Onariza

Onariza (御成座, also written オナリ座) is a movie theater located in Onarimachi 1-11-22, Odate, Akita Prefecture, Japan. It is a single-screen cinema that has operated since 1952 and is often described as the last remaining movie theater in the Tohoku region. The theater was founded as a specialized foreign-film roadshow house, with its opening feature being the Gary Cooper film "Distant Drums" (directed by Henry Hathaway). In its early years, Odate had only three cinemas, and Onariza was one of them. A fire destroyed the theater in 1955, but it was rebuilt the same year. Over the decades it screened a mix of foreign films, Japanese films, and adult films. It famously drew packed audiences for "Titanic." However, by 2005, financial difficulties forced it to close. The building remained unused for several years, serving as the main venue for the art event "Zerodate" in 2010, but was otherwise left standing. In 2014, Yoshinori Kirishita and his wife Katsura Kirishita, a director of the Chiba-based electrical construction company Nihon Complete, leased the theater and reopened it on July 18, 2014, marking the first time in nine years that it operated as a cinema. Since then, it has screened films such as "Sunflower," "Poppoya," and "Yellow Handkerchief of Happiness." In 2015, actress Kou Shibasaki held a concert at the theater to promote her cover album "Kou Utau," inviting 150 local residents. The local idol group "Machiawase Hachiko Girls" also performs there several times a year. From around February 2017, Onariza began showing new mini-theater-oriented releases, starting with "In This Corner of the World" and "Life Is Fruity," and expanded its schedule to include weekday screenings. In 2019, as the theater approached its fifth anniversary under the new management, the land and building were at risk of being demolished unless purchased by October. The operators launched a crowdfunding campaign in June, which succeeded, allowing them to buy the property and secure the theater's future. Onariza continues to promote film culture in Akita through initiatives such as a snow screen theater at a roadside station and a free shuttle bus service funded by crowdfunding. The theater has about 200 seats and still uses film projectors, with new releases shown on Blu-ray (no DCP). The sound system is Dolby SRD-6ch digital. The entrance features hand-painted movie signboards, and the lobby displays posters and projectors discovered in the theater's storeroom.

Onariza opened in 1952 as a specialized foreign-film roadshow theater in Odate, Akita Prefecture. Its opening film was "Distant Drums" (暁の討伐隊), starring Gary Cooper and directed by Henry Hathaway. At that time, Odate had only three cinemas: Onariza, Odate Gekijo, and Odate Gin'ei Gekijo. In 1955, a fire destroyed the theater, but it was rebuilt the same year. The theater later upgraded its sound system with Dolby SRD-6ch and Altec A-7 and A-5 speakers, creating an impressive acoustic space. It screened a variety of films, including "Titanic," which drew record crowds, as well as adult films. However, by 2005, financial difficulties led to its closure. After closing, the building was used as the main venue for the art event "Zerodate" in 2010, but was otherwise left vacant and not demolished. In 2014, Yoshinori and Katsura Kirishita, a couple from Chiba Prefecture—Yoshinori being a director of the electrical construction company Nihon Complete—leased the theater and reopened it on July 18, 2014, ending a nine-year hiatus. The theater then screened films such as "Sunflower," "Poppoya," and "Yellow Handkerchief of Happiness." In 2015, Kou Shibasaki held a concert there to promote her cover album "Kou Utau," with 150 residents invited. The local idol group "Machiawase Hachiko Girls" also performs there regularly. From around February 2017, Onariza began showing new mini-theater releases, starting with "In This Corner of the World" and "Life Is Fruity," and expanded to weekday screenings. In 2019, as the theater approached its fifth anniversary under new management, the land and building were threatened with demolition unless purchased by October. The operators launched a crowdfunding campaign in June, which succeeded, allowing them to buy the property and secure the theater's future. Onariza has also organized a snow screen theater at a roadside station and a free shuttle bus service using a microbus acquired through crowdfunding, demonstrating its commitment to sustaining film culture in Akita. The theater continues to operate with about 200 seats, film projectors, and a Dolby SRD-6ch sound system, and features hand-painted signboards and a lobby displaying historical posters and projectors.

• 2019

  Crowdfunding campaign succeeds; the theater purchases the land and building.

• 2017

  Onariza begins showing new mini-theater releases and expands to weekday screenings.

• 2015

  Kou Shibasaki holds a concert at the theater.

• 2014

  The Kirishita couple leases the theater and reopens it on July 18.

• 2010

  The building is used as the main venue for the art event "Zerodate".

• 2005

  Onariza closes due to financial difficulties.

• 1955

  The theater is destroyed by fire but rebuilt the same year.

• 1952

  Onariza opens as a foreign-film roadshow theater; opening film is "Distant Drums".

A historic, community-oriented single-screen cinema and the last movie theater in the Tohoku region, dedicated to preserving film culture.

• Film screenings

  Regular screenings of films, including new releases on Blu-ray and classic films on film projectors.

• Concerts and live events

  The theater hosts concerts, idol performances, and community events.

• Snow Screen Theater

  A special outdoor screening event using a screen made of snow at a roadside station.

1. 1御成座（オナリ座） ～大館市の映画館～onariza.oodate.or.jp
2. 2御成座 - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org
3. 3御成座 - Wikidatawikidata.org