Cinema Stroll, Part 8: "The Light of Cinema Shines in Odawara: Odawara Cinema"
I like going to the movies.
In today's world, with its abundance of streaming services, it's easy to enjoy movies at home. However, there's something irreplaceable about the experience of watching a movie in a theater. The big screen and sound system. That moment when you're completely detached from everyday life and drawn into the world of the film. I love those few hours of escapism, where you can cry or laugh to your heart's content and feel refreshed, ready to face tomorrow.
This is the first installment of the "Cinema Stroll" series, an introduction I wrote for the series. I've pulled it out again after a long time because reading the message displayed at the entrance of the movie theater I visited this time reinforced this feeling.
"In every era, encountering a film brings a special experience to one's life. Watching a film in a movie theater enriches the soul like art. Let's bring back the emotional experiences of encountering films that make you cry, laugh, and feel excited, and the moving moments you can get through the screen, back to the streets."
To realize the sentiment behind this message, I visited "Odawara Cinema," which has once again lit up the lights of movies around Odawara Station.
From JR Odawara Station, walk along Nishiki Street, a bustling street lined with restaurants, for about five minutes. Turning into an alley on your left, you'll be drawn in by a warm, scattered orange light. Continue walking towards the light, and you'll come across the sign for "Odawara Cinema." Despite its somewhat nostalgic, retro appearance, it's actually a movie theater that just opened in 2024.
Odawara Cinema is a mini-theater that opened in March 2024 with the desire to revive movie theaters in this area. The founding members are the late Takeo Minomiya, his son Daisuke Minomiya, and Tatsutaka Furukawa. Takeo, the initiator and president at the time of its founding, grew up greatly influenced by movies and movie theaters from a young age. Therefore, when all the movie theaters around Odawara Station closed about 20 years ago, he felt that he "did not want to let this cultural flame go out."
Afterward, Takeo raised funds by soliciting investments from volunteers in Odawara City and used his own money to renovate a residential building within walking distance of Odawara Station into the current "Minosan Building." However, he passed away suddenly a few months before the planned opening. Furukawa took over as president, and Odawara Cinema Hall opened in March 2024.
At the time, Takeo's son, Daisuke, was working as the deputy manager and head sommelier at the Fujiya Hotel in Miyanoshita, Hakone. Daisuke, moved by the many people's feelings for Takeo, decided to resign from the hotel where he had worked for 30 years and take over the representative position of Odawara Cinema Co., Ltd. He then took part in the operation of Odawara Cinema as the manager and representative director and vice president. In this way, the light that Takeo had lit was passed on to many people, and a movie theater opened in this area for the first time in about 20 years.
Upon entering the theater, you're greeted by the lineup of films showing that day. Four films from different genres are displayed, including popular Japanese films and documentaries screened at film festivals. When asked about the film selection process, they explained that they base their screenings on four main pillars: new releases (or recent releases), documentaries, music and arts films, and independent films (including works by young directors). These four genres are decided at a monthly content meeting held by the three executive members and staff.
The theater has one room with 43 seats. To preserve the unique atmosphere of a movie theater, great attention has been paid to the sound system. Features include up to 7.1ch Dolby Surround sound, a 160-inch screen, and unusually large, spacious seats for a theater of this size. Child seats and blankets are also provided, allowing audiences to immerse themselves in the film without stress.
Odawara Cinema frequently holds after-talks with directors, and regularly screens films with ties to the region, such as works by Yoshiyuki Tomino, director of the Mobile Suit Gundam series and an Odawara local ambassador, and films featuring Ninomiya Kinjiro, a symbol of Odawara. The concession stand sells pamphlets and drinks, as well as sweets made at "Art de Vivre," a welfare facility in Odawara City, demonstrating the cinema's commitment to its connection with the local community.
On the second floor of the building is "LEGALO," an Italian restaurant where President Furukawa's son works as the chef, offering creative Italian cuisine using plenty of fresh ingredients from Odawara. Takeo's goal was to create a "third place" that combined a movie theater and a restaurant. He wanted to create a "third space" where people could get away from their daily lives for a while and spend some comfortable time. That vision has been carried on, and after enjoying a movie, you can savor delicious Italian food while soaking up the afterglow of the film or chatting about your impressions.
Manager Daisuke shared this message for those who will be visiting Odawara Cinema: "Our theater is located a little off the beaten path. We hope you will enjoy the unique atmosphere and sense of connection that only a small movie theater can offer, something you won't find in a multiplex."
These days, by subscribing to streaming platforms, you can choose from a vast number of movies, including those you've been curious about or those that suit your mood. However, watching a film chosen by someone else, in an environment specifically designed for movie viewing, can offer a cinematic experience unlike anything you could have imagined. In the city of Odawara, the screen lights of the Odawara Cinema continue to shine gently today, serving as a bridge connecting movies and people.
Odawara Cinema
Access: Odawara Cinema, 1F Minosan Daiichi Building, 2-7-30 Sakae-cho, Odawara City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Homepage: Click here
