When I was young, I walked into the Toho movie theater that stood on the site of what is now the New Building of the Hankyu Kyoto Department Store (or is it now the West Building?)… There were three theaters—one showing foreign films, one showing Japanese films, and one repertory theater—and said, “Even cleaning the rubbish from under the benches would be fine, so please let me work here part-time… because I love movies so much”…
The theater manager who dealt with me (he was probably one of Toho’s elite) said, “That would be a waste. That desk over there is vacant, so do the job while studying,” and allowed me to work part-time in the department that delivered advance tickets to universities and major corporations throughout Kyoto, and then visited them to collect the payments after the screenings had ended…
Moreover, the company’s own films went without saying, but even with films made by other companies, I was given such privileges as having them say, “Our Kisara says he wants to see 007: Goldfinger, so please take care of him,” or arranging for me to see Inn of Evil…
That would be unthinkable today.
Ever since that time, I have always felt the magnanimity of the Hankyu-Toho Group…
Those who have ridden on Hankyu trains, shopped at Hankyu Department Store, stayed or dined at the Hotel Hankyu International, or attended performances at its theater—as well as the performers themselves—must surely feel the same way that I do…
The Hankyu-Toho Group is indeed a truly distinguished institution and a truly venerable establishment.
The “refinement” of its corporate culture is among the finest in Japan.