Prinny's Culture Hall

Prinny’s Culture Hall reopens after major renovation

Kakamigahara City Culture Hall first opened in 1987 as a central hub for the city’s arts and cultural activities. Since July 2019, it has been known by its nickname, “Prinny’s Culture Hall,” through a naming rights partnership.
In August 2022, the facility was forced to close due to a lightning strike that caused extensive electrical damage. The city used this opportunity not only to restore the building but also to undertake a comprehensive renovation aimed at ensuring its long-term sustainability. Reopening in April 2025, the hall has been fully upgraded with state-of-the-art theater seating, modern lighting systems, and a renewed stage floor, securing its role as a valued community venue for years to come.

Exceptional comfort meets effortless access

The hall is now equipped with the “Unison” TS-19 series, a premium theater seating model by Kotobuki Seating. This model features an ergonomic 3D-curved backrest that conforms to the natural shape of the body, along with a seat structure incorporating high-durability serpentine springs. Together, these elements distribute body weight evenly and help reduce fatigue during extended performances.
A key factor in selecting the TS-19 was its distinctive “angled wedge” leg design. Unlike conventional theater seating with vertical legs, this design creates an open space beneath the armrests, allowing seated guests to draw their knees inward. This improves accessibility within rows, making it easier for others to pass and enhancing overall comfort.
In addition, the seats incorporate the “Spacia” design, in which the front edge of the cushion is tapered. This allows users to position their feet further beneath the seat, making standing up and sitting down smoother and more natural for people of all ages.

Evolved design and optimized layout

The previous seating, in use since 1987, featured orange moquette upholstery and a connected pipe frame structure. The new seating dramatically transforms the atmosphere of the hall, introducing Venetian red upholstery paired with refined solid wood finishes on the back panels, seat undersides, and legs. The new seats use a parallel leg system—where each seat has independent supports—reducing vibration transfer between seats and allowing audiences to focus more fully on the performance.
To enhance comfort, the total seating capacity was reduced from 502 to 435 seats, enabling an increase in seat width by 50 mm to a generous 530 mm. Sightline issues from the previous layout have also been addressed. By adopting a staggered configuration in the center block—offsetting seats by half a position in each row—the hall now ensures clear visibility from every seat.
For wheelchair users, flexible movable seating has been introduced. Companion seats equipped with casters can be repositioned easily, allowing for quick adaptation of the layout. Surrounding L-shaped handrails are also removable, enabling the space to be used as standard seating when accessibility areas are not required.

Facility overview

Prinny’s Culture Hall celebrated its long-awaited reopening in April 2025. With a renewed focus on individual comfort and modern functionality, the hall has undergone a complete transformation in both performance and appearance. The reopening concert, featuring a string quartet, welcomed approximately 400 local residents, who experienced the improved acoustics and enhanced seating firsthand. With its upgraded facilities and revitalized environment, the hall is poised to once again serve as a vibrant center for cultural activity in Kakamigahara City.

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