Picture this: Asakusa, a district once pulsating with cinematic energy. Today we stand before Asakusa Cinema. It is a place where echoes of a bygone era resonate.
In the 20th century, Asakusa was “Eiga-gai”. That means “Cinema-City”. It earned this name for hosting Japan’s highest concentration of cinemas. Asakusa Cinema was at the heart of this golden age.
Let’s rewind to the late 1890s. That’s when cinema first flickered to life in Japan. A Kinetoscope arrived in Kobe in 1896. Soon after, Yokohama saw similar imports. By spring 1897, Cinématographe and Vitascope projectors were also introduced. The initial screenings involved much trial and error.
The Japanese film scene quickly split into two hubs. One was in Tokyo. The other was in Osaka. This division would shape the film industry’s structure. Students returning from the West were key figures. They brought back film reels and equipment.
One pioneer was Komada Kōyō from Osaka. For about ten years, he screened films across Japan. These screenings became major events even in rural villages. Yokota Einosuke from Kyoto was his greatest competitor. Komada was a showman. Yokota was methodical. Both significantly boosted public interest in cinema.
The lack of permanent theaters made early film screenings sporadic. This made it hard to generate consistent profits. But an unexpected event changed everything. That event was war. The Boxer Rebellion in China from 1899-1901 increased foreign film imports from 1902.
Films became longer. This allowed for extended screenings. By 1903, Japan had enough films to hold month-long screenings. A three-month season was held in Osaka.
October 1903 marked a milestone. Japan’s first permanent movie theater opened near Asakusa Park. Initially, films mostly attracted children. Adults soon lost interest. Securing a long-term adult audience was vital. The Russo-Japanese War from 1904–1905 changed everything again.
Western film crews captured footage of the war. Fujiwara Kōzaburō, a Japanese cameraman, also filmed the war. He brought the footage back to Japan. Public screenings completely transformed public interest in film.
Yokota Einosuke expanded his operations. He recruited staff. He also established 11 screening routes across Japan. This generated enormous profits. It marked the true beginning of Japan’s film industry as a business.
Asakusa Cinema stands as a reminder of Asakusa’s vibrant past. A past when it was the heart of Japanese cinema. Today, only a few cinemas remain. Asakusa’s popularity as an entertainment district has declined. Yet the legacy of “Cinema-City” lives on.