Motion Pictures Day, also known as Movies Day or Japanese Cinema Day, is observed in Japan every December 1 to celebrate the country's film industry and commemorate the introduction of cinema to Japan in 1896. The first motion picture screening device introduced was Thomas Edison’s Kinetoscope, which allowed individual viewing, while the first public film showing occurred in Kobe in the same year. In 1897, Katsutaro Inabata brought the Lumière Brothers' Cinématographe to Japan, facilitating the first commercial film screening at the Nanchi Enbujo Theater in Osaka. This led to the production of films influenced by traditional Japanese theater and storytelling. The day was officially established on December 1, 1956, marking the 60th anniversary of the first film showing. Celebrations typically involve watching and promoting Japanese films, highlighting the rich history and cultural significance of cinema in Japan.