I enjoy going to a movie theater in Japan every now and then when a movie that I want to see movie comes out. I either go with my Japanese wife, or with her and one of my students from my English conversation school （英会話）, Smith’s School of English Tsukaguchi （スミス英会話塚口校）located in Tsukaguchi （塚口）, Amagasaki City （尼崎市）, Hyogo Prefecture （兵庫県）. That student invites us to the movies several times a year and we always enjoy watching movies in English with him. I think listening to movies in English is a good, fun way for students to improve their listening skills.
At movie theaters in Japan （日本の映画館）, American movies can usually be seen either in English with Japanese subtitles, or in Japanese, at different times. When buying your ticket, you have to make sure your movie is in the right language. The regular price for a movie ticket in Japan is usually 1,800 yen. You can save money by buying your ticket in advance at ticket discount shops, found in some places. To find these, I recommend asking around in your area. I and my wife pay between 1,300 yen and 1,450 yen for these. Most movie theaters charge only 1,000 yen for anybody on the first day of the month and 1,000 yen for women only on Wednedays called “ladies day”（レディースディ）. Popcorn, French fries, hotdogs, pop drinks, beer and juice are usually sold. If you get a 1,300 yen discount ticket, you can buy your food with the money that you saved! In Japan, you are given a choice of seats to sit from what’s not taken yet, then assigned seats like in an airplane, with rows and numbers. This is great because you can reserve your seats then relax and do something else until your movie starts. They usually let you in the screening room 10 minutes before showtime.
This month I and my wife saw two movies at the movie theater. One was Angels and Demons and the other was Terminator Salvation.
Happy movie watching!
Derek
Smith’s School of English Tsukaguchi
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