Fukuoka City has finalized plans to provide additional financial support to Hakataza Theater in the upcoming fiscal year. City Hall will allocate ¥130 million to help cover utilities and cleaning services for the struggling public-private theater, bringing the total amount of aid including facility upkeep—which the city has covered since the theater’s inception— to ¥369 million. According to a city official “the theater attracts over 40% of its visitors from outside of the prefecture, so efforts need to be taken to stabilize its management”. When Hakataza opened in 1999, the City provided aid for utilities and maintenance.
The theater posted its first profit in 2004, but the City cut off funding in 2006 as a belt-tightening measure. Performance has been lackluster in recent years, leading to ¥500 million in losses in fiscal 2011 and an accumulated debt of ¥930 million. The additional aid for Hakataza was not addressed in the written explanation accompanying the City’s budget proposal in February, nor was it reported to City Council. One council member said, “City Hall must explain why a large injection of public money is necessary to the people.” City Hall said it plans to give an explanation at this week’s meeting of City Council’s Special Committee on the Budget. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun, Mar. 5
