About SHITA COME - The 3rd Old Town Taito International Comedy Film Festival

In November 2008, Taito City, Tokyo celebrated the birth of the Old Town Taito International Comedy Film Festival (abbreviated in Japanese to SHITA COME), Japan’s first full-scale international film festival specializing solely in comedy. Having welcomed more than 88,000 visitors last year, SHITA COME comes back this September along with the 1st Old Town Theater Festival (10th August – 20th September 2010) proudly presented in Taito.

By conceptualizing 3 ideas－Cinema, Old Town and Comedy, SHITA COME aspires to be a unique film festival where filmmakers, comedians, local residents and comedy-film fans can partake to share laughter and excitement together - a truly rare opportunity in the capital region of Japan.

Taking place in Asakusa, known as the cradle land of Japanese comedy where good old folk cultures are kept alive, and Ueno, home to one of the biggest cultural-arts complexes in the nation, SHITA COME spotlights comedies not merely as entertainment to provide people with laughter, but also as a multifaceted art form which is entertaining, cultural, historical and social.

Under the skillful production of Seiko Ito, a creator and Asakusa resident who has distinguished himself in Japanese cultural fields covering literature, music, theater and TV, we schedule the very best comedies of different styles, from various eras, and from a variety of countries to satisfy comedy-film lovers of all generations.

There are innumerable film festivals held throughout the world today, but by adding this unique contribution, as a film festival specializing solely in comedy, we truly hope to act as a bridge between comedy-film fans in Japan and other areas of the world while promoting the charming qualities of “old town” Tokyo.

Appellation The 3rd Old Town Taito International Comedy Film Festival
(Japanese Abbr. “SHITA COME”, an affiliated event of the 23rd Tokyo International Film Festival)

Festival Dates 16 - 20 September 2010 (Thu - Mon/Holiday)

Venues (MAP)
*subject to changes

[Asakusa Area] Asakusa Public Hall/ Asakusa Chuei Theater

[Ueno Area] Shinobazu Pond Waterside Music Hall (Ueno Onshi Park Outdoor Stage)/ Ueno Tokyu 2

Ticket Information Advance tickets available at Ticket Pia from 14th August (Sat) 10:00am-　Details

Hosted by Old Town Taito International Comedy Film Festival Executive Committee

Presented under the auspices of
*subject to changes Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan/ Japan Tourism Agency/ British Embassy in Japan/ Embassy of the Republic of Poland/ Polish Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan/ Tokyo Metropolitan Government/ Taito City, Tokyo/ The Tokyo Shimbun/ UNIJAPAN / Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan, Inc./ Foreign Film Importer-Distributor Association of Japan/ Federation of Japanese Films Industry, Inc./ Tokyo Association of Theater Owners

Supported by
*subject to changes Ueno Tourist Federation/ Asakusa Tourist Federation/ Shitaya Tourist Federation/ Asakusa Minami Tourist Federation/ Association of Taito-ku Shopping Malls/ Association of Ueno Shopping Malls/ Cooperative Association of Asakusa Shop Owners/ Ueno Shop Curtain Meeting/ The Asakusa Umai-mono Kai/ Taito Affiliate of the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry/ Senso-ji/ Chuei Co., Ltd./ SGRS Inc./ Asakusa View Hotel/ Asahi Breweries, Ltd./ Ginza Moegitei/ Umemoto Co., Ltd./ Hinomaru Limousine co.Ltd/ Meijiza co.,Ltd/ Logistics Partner　FedEx/ Yamaha　Corporation/ City Lights/ Getty Images Japan KK

Planning and operations Tokyu Recreation Co., Ltd.

Contact Old Town Taito International Comedy Film Festival Operational Office

Ueno Onshi Park was the first park created in Japan and is widely known for its cultural-arts complex with first-rate facilities situated around its 530,000-square-meter site; the Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, and the National Museum of Western Art are all located within the park. With consideration to the characteristics of the area, we emphasize the artistic aspects of comedy at Ueno.

The history of Japanese film show-business overlaps that of Asakusa. In 1903, the Denki-Kan (Electric Hall) opened in Asakusa as the first permanent film theater in the nation. In 1929, two American talkies, Marching On and a short film on Hawaiian dancers were first screened in Asakusa, reiterating its significance during the transition from silent films to talkies. In addition, since the early 20th century, Asakusa has been the east Mecca of Japanese comedy, where many of the best Japanese comedians built their early reputations, including such people as Kenichi Enomoto, Kiyoshi Atsumi, Kinichi Hagimoto, and Takeshi Kitano.

For information about sightseeing & events in Ueno & Asakusa