Toho Cinemas said Thursday it will delay a curated IMAX reissue program planned for late September after follow-on acoustic work closed Screen 10—the Kabukicho flagship’s IMAX Laser house—for two weeks. The slip forces studio partners to reroute 70-millimeter-friendly prints to Roppongi Hills and Yokohama while Shinjuku finishes premium box-seat retrofits that began during February’s broader renovation.

What was supposed to ship

Toho had marketed a “Large Format Autumn” cycle pairing domestic hits with imported restorations, leaning on Shinjuku’s 302-seat IMAX auditorium to anchor ticket bundles sold through its mobile app. February’s reopening added self-order concessions and drink stations but left Screen 10’s wall treatments until after the summer blockbuster season, when foot traffic traditionally dips before Silver Week families return.

Distributors booked September 19–28 windows for two reissues and a live concert film capture. Those dates now move to October or swap to Toho’s TCX giant-screen houses in Shibuya and Ebisu, which lack IMAX branding but can run the same DCP masters at lower ticket premiums.

Renovation specifics

According to facility pages Toho maintains publicly, Screen 10 already runs IMAX Laser 4K projection with a 12-channel sound stack installed in 2019. The September closure targets sidewall absorbers and rear-channel tuning after engineers measured flutter echo when premium box partitions went in during the winter project. ORICON and Nikkei both documented the February 13–24 shutdown and March-style reopening; this second closure was not on the original press sheet, reflecting how multiplex upgrades spill across fiscal quarters.

Construction hoardings now cover the Kabukicho escalator landing that feeds IMAX queues, a visible signal to tourists hunting photo spots. Toho staff redirect patrons to Screen 9’s TCX house for new releases, but that screen is booked for Dolby Atmos tentpoles through the holiday.

Industry math

Japanese exhibitors raised base ticket prices on July 1, and Shinjuku’s premium surcharges mean IMAX reissues are margin-rich compared with weekday matinees. Delaying the slate lets Toho avoid discounting seats while jackhammers run, but it costs studios cross-promotion with Blu-ray box sets timed for Silver Week retail endcaps.

Competitor TOHO rival T-Joy and Warner-linked Aeon cinemas could pick up overflow, yet IMAX Corporation’s local marketing agreements give Toho first refusal on certain restorations. Insiders said at least one Hollywood library title may skip Japan entirely if October slots fill with new releases.

What moviegoers should expect

Advance tickets already sold for the affected IMAX dates will be refunded or exchanged, Toho’s customer desk said in a Japanese notice posted Wednesday. Pass holders should watch the theater app for push alerts; walk-up tourists should assume Shinjuku IMAX is dark through October 3 unless a surprise inspection clears early. For holiday visitors set on large-format, the practical move is reserve Yokohama or Roppongi now—those auditoriums are absorbing the transfers without extra train hops from Shinjuku.