The café/bar Shimokitazawa Developing Studio opened on Sunday, December 1, in Tokyo’s Shimokitazawa neighborhood.
Billed as a “(Super) Micro Complex” offering a fresh way to enjoy cinema, the venue was launched by MotionGallery, taking over operations of the VHS café TANPENTON from the film label NOTHING NEW. The new establishment aims to become a hub for promoting innovative film culture.
At Shimokitazawa Developing Studio, the spotlight is on screenplays, a vital starting point in filmmaking. The café features an archive of screenplays from various works, both classic and contemporary, providing opportunities to discover lesser-known films and explore new ways to appreciate cinema. Additionally, the venue plans to showcase original scripts and use crowdfunding to bring these stories to the screen, pioneering a novel approach to film production.
The studio also emphasizes the archival potential of 8mm film, offering camera and film sales, 8mm color negative film development, HD overscanning services, and occasional workshops.
Enhancing the cinematic experience, the café offers original canelés and handpicked craft colas from across Japan, paired with specific films. These treats can also be brought into Mini Theater K2, another Shimokitazawa cinema co-operated by MotionGallery.
To commemorate the opening, a statement was released by MotionGallery’s CEO, Takeshi Otaka.
We wanted to create a space where having movies close at hand could add a touch of richness to everyday life. Shimokitazawa Developing Studio was born from this vision as a “(Super) Micro Complex.”
With the opening of K2, the Shimokita-Stationfront Cinema, Shimokitazawa is flourishing as a hub for film and theater culture.
At this unique venue, we focus on:
- Cinema (Script Library, 8mm Film)
- Craft Cola
- Canelé
From workshops exploring 8mm film production to events where visitors can discuss films while reading their screenplays, and even moments to savor food and drinks that enrich the movie-watching experience, Shimokitazawa Developing Studio offers new, small-scale ways to “create,” “enjoy,” and “savor” cinema.
We also hope the cultural exchanges sparked here will bring us closer to realizing the vision of a “shared cultural space” that was central to K2’s founding mission.
The venue is currently hosting a special exhibition and merchandise sale featuring the works of director Kohei Igarashi to commemorate the long-running screening of SUPER HAPPY FOREVER at K2.
An opening event is also scheduled for December 8 (Sunday), featuring Craft Cola Hour, a prominent figure in the world of fictional craft cola brands who has contributed to the store’s cola selection and gained recognition across various regions.
Shimokitazawa Developing Studio
Address: BONUS TRACK, 2-36-13 Daita, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 12:00 – 22:00 (closed on Mondays)
IG: https://www.instagram.com/shimokitagenzojo/
Operated by: MotionGallery Inc.
