Cinema Walk No. 5 “Kamakura Ichikawa Kita Film Museum”
"Cinema Walk" introduces mini theaters in Kanagawa Prefecture. This time, we'd like to do something a little different and introduce you to the Kamakura Ichikawa Kita Film Museum, where you can enjoy watching movies while learning about the history of Japanese movies.
On the weekends, Kamakura is busier than usual, as it was chosen as the setting for a historical drama this year. After leaving Kamakura Station, walk straight down Komachi-dori Street, which is filled with people and delicious smells, and just before the end of the street, turn onto the street on the left. Then, the hustle and bustle from earlier became quiet and the scent of nature became even stronger. A short walk away is the Kamakura Ichikawa Kita Film Museum. This one-story Japanese-style memorial hall was built on the site of the former residence of Nagamasa and Kashiko Kawakita, who contributed to the development of Japanese film culture, and opened in April 2010. It stands quietly, as if it has blended into nature, without spoiling the scenery of Kamakura.
When you think of Kamakura, keywords such as history, gourmet food, and nature come to mind, and some people may not be able to imagine going to see a movie in Kamakura. However, Kamakura was once famous as a place for movies, and was a place where many filmmakers lived and gathered. When discussing the history of Japan's film industry and culture, it is essential to remember Nagamasa and Kashiko Kawakita, who contributed to the development of the Japanese film industry. In 1928, Nagamasa Kawakita established Towa Shoji, which is now Toho Towa, and since then, together with his wife Kashiko, he has created many timeless masterpieces in this country, including ``Bokyo'' and ``The Third Man.'' I introduced them. The couple also deepened their relationships with filmmakers from around the world and worked hard to introduce Japanese films overseas.
After paying the admission fee and entering the memorial hall, you can view the permanent exhibition that displays materials and chronology related to the Kawakita couple. On display are the suitcases and passports that the couple used, as well as photos of them with an eye-popping lineup of filmmakers from Japan and abroad.The Kawakita couple's philosophy was that ``movies connect the world.'' The story of how he visited various countries and interacted with filmmakers from each country seems to be coming to light.
In addition to the permanent exhibition, the museum holds special exhibitions and special exhibitions with different themes throughout the year. When I visited, a special exhibition on the theme of ``Movie Design: The Aesthetics of Yasujiro Ozu and Kon Ichikawa'' was being held. The two directors, who lived in the same era as great masters of Japanese cinema, have rarely been talked about together until now. The special exhibition talked about the two men's upbringings and the designs that can be seen in their works, along with the historical background before and after the war, making it an enjoyable experience to compare the paths of these two great directors.
*Example of exhibitions and special exhibitions
The best part of the Kawakita Film Memorial Museum is that there is a ``Video Materials Room'' right next to the ``Exhibition Room'' where these films are displayed. If you purchase a movie ticket at the counter in addition to your admission ticket, you can watch the movie being shown in the resource room. As you go up the slope, where posters of numerous masterpieces are lined up above your head, you will find a door leading to the ``Video Materials Room.'' This room is the ``theater'' of this memorial museum. The interior of the theater has a warm wooden structure, with 51 chairs lined up in front of the screen. We use a projector made by Germany's Kinoton, and we are now also offering digital screenings. What is noteworthy is the lineup of films being screened. In addition to works related to the special exhibition, works from a wide variety of genres and eras are screened, including Academy Award-winning works, works that were popular mainly in mini theaters, and works by popular directors.
At the special exhibition, there was a corner where the kimonos used in director Ichikawa's ``Sayuki'' were displayed. How will this bright kimono appear in the story? You can let your imagination run wild before watching the movie, or you can take your time to enjoy the real thing after watching the movie. Both have their own charms. In addition, talk events and workshops are held from time to time in the video materials room where you can learn more about the contents of special exhibitions. The museum's theater will enhance our movie experience and allow us to encounter even more memorable movies.
There are other fun tricks and learning opportunities scattered throughout the facility. In the ``Video Toy Experience'' corner, you can actually play with toys related to images. Also, when I visited, there was a corner in the ``Information and Reference Room'' titled ``Let's experience the low positions of Ozu's films.'' There are signboards for tonkatsu and ramen shops, and by taking pictures of these signs from designated locations, you can experience director Ozu's unique photography method. The ``Information Library'' is also lined with books and magazines related to movies, making it a space where you can browse at your leisure.
Just watch movies, learn about movies, and play with movies. It's a movie experience that uses your whole body. After leaving the memorial museum, we strolled along the promenade, which is open to the public for free. The fresh air outside for the first time in a few hours, the smell of greenery, and the nature of Kamakura are soothing and relaxing. Enjoy a one-of-a-kind movie experience while immersing yourself in the history of Japanese film in this place where the Kawakita couple, who worked hard to develop Japanese film culture, lived and where film people from all over the world came to meet them. want.
Kamakura City Kawakita Film Memorial Museum
[Access] 2-2-12 Yukinoshita, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture
[Official homepage] Click here
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