娯楽として親しまれている映画だが、劇場まで足を運ぶ人の数は最近少なくなっているのではないだろうか。

* 2005/1/26 配信 ALC Newsletter No.4(ALC International Marketing 発行)より

* クリックできる語句には、語注がついています

1.14 --- it's the number of times an average Japanese person goes to a movie theater in one year. You probably think that the number is too small (or maybe, way too small)! For your reference, the number is 5.22 for the U.S., 3.73 for Canada, 2.35 for Britain, and 4.27 for Australia. (……注１)

However, it might be a little too hasty to suppose that the Japanese don't like to watch movies and all they do is play Nintendo games!

One of the biggest reasons for the infrequency is the price of movie tickets in Japan. An adult has to pay about 1,800 yen (≒US$17/C$21/£9/A$23……注２) to watch a film at the movie theater. On the other hand, rental videos are as cheap as 400 yen or less. So, why not wait until the video comes out? ---that's what the majority of Japanese think.

The other reason might be long work hours. As you may already know, it's not unusual for the Japanese to work until late at night. Theaters are already closed by the time they walk out of the office --- so, again, they opt for rental videos.

Many of the Japanese are excited to find out how much cheaper movie tickets are in your country, so it might be a good idea to recommend some of the good movies that are out now to your Japanese friends!

(注１) Data by Statistics Bureau of Japan, released in September 2003.
(注２) Based on the exchange rates as of January 20, 2005