Mini theater

In 1974, a film distribution project known as Equipe de Cinema was instituted at Iwanami Hall, a venue constructed by Iwanami Shoten, in Tokyo, Japan.[1] Iwanami Hall, which was originally used as a multipurpose hall, became one of the first mini theaters, able to seat 220 people.[2] The project was headed by Etsuko Tanakno, general manager of Iwanami Hall, and film producer Kashiko Kawakita, who sought to screen films deemed inappropriate for wide distribution.[1]

Mini theaters were popularized throughout Japan in the 1980s.[1] During that decade, mini theaters often screened European independent and arthouse films, such as films produced during the French New Wave, as well as films originating from Hungary, Poland and Bulgaria.[1] Mini theaters also screened independent films produced in Japan by relatively unknown Japanese filmmakers.[1] The popularity of mini theaters continued into the 1990s,[3] and some mini-theater operators, such as Theatre Shinjuku and Eurospace, began investing in film production.[4]

Several mini theaters in the Tokyo metropolitan area were closed during the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Mini theater Cine Vivant ceased operations in 1999, and Cine Saison and Ginza Theatre Cinema closed in 2011 and 2013, respectively.[1] On April 7, 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the Japanese government to declare a state of emergency for Tokyo and six other prefectures,[5] resulting in the closure of movie theaters nationwide.[6] Consequently, mini theaters have suffered significant drops in revenue.[7]

Due to the negative financial impact of the pandemic on mini theaters, Japanese filmmakers have organized movements to help support them.[6][8] Directors Kōji Fukada and Ryūsuke Hamaguchi launched a crowdfunding campaign to assist mini theaters; the campaign amassed over 100 million yen in donations in three days.[8][9][10]