Hatchoza, Cinema complex in Naka-ku, Hiroshima, Japan
Hatchoza is a movie theater on the eighth floor of the Fukuya Department Store in Naka-ku, Hiroshima, Japan, with two screening rooms and digital projection. The two rooms offer different seating options, ranging from standard seats to more unusual arrangements.
The cinema reopened after a major renovation that brought film screenings back to downtown Hiroshima, at a time when suburban multiplexes had drawn audiences away from city-center venues. Its return helped fill a gap that had grown over several years in the heart of the city.
The interior was designed by film director Kyoko Heya, who drew on the look of traditional sets from the Toei studios in Kyoto. Visitors today can see how that reference gives the space a feel that is different from a standard multiplex.
The theater sits inside a central downtown department store, making it easy to reach on foot from the main tram stops in the area. Checking the schedule in advance is a good idea, as the program rotates and some screenings include Japanese subtitles.
One of the rooms offers floor sections with tatami mats where viewers can sit on cushions, as well as counter-style seats facing the screen. These options bring a sitting posture into the cinema that most audiences outside Japan have never tried.
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