Kanji Cheat Sheets

Kanji Cheat Sheets
Kanji Cheat Sheet: Going to the Movies in Japan
May 19, 2020

Halfway through the middle of my course at Japanese language school, my teacher asked if anyone had gone to the movies since moving to Japan. No one raised their hand. She asked why, and most if not all of my classmates said they felt intimidated because they couldn’t understand enough Japanese to watch a movie without subtitles.

While the movie-going experience is pretty much universal, there are some things to look out for.

Looking back, I realized that one of the fastest ways to get a more native understanding of Japanese is to immerse yourself in pop culture. Immersion allows you to learn new vocabulary and grammar points you may not have come across in JLPT review guides. Try listening to J-Pop, watching Japanese Youtubers, or if you live in Japan taking a trip to the movies!

While the movie-going experience is pretty much universal, there are some things to look out for. In this Kanji guide, you’ll learn the how-tos of watching a movie at the theatre in Japan.

Going to the movies

Photo: iStock.com/mizoula

Search for the movie theatre nearest you by placing えいかん (eigakan) on Google maps. If you happen to live in Tokyo, there are tons of theatres around Shinjuku and Shibuya.

Once you enter the lobby, check for the screening schedule, or じょうえいスケジュール (joueisukejuru). When you see it be sure to double-check if the movie you want to watch is subtitled まく (jimaku) or dubbed え (fukikae). After deciding on which type of movie you’d like to see, now it’s time to buy your ticket.

EnglishJapaneseRomaji
Movie theatre映画館eigakan
Subtitled字幕jimaku
Dubbed吹き替えfukikae
Screening schedule上映スケジュールjoueisukejuru

Tickets types and pricing

In Japan, ticket prices vary depending on how old you are. General admission いっぱん (ippan) is normally ¥1,900. For elementary, junior high, and high school students it only costs ¥1,000.

If you are a university student だいがくせい (daigakusei), however, it’s about ¥1,500. 

For senior citizens シニア (shinia) tickets are around ¥1,200. 

EnglishJapaneseRomaji
Elementary and junior high school students小中学生shouchuugakusei
High school student高校生koukousei
University student大学生daigakusei
General admission一般ippan
Seniorシニアshinia

Discounted tickets

If you think movie tickets in Japan are expensive, you’re not alone. In the Philippines where I’m from, regular movies are normally priced at around ¥400 and about ¥800 for 3D movies. 

There are a few ways to save some cash, though. For women, watch out for “ladies day” レディースデイ (redisudei) which is typically Wednesday. On that day, women only have to pay ¥1,200.

If you’re married and one or both of you are over 50 years old then take advantage of the “couples discount” ふうわりびき(fufuwaribiki) for only ¥2,400 per pair. Sounds pretty good, right? 

EnglishJapaneseRomaji
Ladies dayレディースデイredisudei
Couple discount (over 50 years old)夫婦割引(50歳以上)fufuwaribiki (gojuusaiijou)

In the end, while going to the movies in Japan might seem intimidating and a tad bit expensive, it’s an experience worth having and a great way to up your listening skills.

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