Waseda Shochiku

Waseda Shochiku (早稲田松竹) is a movie theater located in Takadanobaba, Shinjuku, Tokyo, facing Waseda-dori. Its formal name is Waseda Shochiku Eiga Gekijo (早稲田松竹映画劇場). It opened on December 21, 1951 as a first-run theater in the Shochiku chain. From 1975 it became a repertory cinema (meigaza) specializing in double bills of older films, with a flat admission fee of 300 yen, and it became popular especially among students of nearby Waseda University. The theater is operated by Shochiku Eiga Gekijo Co., Ltd. (松竹映画劇場株式会社), which today has no capital relationship with the current Shochiku company or the Shochiku Group. It is the landlord of the Seibu Shibuya A-kan and Parking-kan buildings (both former sites of the Shibuya Shochiku Eiga Gekijo), and real-estate leasing in Shibuya is a major pillar of its business. Waseda Shochiku is known for its two-feature programs, which generally change weekly. One ticket admits the holder to both films, and patrons may enter from either film. Tickets are sold only on the day of admission at the counter (no web reservations). Since June 2020, all seats have been reserved. The theater has 153 seats, a screen of 620 cm × 320 cm, two 35mm film projectors and one DLP projector, and Dolby Digital-capable sound. It also hosts talk shows, all-night screenings, and special programs such as the annual Waseda Shochiku Classics series. In 2024 admission was revised to 1,500 yen general, 1,200 yen students, 1,100 yen seniors and elementary students, with a last-film discount of 1,000 yen and a monthly Cinema Service Day on the 1st. The cinema has been featured on television programs such as TV Tokyo's "Shutsubotsu! Ad-machi Tengoku" and has appeared in films and dramas. It remains a beloved fixture of Tokyo's repertory cinema scene.

Waseda Shochiku opened on December 21, 1951 as a first-run theater in the Shochiku chain. In its early years it occasionally screened films from other studios; for example, in 1953 it premiered Shintoho productions such as "Meigetsu Akagiyama" and "Santa Ganbare!". By 1957, the Takadanobaba area had several cinemas, including Waseda Zensenza, Takadanobaba Pearlza, and Isis Gekijo, alongside Waseda Shochiku. In 1975 the theater converted to a repertory cinema (meigaza) focusing on double bills of older films, with a flat admission of 300 yen. It became a favorite among Waseda University students. From November 10 to December 28, 1993, it underwent major renovation, and ticket sales shifted from hand-selling to a ticket machine. It reopened on January 4, 1994, with admission set at 1,300 yen general, 1,100 yen students, and 800 yen seniors (60+). In March 1999, a last-film discount of 800 yen was introduced, and the senior rate was revised to 900 yen. The theater closed on April 1, 2002, but a "Waseda Shochiku Revival Project" led mainly by Waseda University students campaigned for its return. It pre-opened on December 21, 2002, and fully reopened on January 25, 2003. Its programming often pairs new releases with older related prints, and it frequently screens retrospectives of directors and actors regardless of current trends. From May 20 to 31, 2006, the theater closed for renovations to seating and lobby; the seat count was reduced from 196 to 153, and cup holders were added. In 2006 and 2007, it held "Doremiru? Cinema," a program in which visitors voted on the films to be screened. Since 2014, it has irregularly held all-night screenings titled "Midnight in Waseda Shochiku." Since 2017, every March it has screened student films made in Waseda University's "Film Production Workshop" course (taught by directors such as Hirokazu Kore-eda, Makoto Shinozaki, and others) alongside related commercial films. On June 8, 2019, the entire premises became non-smoking. Original goods have been released, including umbrellas in 2019, a 70th-anniversary calendar in 2021, and 70th-anniversary tote bags and T-shirts in 2022, followed by a second tote bag in 2023. On June 15, 2024, admission prices were revised to 1,500 yen general, 1,200 yen students, 1,100 yen for seniors, elementary students, and disabled patrons, 1,000 yen for the last-film discount, 1,000 yen on the monthly Cinema Fan Service Day (1st of each month), and 1,200 yen for morning/late shows. The Couple 50 discount and High School Friendship Price were discontinued. The theater has hosted numerous talk shows and stage greetings over the years, with guests including directors such as Yoji Yamada, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Shinya Tsukamoto, Koji Wakamatsu, and many others. It has also been featured on television programs like TV Tokyo's "Shutsubotsu! Ad-machi Tengoku" (ranking 6th in the Nishi-Waseda edition in 2008 and 2nd in the Takadanobaba edition in 2016) and appeared in the drama "Tensai Bakabon" as "Bakada Shochiku." The cinema remains a beloved institution in Tokyo's repertory film scene.

• 2024

  Admission prices revised on June 15.

• 2020

  Reopened June 1 after COVID-19 closure; all seats reserved since then.

• 2019

  Entire premises became non-smoking on June 8.

• 2017

  Began annual March screenings of student films from Waseda University's film production course.

• 2014

  Began irregular all-night screenings titled "Midnight in Waseda Shochiku."

• 2006

  Closed May 20–31 for seating and lobby renovation; seats reduced from 196 to 153.

• 2003

  Fully reopened on January 25.

• 2002

  Closed on April 1; pre-opened on December 21 after a revival campaign.

• 1999

  Last-film discount of 800 yen introduced in March; senior rate revised to 900 yen.

• 1994

  Reopened on January 4 with admission at 1,300 yen general, 1,100 yen students, 800 yen seniors.

• 1993

  Major renovation from November 10 to December 28; ticket sales moved to a ticket machine.

• 1975

  Converted to a repertory cinema (meigaza) with double bills and a flat 300-yen admission.

• 1951

  Opened on December 21 as a Shochiku first-run theater.

A long-established repertory cinema (meigaza) in Tokyo offering double bills of classics, art films, and director/actor retrospectives at affordable prices.

• Double-feature screenings

• Waseda Shochiku Classics series

• All-night screenings (Midnight in Waseda Shochiku)

• Talk shows and stage greetings

• Original merchandise

1. 1早稲田松竹 OFFICIAL WEB SITEwasedashochiku.co.jp
2. 2about - 早稲田松竹ホームページwasedashochiku.co.jp
3. 3早稲田松竹 - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org
4. 4早稻田松竹 - Wikidatawikidata.org