Japan raises movie ticket prices for the first time in 26 years
Movie ticket prices in Japan have been raised for the first time in 26 years.
Astonishingly, standard admission prices have stood at ￥1,800 (just under £14) since the last price hike, way back in 1993.
Most cinema-goers pay less than this, however, thanks to various discounts that are available for students, women, OAPs, married couples over 50 and various other groups.
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This means that most end up paying around £9.50, or ￥1,315 once discounts are added.
But as of June 1, tickets across the board – including those that are discounted – will be going up by￥100, to ￥1,900, an increase of about 70p, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Leading the price rise are the country's two largest operators of multiplexes, Toho Cinemas and 109 Cinemas, neither of which have raised prices in over two decades.
Higher costs of 3D, 4DX and IMAX movies are thought to have had a bearing of rising ticket prices.
The Japanese film market hauled in more than $2 billion – £1.58 billion – last year, made up from around 45 percent non-domestic movies.
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So far in 2019, animated movie Detective Conan: The Fist of Blue Sapphire has been the biggest hit of the year.
It’s made ¥8.58 billion (around £62 million), followed by Avengers: Endgame, which made £39 million.
According to the UK Cinema Association, the average price for a cinema ticket in the UK is £7.22. in 1993, the average price for a cinema ticket in the UK was £3.21.
