Kinema Junpo (キネマ旬報, Kinema Junpō, lit.'Seasonal Cinema News'), commonly called Kinejun (キネ旬), is Japan's oldest filmmagazine and began publication in July 1919.[1][2][3][4] It was first published three times a month, using the Japanese Jun (旬) system of dividing months into three parts, but the postwar Kinema Junpō has been published twice a month.
The magazine was founded by a group of four students, including Saburō Tanaka, at the Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Technical High School at the time).[1] In that first month, it was published three times on days with a "1" in them. These first three issues were printed on art paper and had four pages each. Kinejun initially specialized in covering foreign films, in part because its writers sided with the principles of the Pure Film Movement and strongly criticized Japanese cinema. It later expanded coverage to films released in Japan. While long emphasizing film criticism, it has also served as a trade journal, reporting on the film industry in Japan and announcing new films and trends.[5]
After their building was destroyed in the Great Kantō earthquake in September 1923, the Kinejun offices were moved to the city of Ashiya in the Hanshin area of Japan, though the main offices are now back in Tokyo.
The Kinema Junpo Best Ten awards began in 1924, their Best Ten lists are considered iconic and prestigious.[3] Initially launched as accolades for foreign films, awards for Japanese films were established in 1926 and readers' choice awards were introduced in 1972.[6][7]
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