Terry Ito Column Vol.24 A luxurious movie theater with seats costing 6,500 yen has arrived

I didn't know this. This movie theater has premium seats that cost 6,500 yen per seat. It is located on the 9th and 10th floors of the Tokyu Kabukicho Tower, a high-rise complex in Shinjuku, Tokyo, which opened in April 2023.109 Cinema Premium Shinjuku" has introduced premium seats for all seats. Shinjuku is a highly competitive movie district with many movie theaters, and while most of the theaters cost around 2,000 yen, the company has decided to go for a more luxurious approach and compete with prices more than double those of its competitors.

The lounge is open one hour before the start of the film, and offers free refills of popcorn and soft drinks. Alcohol and food are available at the attached bar for an additional fee. The background music played in the lounge was written by Ryuichi Sakamoto exclusively for 1 Cinemas Premium Shinjuku, creating a luxurious atmosphere. The seats are leather-covered for privacy, with no need to worry about the person sitting next to you, and are equipped with electric reclining functions and side tables with power receiving devices. The seats are 2.3 times larger than regular seats, allowing you to enjoy the movie in comfort.

Isn't this amazing? It's a huge expense for movie buffs who go to the cinema two or three times a month, but for someone like me who only goes once or twice a year, it's a blessing! There have been many times when the person sitting next to me was moving around and I couldn't concentrate on the story. That's why I'd avoided going to cinemas, but now I'm relieved. However, I might have a new problem: if the seat is too comfortable, I might fall asleep. Of course, the film itself has to be interesting to get going. I finally saw the movie "Godzilla -1.0" (Godzilla Minus One), which was released on Prime Video the other day, and it was absolutely amazing. It's no wonder it won the "Best Visual Effects" award at the 96th Academy Awards. I really wanted to see Godzilla in a premium seat. I'm sure the sound effects are amazing, too.

I didn't know this, but apparently 109 Cinemas first launched its luxury line at 109 Cinemas Futakotamagawa in Setagaya, Tokyo, introducing 3,000 yen and 6,800 yen seats in 2015. The acclaimed seats led to the long-awaited expansion to Shinjuku. The luxury line has been a huge success so far. I have a feeling this trend will spread to kabuki, musicals, rakugo, and sumo wrestling. The most likely example is the Tsukiji New Dome, rumored to be the home stadium of the Yomiuri Giants, planned for construction after the Tsukiji Market in Tokyo. The Giants will celebrate their 100th anniversary in 2034. They'll want to celebrate with a new stadium, no matter what. I can imagine them building the world's most luxurious premium seating. I'd love to see the Fantasy Dome, which would make Major League Baseball fans want to visit Japan! Even if they had to shell out 1 million yen, reservations would be swamped. The Yomiuri Giants are eagerly awaiting it. I'm already excited.

Terry Ito (director)

Born in Tsukiji, Tokyo in 1949. After attending Waseda Jitsugyo Junior and Senior High School, he graduated from Nihon University's School of Economics.
In March 2023, he completed the Master's program at the Graduate School of Media and Governance at Keio University.
He joined the television production company IVS Television, where he worked on variety shows such as "Tensai Takeshi's Genki ga Deru TV" and "Neruton Benikujidan."
He then went independent and worked on planning and directing a number of television programs, including TV Tokyo's "Asakusabashi Young Clothing Store."
His book "Comedy North Korea" became a bestseller, and he subsequently made numerous media appearances under the name Terry Ito.
In addition to his work as a director, he is also active in a variety of fields as a producer, entertainer, and commentator.
YouTube channelTerry Ito's Comedy Backdrop'
Currently writing a column in LALALA USA
https://lalalausa.com/archives/category/column/terry