Cinema Walk No. 7 "Atsugi Eigakan Kiki, a cinema close to the community"

"Cinema Walk" introduces mini-theaters in Kanagawa Prefecture. In the seventh installment of the series, we will be introducing "Atsugi Eigakan Kiki." This is a locally rooted cinema located in "Amuse Atsugi," a five-minute walk from Hon-Atsugi Station on the Odakyu Odawara Line.

Amuse Atsugi, which combines shopping with public facilities for Atsugi City, is a place of relaxation for the citizens of Atsugi. Atsugi Movie Hall Kiki is located on the 9th floor, the top floor of Amuse Atsugi. As you enter the elevator, you will see the week's screening schedule posted on the wall. There are three screens, but on this day there were a staggering 15 films being shown! Even those who hadn't planned on seeing a movie will be drawn in by the lineup of popular and nostalgic films. When you get off the elevator on the 9th floor, you will find a wide range of people spending their time in their own way, looking at the posters or waiting for the screening time on the sofas in front of the ticket counter.

Manager Kaneki Tsubasa says that they don't have a set genre for the films they screen. He says that because they screen films of any genre, they attract customers of all ages, from small children to the elderly. "Art films are often seen by seniors, but our cinema also screens animated films aimed at children, so I think that this attracts people of all ages." The cinema also rents out child seats for children.

Atsugi Eigakan Kiki screens around 380 films a year, which is quite a lot even among mini-theaters. Of those, a whopping 80% are selected from requests from visitors. In front of the ticket counter there is a corner where visitors can submit requests, and on the bulletin board there are requests for all kinds of films, from nostalgic classics to popular new releases.

This location was originally home to a movie theater called Eiga.com Cinema, but it went bankrupt due to poor management. After that, Atsugi City began searching for a successor, saying, "We want a movie theater in the area," and in 2018, Visual Equipment Systems Co., Ltd. took over the theater. Visual Equipment Systems Co., Ltd. operates primarily in the video, audio, and lighting equipment business, and Kaneko originally worked in the company's technical department, handling video equipment wholesale and repairs. However, since there were no initial members to run the theater, Kaneko spent several years supporting the theater's operations, going back and forth between the operating company and the theater. Around 2021, he transitioned completely to theater work, and in 2022, he was appointed manager.
As the operating company deals in video equipment, Atsugi Cinema Kiki is equipped with first-class equipment. The speakers are particularly noteworthy. One of the highlights of the cinema is the "Kyo-on" screening, which uses some of the largest 21-inch speakers in Japan. "The bass is emphasized. The volume is not too loud. It doesn't hurt your ears, but the bass is loud enough that you can feel the vibrations in your body." When selecting films for the "Kyo-on" screenings, which are based on this concept, the manager first listens to the sound of the film himself. Then, the films that are deemed to have "good sound" are selected for screening.

This cinema caters to the needs of local residents and is designed to ensure everyone has a great time. As a cinema rooted in the community, it also partners with Atsugi City to hold screenings and lectures. Of course, its homey atmosphere also makes it a comfortable cinema that warmly welcomes visitors from outside Atsugi City.

Kaneko shared his thoughts about the cinema: "Because we screen a wide variety of films, there are probably many that you may not know about. However, among those films, there are also many interesting films that you may not know about, so I hope that you will discover these films."

As a side note, just as I was finishing my interview, a screening of the digitally remastered version of "Billy Elliot," which I had been wanting to see, was about to begin, so I managed to make it to the theater just in time. I first saw this film as a student. As part of a class, I watched it projected onto a whiteboard through a small speaker. Now, more than 10 years later, watching the same film in a theater, I felt nostalgic for the lines and scenes, but it was a completely different moviegoing experience. Music plays an important role in this film, and the sound coming from the speakers next to the screen was both pleasant and powerful, making me feel as if my entire body was enveloped in the sound. It may sound cliché, but I felt as if I was a part of the film. My heart warmed as I watched Billy jumping around happily in front of me.

Nowadays, it's easy to watch movies online, but there are some experiences that can only be had in a movie theater. In this seventh installment, I was able to return to the origins of this series. It was thanks to the special encounter I had at the movie theater that I was able to enjoy Billy's dance from a new perspective for the first time in over a decade.

Atsugi Movie Theater Kiki
Address: 9F Amusement Atsugi, 2-12-15 Nakamachi, Atsugi City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Official page: here