Sumoto Orion

Sumoto Orion (洲本オリオン) is a movie theater located in Sumoto, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. It is the only cinema on Awaji Island and has a history dating back to before World War II, when it operated as a playhouse. In 1951, it was converted into a movie theater and named Orion through a public naming contest. The theater is operated by Yugen Kaisha Orion, a limited company. Over the decades, it has been a cultural hub for the local community, attracting famous figures such as lyricist Yū Aku and actor Takashi Sasano. In 2011, it introduced a 3D digital cinema system, modernizing its projection. However, due to competition from multiplexes and the aging of its representatives, the theater ceased regular movie screenings in October 2013. The building was not demolished but converted into a rental hall for occasional music and theater events. In January 2021, after about seven years, it resumed long-term regular screenings with the film 'Nanno-chan no Dainiji Sekai Taisen'. The theater continues to operate as a venue for various events and occasional film screenings, maintaining its status as a cherished local landmark.

The origins of Sumoto Orion are unclear, but before World War II, a playhouse for puppet theater (ningyo joruri) existed in Sumoto City. It went through names such as Showa-kan and Fukusuke-za, and in 1951, six years after the war, it was renamed Orion through a public contest and converted into a movie theater. By 1957, Sumoto City had only three movie theaters: Orion, Benten-za (which started as a playhouse before the war and where the first Katsura Koharudanji performed), and Tamao-za (which existed since the Edo period). At its peak, Sumoto City had seven movie theaters. In 1975, the building was rebuilt, and thereafter it screened not only foreign films but also Japanese films. Notable locals such as lyricist Yū Aku and actor Takashi Sasano frequented the theater during their student days. Aku recalled seeing 'My Darling Clementine' (directed by John Ford, distributed by 20th Century Fox, produced in 1946, released in Japan on August 30, 1947). Films featuring Sasano, such as 'Love and Honor' (directed by Yoji Yamada, distributed by Shochiku, 2006) and 'Asahiyama Zoo Story: Penguins in the Sky' (directed by Masahiko Makino, distributed by Kadokawa Pictures, 2009), were also screened at Orion. On July 1, 2011, the theater introduced a 3D digital cinema system (Dolby 3D) and digitized its projection. That year, the NHK General TV variety show 'Tsurube no Kazoku ni Kanpai' featured the theater, with Shofukutei Tsurube and Koji Yamamoto visiting, and it was broadcast on July 25. From 2012, an event called 'Shiroshita Sumoto Retro na Machiaruki' was held around the theater every year in late April and early October. Junko Noguchi, the theater's representative, also became the representative of the 'Shiroshita Sumoto Saisei Iinkai'. However, the theater gradually lost customers to multiplexes in the same prefecture and in Kitajima-cho, Tokushima Prefecture, and the aging of its representatives also contributed. On October 4, 2013, it ended its operations as a movie theater. The last roadshow was 'The End of Summer' (directed by Kazuyoshi Kumakiri, distributed by Clockworks, released on August 31, 2013), and the theater itself was used as a filming location, with Kumakiri and staff staying overnight in the theater's warehouse. The building was not demolished but converted into a rental hall, hosting music and theater events several times a year. From January 2021, after about seven years, it resumed long-term regular screenings, starting January 9 with 'Nanno-chan no Dainiji Sekai Taisen', filmed entirely on Awaji Island.

• Converted from a playhouse to a movie theater and named Orion through a public contest.

• Building was rebuilt; began screening both foreign and Japanese films.

• Introduced 3D digital cinema system (Dolby 3D).

• Started annual 'Shiroshita Sumoto Retro na Machiaruki' event.

• Ceased operations as a movie theater; converted to a rental hall.

• Resumed long-term regular screenings after about 7 years.

The only cinema on Awaji Island, serving as a cultural and community hub with a retro atmosphere.

• Movie screenings

  Regular screenings of films, including 3D digital cinema.

• Event hall rental

  The building is available for music, theater, and other events.

1. 1【公式】 洲本オリオン | 淡路島唯一の映画館sumoto-orion.com
2. 2Sumoto Orion - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3洲本オリオン - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org