In my first post this year, I wrote that I wanted to update my blog twice a month as much as possible. But, however. Today is the last day of January.
One month of this year is already over. Too fast. Time goes by too fast anyway. I thought it was because I was getting older, but it seems I was wrong.
This is because, according to what I have heard from my acquaintances, even elementary school students these days say that time flies.
It seems that today's children are busy with cram school, sports clubs, and other such activities every day, so perhaps this is the reason for their busyness.
When I was a child, I used to play baseball with my friends in a vacant lot or at an arcade. I had a few lessons and attended cram school, but basically, my days were carefree. Today's children have a hard time.
Well, today, January 31, 2023, is the day that the main store of Tokyu Department Store in Shibuya closed its doors. To be honest, I have no great attachment to the main store of Tokyu Department Store. However, I am sure that I will be somewhat sad to hear that the main store of a famous department store that has been in business for 55 years will close its doors completely.
It has been a well-known fact that the department store industry has been in a difficult situation for quite some time. For me, in particular, the event that symbolizes how difficult the department store industry is is the fact that Seibu Department Store became a part of Seven & i.
As an old man who knows the glory days of the Seibu Saison Group, I frankly find it hard to believe that the Seibu department store is now under the umbrella of a convenience store.
Well, Seven & i is more precisely a holding company whose main business is convenience store business. But since convenience stores are its main business, I will say convenience stores here.
And finally, it is even more unbelievable that the convenience store has abandoned them and is being sold to a US investment fund...tears (but I personally like Seven...just in case). (But I personally like Seven, just to be sure).
Anyway, Seibu Saison is exactly the image of leading the trend of the times among people of a certain age or older.
Every year during the season of bargains (in the old days, cheap sales were called "bargains" instead of "sales"), I remember a familiar song coming from the TV.
 The song is called "Grand Bazar, Grand Bazar, Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. It is a cheerful melody reminiscent of an island in everlasting summer. It is a cheerful melody reminiscent of an island in everlasting summer. This song was frequently used in Parco's TV commercials. Parco used to be part of the Saison Group. Now it is a subsidiary of J. Front Retailing. The number of "something-holdings" and "something-retailing" companies has increased dramatically in the world.
The name Seibu Saison Group seems to have undergone many changes, but I'm not too picky. The Seibu Department Store was part of the group, so that's okay.
Anyway, Seibu Saison = Osare. High culture. That's how I feel.
Speaking of Saison, there used to be a CD store called "WAVE" in Giroppon and a mini-theater called "Cine Vivant" in the basement of the same building. Each was famous as a highly sensitive cultural outlet (the term "highly sensitive" is now nostalgic).
I have the impression that the number of mini-theaters began to increase in my memory during the bubble era of the 1980s. While the world was enjoying the bubble economy, the culture of enjoying quiet and artistic movies was also expanding.
Well, it is easy to find out the exact opening date of the museum by looking it up on the Internet, but when you reach my age, it is sometimes more fun to play with the hazy memories in your mind than with the exact historical facts. This is one of the best parts of growing old.
So, specifically, "Cine Vivant" in Roppongi, "Le Cinema" at Bunkamura in Shibuya, "Chante Cine" in Hibiya, and "CINE SWITCH" in Ginza. These are, to me, the stars of the mini-theater world.
So here, although no one has asked me to do so, I will write down a few of the titles of the great films I saw at each of the movie theaters that I remember.
Chantecine -- "Remains of the Day
A masterpiece by master director James Ivory and original story by Kazuo Isiguro. A masterpiece that deeply and beautifully depicts the sorrows of life! I was also struck by "Little Voice," in which the passion and talent within shines through with dazzling brilliance.
Le cinéma - "The Hairy Husband", "Queen Margot", "The Beautiful Disputed Woman", etc.
Of all the movie theaters called "mini-theaters," this is probably the one I went to most often. I was still young, but I guess I saw quite a few artistic works.
Cine Vivant Roppongi - "CUBE
From the very beginning, it is a masterpiece!
Cinesport Ginza... "?
I can't immediately remember what I watched. I'm sure I saw some good films. If I remember, I'll try to add it to the list.
So, I managed to accomplish my twice-a-month quota for the first month. But still, it feels good to write down what I like to do. I would like to do it again.