Mini-Theater
Cinema de Aeru
  • Cinema de Aeru
  • Cinema de Aeru
  • Cinema de Aeru
  • Cinema de Aeru
  • Cinema de Aeru
  • Cinema de Aeru
  • Cinema de Aeru
  • Cinema de Aeru
  • Cinema de Aeru
  • Cinema de Aeru

ABOUT THE THEATER ABOUT THE THEATER

The building boasts a history of approximately 200 years. Originally a sake brewery, this community theater was skillfully renovated by hand. It now serves not only as a unique screening venue curated by project members from diverse corners of the country but also as a base camp for engaging with the local community through cultural events and fostering meaningful connections.
This remarkable structure is recognized as a national tangible cultural property, surviving miraculously amidst the devastation caused by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake in a coastal town of the Tohoku region.
While visiting, you can relish the unexplored charms of the Iwate coast, its picturesque scenery, rich traditions, captivating culture, and delightful cuisine. These treasures are not yet widely known to the world, making your experience even more special and unique.

Staff

Cinema de Aeru is operated by a group of project members gathered from various parts of the country. Apart from the members featured in the video, there are around 15 active members. The key figures in this venture include ARISAKA Tamio (Project Manager), KUSHIGETA Kazunori, and FUJITA Satoshi.
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History

  1. 2011
    The Great East Japan Earthquake occurred. Activities for regional reconstruction through film began.
  2. 2012
    The members held the "Miyako Hokkori Film Festival", a film festival based on reconstruction and people.
  3. 2016
    The last permanent movie theater in the coastal area of Iwate Prefecture, "Miyako CINEMARINE" closed.
    Started the "Cinema de Aeru Project".
    Started using the venue for the "Miyako Hokkori Film Festival".
  4. 2017
    Regular screening started.
  5. 2019
    Building registered as a national tangible cultural property (structure).

Information

ADDRESS
"Azumaya's Storehouse", 2-2 Motomachi, Miyako-shi, Iwate-ken, 027-0089 Japan
Web
https://cinemadeaeru.wixsite.com/cinema-de-aeru
SNS
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • twiiter

RECOMMENDED FILM RECOMMENDED FILM

Follow the Light
Follow the Light
2021 / Drama, Sci-Fi / 104min G
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING

"Light" shines upon the faces of the boys and girls whose hearts sway in their desolate hometown.

Upon his parents' divorce, Akira, a second-year junior high school student, moved to Akita, his father's hometown. Struggling to fit in at his new school, he witnesses a "green light" floating in the sky one day. Curiously following it, he finds his classmate, Maki, who has been absent from school, lying in a mysterious crop circle that appeared in a rice field.
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Comments from the Theater

Akita, a beautiful countryside in Tohoku, Japan, glimmers with golden hues during the autumn harvest season. However, the region faces the challenge of a declining population, leading people to leave areas where sustainable living is no longer possible. Consequently, the once vibrant shopping district is now deserted, and the community's central hub, the school, has been forced to close. The struggle of adults unable to find a solution casts a dark shadow on the sensitive hearts of children, creating a chain of unease that takes the story in unexpected directions.

In rural areas of the Tohoku region, despite their traditional, high-quality agriculture, rich history, and culture, their strength wanes in modern society. The breakdown of long-standing relationships among people who have cared for and supported each other deepens the feeling of hopelessness that seems to engulf everyone.

The film revolves around a School Closing Festival, with the tagline "Don't hope for the light. Be the light." It skillfully portrays the stark contrast between beauty and loneliness, even in areas that have reached the "limit" of their future. This expression is a testament to director NARITA Yoichi's affection for his hometown of Akita. The performances of young boys and girls, the breathtaking rural landscapes, the mysterious development, and the finale create an engaging experience. Please enjoy it.
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ABOUT THE AREA ABOUT THE AREA

Iwate

With a rich cultural calendar, vibrant folklore, rugged landscapes and pride in its Tohoku roots, Iwate looms large

Part of the Tohoku region, Iwate overlooks the Pacific Ocean via the Sanriku coastline and is buttressed by the Ou Mountains, home to some of Japan's best ski resorts and hot springs. Roughly divided into four distinct regions, Iwate is marked by common themes of nature worship, traditional folklore, and the prefecture's samurai history. Gourmands are drawn to some of Japan's best wagyu beef, rice and sake. The World Heritage sites in Hiraizumi act as a great starting point for exploration into Iwate’s rich heritage and natural beauty.
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Mini-Theater Lineup

Cinema de Aeru