[Mini Theater Revisited] No. 29 Iwanami Hall, the origin of the “mini theater” that started up in Jimbocho

Iwanami Hall in Jimbocho is the origin of all mini theaters. It started as a multipurpose hall in 1968, and was reborn in 1974 as a permanent hall that screened Satyajit Ray's works.

The turning point came in the 1970s when director Luchino Visconti's `` Portrait of a Family '' (1974) became a huge hit. Since then, works such as Theo Angelopoulos' `` Notes of a Traveling Entertainer '' (1975) and Ermanno Olmi's `` The Clog Tree '' (1978) have also attracted attention.

It is said that the success of these European films in the late 1970s was the spark for the birth of commercial mini-theaters in urban areas from the 1980s onwards. Ta).

Takehide Harada, who has been in charge of planning and advertising for many years, looks back on the history of Iwanami Hall.

Mr. Harada, an award-winning picture book writer, saw `` Pirosmani '' (1969) at this theater and fell in love with the Georgian painter Pirosmani, and even published several books about him. Harada's paintings are also used in the book `` Mountain Postman '' (1999).

(The poster for ``Family Portrait'' in the photo above was shown when the digitally restored version was revived at our hall in 2017.)

*The following articles were serialized on the website operated by Geijutsu Shimbun between 2013 and 2014. This time, we have received permission from Sawako Omori and Geijutsu Shinbunsha Co., Ltd. to reprint this work.

Index

• Opened as a multipurpose hall
• movie friends
• European movies that changed our destiny
• Asian movies and women's movies
• Works with strong social aspects
• The theme of aging

Opened as a multipurpose hall

Among the many mini-theaters in Tokyo, Iwanami Hall in Jimbocho is cited by many film professionals as a ``special theater.'' It opened in 1968 as a multipurpose hall that not only hosts movies, but also lectures, concerts, and plays.

It became a permanent movie theater in 1974, and for the past 40 years, it has remained committed to ``showing good movies'' without being influenced by commercialism. There are quite a number of mini theaters that have closed 20 to 30 years after opening, but Iwanami Hall is the oldest mini theater in this situation.

“If Iwanami Hall had been in Shibuya, it might not have lasted this long.”

Takehide Harada, who has been in charge of planning and promoting the theater for about 40 years, looks back on the history of the hall. It is true that in Shibuya, a city where trends change rapidly, it is difficult to maintain the same stance over a long period of time.

The fact that Iwanami Hall has been able to continue to provide high-quality films for an adult audience with a high awareness of issues is probably due in large part to its location in Jimbocho. The hall is located in Jimbocho 2-chome, Chiyoda-ku, and the building continues from the station, so you can go there without getting wet even on rainy days.

After the movie is over, you can enjoy browsing around the bookstore. Large bookstores such as Sanseido and Shosen Grande are nearby, and there are many second-hand bookstores with a wide variety of books in the area. There are also used bookstores that carry back issues of old magazines, and when you visit one of these stores, you feel as if you have stepped back in time.

In addition to bookstores, the area is also home to various publishing companies such as major Shogakukan, Shueisha, and Iwanami Shoten. In today's digital world, there is probably no other city where the existence of letters and pictures printed on paper is still as proud as Jimbocho.

There are still some long-established coffee shops and restaurants left, and you can find a space where you can feel comfortable and enjoy spending time quietly.

``However, the cycle of various things is really fast these days. Even in Jimbocho, there are many long-established stores that disappear due to the death of the owner. Even so, it may still be better than other places. yeah"

Mr. Harada goes to work every morning from Ochanomizu Station to Jimbocho, browsing through used bookstores. I feel that the price of books is cheaper now than before.

"There are some great bargains even for 100 yen."

As a buyer, this is a good thing, but if you think about it, it can be said that the value of books has decreased, which should have mixed feelings for residents of the city of print. Harada first visited Iwanami Hall in 1974. I stepped into the building to see Satyajit Ray's `` Song of the Great Tree '' (1958).

``I thought it was a very beautiful hole because it had just been built.At the time, I was wandering all over Japan, and I came here looking like I had come out of the mountains.I was a true hippie. , someone told me that I would like to help out with the work at this hall.The name Iwanami also had an image of the bookstore, and it had a strong impression of academicism, so I thought it would be okay if I was someone who is more into subculture. Even though I was thinking about it, I entered with a lighthearted feeling.”

I started working part-time in December 1974 and officially became an employee the following year. Mr. Harada, who was in his early 20s, was then bossed by general manager Etsuko Takano, who became the "face" of Iwanami Hall.

Iwanami Hall's president, Yujiro Iwanami, is General Manager Takano's brother-in-law, and he entrusted her, who had studied film production in France and returned to Japan, with the planning for the hall that had just been completed. President Iwanami's policy was to ``do whatever it takes as long as it's good,'' and General Manager Takano was free to decide on plans (Hall is managed separately from Iwanami Shoten).

When it first opened in 1968, it was used as a multipurpose hall, and was used to host the Iwanami Citizens' Lectures sponsored by Iwanami Shoten, piano and chorus recitals, and theatrical performances.

Regarding films, screenings of foreign short films and research screenings of European film history such as Germany and Italy were also held, including works by Andrzej Wajda, Luchino Visconti, Inglemar Bergman, etc., who were later closely connected to Iwanami Hall. has already been screened (they were conducting so-called cinema club-like activities).

movie friends