A liquid crystal shutter includes a first support substrate having a first electrode and a second support substrate having a second electrode opposite to the first electrode. A liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between the first and second electrodes so as to have a switching region. The switching region becomes a bend alignment state from a splay alignment state when a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer. A nucleus region formation portion is arranged on the first support substrate to form a nucleus region in the switching region corresponding to the nucleus region formation portion in the liquid crystal layer, in which the splay alignment is more stable than in the switching region.