this town where cultures mingle, Cinema Jack & Betty exudes a particularly strong Showa-era vibe. It is a souvenir from the time when the area was a thriving movie district.
Its retro exterior is by no means just for show, but truly speaks to 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 dismay of many movie fans. Although another company reopened it in the same year, it continued to struggle, and in 2007 it was taken over by the current management structure. Thanks to the strong determination of the current manager to "preserve this movie theater, a town asset," and the support of countless fans, it has gradually regained its vitality, and is still a beloved local movie theater today.
The building has an atmosphere that makes you feel like you've traveled back in time. For a moment, I was intimidated, thinking that a newcomer like me might not be welcome, but then the flyers and posters outside the store piqued my curiosity, and I was drawn up the stairs. At the top, I was greeted by a nostalgic 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 you spend waiting, was dedicated to making the entertainment known as "movies" enjoyable to the fullest.
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 notable items is bread from Kameya, a popular store in Koganecho! It's such a luxury to be able to enjoy local gourmet food while watching a movie. It makes you feel like it was worth the effort to come all the way here instead of to a nearby movie theater.
Let us now introduce "Jack" and "Betty," which are also the names of the mini-theaters. "Jack" can be seen on the right from the lobby, and "Betty" on the left. Yes, "Jack & Betty" are the names of the two screens. "Jack" is a chic art house theater in blue, while "Betty" is a mini-theater that is dressed up in red. It is quite rare to see a movie theater where the atmosphere changes so much depending on the theater! Initially, each theater seemed to have separate films aimed at men and women, but now they screen high-quality Japanese and foreign films of all genres, with a focus on one-off new releases.
As advertised as "a mini-theater where you can enjoy a film at your leisure," you can spend an entire day here carefully immersed in a film. The carefully selected selection includes films that can only be seen at Jack & Betty in Yokohama, and they screen works from different eras and different countries, from debut films by up-and-coming young directors to American love stories from the 1990s. The number of films screened each day is so large that it's hard to believe it's a two-screen mini-theater. You can really feel the desire of the theater to "introduce as many great 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 forum for exchanging opinions about films, such as impressions of the films being screened or films that interest you.It is not just a place to "watch" films, but also a space where you can "discover" new works and enjoy "interacting" with other film fans.
It's the perfect theater to discover hidden masterpieces you've never heard of before. It's the perfect place to decide on a theater and then watch a movie you're interested in, rather than deciding on a movie and then heading to the theater.
This theater is loved by many movie fans and regulars. As I mentioned earlier, some people may feel a little intimidated when they first visit. So, let me conclude by introducing the theater's logo, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary on December 21st this year. Its catchphrase is "Climb the stairs to adulthood."
Be brave and climb the stairs to Cinema Jack & Betty. At the top, you will find a wealth of films that could become the "movie of your life" that you can only find here.
Cinema Walk No. 2 "Cinema Novecento" is here
Kinema Walk No. 3 "Yokohama Cinemarin" is here
