Hiroshima Takarazuka 1-2-3

In 1949, local volunteers partnered with the Toho chain to establish a company known as the Shintenchi Company Limited, or Hiroshima’s Toho office. During its first few footsteps into success, construction of the Shintenchi Theatre cost a grand total of ¥25,000,000, which is $173,224 in United States money.

Opening on September 22, 1951, the Shintenachi Theatre is alternated between both movie screenings and live performances, but in August 1952, management rights were transferred immediately to Toho and would eventually become a full-time Toho movie house as the Hiroshima Takarazuka Theatre.

On August 2, 1971 after large renovation, the theater was twinned. Both auditoriums were named the Hiroshima Takarazuka Theater and the Takarazuka Underground Theater. The Yakarazuka Underground Theater in the basement below was later renamed the Hiroshima Toho. On March 1, 1987, a third mini-screen opened and all three auditoriums were renamed the Hiroshima Takarazuka 1-2-3.

Screen 1 housed 588 seats and was the main auditorium for many first-run smashes but was also mixed in with Toho Japanese films as well. Screen 2 housed 62 seats and was a “held over” auditorium for the other two auditoriums despite being a small scale auditorium. Screen 2 was also the only auditorium that doesn’t have Surround EX and DTS sound systems. Screen 3 housed 396 seats with two wheelchairs, and only Toho Japanese films were shown.

A 200-seat fourth screen was added on March 18, 1995 under the name “Hiroshima Takarazuka 4”. This didn’t last long because that auditorium was immediately transferred to Johakyu on May 23, 2004. This downgraded back to its original three-screen form. During its final days of operation, some foreign and Japanese films from Shochiku were screened following the closures of the Hiroshima La Scala and the Shochiku Toyoza & Hiroshima Masterpiece Theaters in the late-2000s.

The Hiroshima Takarazuka 1-2-3 closed for the final time on August 31, 2011 because of the multiplex growth that caused a lack of moviegoers and was demolished a short time afterward. However, on September 27, 2011, Toho announced plans to use the site, but failed when it was immediately demolished afterward, and the Hiroshima Toho Building, with one basement floor and 14 floors above ground, were constructed, and completed on October 10, 2013. Two hotels, the Hiroshima ZERO GATE (Hiroshima Parco) and the Washington Hotel, occupied the former theaters as well.

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