Osaka Shochikuza Theater

The iconic Osaka Shichikuza Theater’s building completion in 1923 features a distinctive arch at the main entrance in the Neo-Renaissance style made of terracotta and was modeled after the La Scala in Milan, Italy, designed by Obayashi Corporation’s design engineer Tokusaburo Kimura and was Japan’s first movie theater made of steel and reinforced concrete. The Osaka Shichikuza Theater opened its doors on May 17, 1923 with the German film “Love Of The Pharaoh” along with live performances of Shochiku Music Drama Troupe’s production “A Woman Of Arles” during intermission.

The Shochikuza Theater later became an affiliate of Shochiku after World War II, but began screening more foreign and American films later on. Many American smashes were screened there over the years, including “The Towering Inferno”, “Jaws”, “E.T.”, and “The Bodyguard” among others as an affiliation with Tokyo’s Shibuya Pantheon Theater and Marunouchi Louvre. The building for the Shochikuza also houses Shochiku’s Osaka branch headquarters.

Unfortunately on May 8, 1994, the Osaka Shochikuza Theatre closed as a movie house with “Gone With The Wind” as its last feature.

After major remodeling, the Osaka Shichikuza Theater reopened on February 26, 1997 as a performing arts house and a concert venue. It features a total of 1,033 seats (with 553 seats on the first floor, 282 seats on the second floor, 198 seats on the third floor, and 12 seats in the Act room.

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