How a student project became the definitive voice of Japanese cinema for a century

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Founded in 1919 by four students, Kinema Junpo is Japan's oldest film magazine. Originally a niche publication focused on foreign cinema and the Pure Film Movement, it evolved into a prestigious industry authority. Today, its annual Best Ten awards remain a gold standard for critics and audiences alike across Japan.

Kinema Junpo, affectionately known as Kinejun, emerged from the Tokyo Institute of Technology in July 1919. Its name reflects its original publication schedule: the Japanese Jun system, which divided each month into three ten-day segments. In its infancy, the magazine appeared three times a month on days ending in the number one, with each issue consisting of just four pages printed on art paper. The founders, including Saburō Tanaka, were driven by the principles of the Pure Film Movement, a critical stance that led them to prioritize foreign films while aggressively critiquing the state of domestic Japanese cinema at the time.

The magazine's trajectory was interrupted by the Great Kantō earthquake in September 1923, which destroyed its original offices. This forced a relocation to the city of Ashiya in the Hanshin region, though the publication eventually returned to its roots in Tokyo. Over the decades, Kinejun expanded its scope beyond critical essays to function as a vital trade journal, documenting industry trends, new releases, and the broader evolution of Japanese film culture. This dual identity as both a high-minded critic and an industry insider helped cement its longevity.

The Kinema Junpo Best Ten awards, launched in 1924, represent the magazine's most enduring cultural legacy. While these accolades initially focused exclusively on foreign cinema, the scope broadened significantly over time. Awards for Japanese films were introduced in 1926, and the magazine eventually democratized its process by adding readers' choice awards in 1972. Today, these lists are regarded as prestigious benchmarks, reflecting a century of shifting tastes and critical consensus. The magazine's ability to adapt—transitioning from a thrice-monthly student newsletter to a twice-monthly industry staple—mirrors the very history of the medium it covers.

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