Kuramae Kokugikan

Kuramae Kokugikan (Japanese: 蔵前国技館, Hepburn: Kuramae Kokugi-kan) was a building situated in the Kuramae neighborhood of Taitō, Tokyo which was built by the Japan Sumo Association and opened in 1954. Its construction was decided to replace the old bomb-damaged Ryōgoku Kokugikan. It closed its doors in 1984. The building was torn down and sporting events were transferred to the second Ryōgoku Kokugikan. The place is now the site of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Sewage.[2]

Kuramae Kokugikan
蔵前国技館
Kuramae Kokugikan, 1950
Full nameKuramae Kokugikan Sumo Arena
AddressTaitō
Tokyo
Japan
Location2-1-1 Kuramae
Coordinates35.702333°N 139.791556°E / 35.702333; 139.791556
OwnerJapan Sumo Association
Current useSumo tournament venues
Construction
Broke groundOctober 23, 1949
Built1949
OpenedSeptember, 1954
ClosedSeptember, 1984
Years active30 years
BuilderObayashi Corporation[1]
Acreage17,769 m²

History

The Sumo Association has owned the site of the former Tokyo Technical High School at the base of Kuramae Bridge since before World War II. The construction plan for the new Kokugikan was underway since around 1940 but was suspended due to the war. After the war, the old Kokugikan was occupied by the allied forces enforcing the budo ban, forcing the Japan Sumo Association to hold tournaments and Sumo venues in shrines and baseball stadiums.[3] Due to resource shortages after the war, the beginnings of the arena were built using the scraps from the demolition of the naval hangar of Atsugi.[4] The target capacity was 11,000 spectators. From 1950 to 1953, main tournaments were held at the Kuramae Kokugikan, which was still under construction.

Kuramae Kokugikan was officially completed in September 1954. To protect and preserve the rich historical heritage of Sumo, a Sumo Museum was created in the premises of the building.[5] In September 1952, the four traditional pillars (shihon-bashira) were replaced by the current tsuriyane (suspended ceiling),[6] as the matches began to be broadcast. From 1953 to 1971, the Kuramae Kokugikan underwent a series of renovations, including electric boards to announce the bout results, air conditioning and heating. Originally built using recycled materials, there had been some debate within the Japan Sumo Association as to whether the arena should be fully renovated or partially renovated, or whether a new Kokugikan should be built.[4] In 1982, it was decided a new arena would be built and the Kuramae Kokugikan closed in 1984.[7]

Sumo

At the opening ceremony (September 18, 1954), both yokozuna Chiyonoyama and Kagamisato performed a very rare sandangamae ceremony.[2] In January 1971, yokozuna Tamanoumi and Kitanofuji, performed the same ceremony to commemorate the completion of the renovations. In May 1955, Emperor Hirohito came to his first tenran-zumō at the arena, 10 years after the end of the war, to support the sport. Until then, sumo bouts for the emperor were held at the imperial palace.[8]

Wrestling

The Kuramae Kokugikan is also famous for holding sold-out professional wrestling venues, including Tokyo Pro, National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance (JWA) cards and the first women's professional wrestling tournament.[9] The arena also saw the birth of Antonio Inoki as a star.[10]

Other uses

The arena also held different tournaments for a large variety of sports, including boxing, judo and kendo. It was used as the venue for the first All Japan Kendo Championships (1953)[11] and the first World Judo Championships (1956). The Kuramae Kokugikan is seen in the 1967 film You Only Live Twice.[2]

Kuramae Kokugikan (1954-1984).
  • Blanck and white picture, an empty arena witha dohyo-ring in the center
    The inside of the building (1949).
  • Inside of the building with a lot of spectators, the dohyō is seen in the distance
    Inside of the building during a tournament (1950).
  • Front door of the arena, nobori flags on the left
    The main entrance of the building (1954)
  • entrance to the building with traditional japanese elements
    Secondary entrance during a tournament (1954), note the nobori (right) and traditional sake barrels (left).
  • Emperor Shōwa greeted by officials and wrestlers in 1956.
    Emperor Hirohito greeted by officials and wrestlers in 1956.
  • Top view of the Kuramae Kokugikan during a sumo tournament in 1971
    The Kuramae Kokugikan during a honbasho (1971)

Notes
1.^ Ban on martial arts gatherings enforced from 1945 to 1950.[12]

References
  1. "Kuramae Kokugikan". Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  2. Gunning, John (10 September 2019). "Sumo 101: Kuramae Kokugikan". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 20 September 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  3. Sharnoff, Lora (1993). Grand Sumo. Weatherhill. p. 49. ISBN 0-8348-0283-X.
  4. "Kuramae Kokugikan made with surplus materials". Kajima Co. 28 July 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  5. "Sumo Museum". Japan Sumo Association. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  6. "NSK history". Nihon Sumo Kyokai. 28 July 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  7. Japan, An Illustrated Encyclopedia (Hardcover). Tokyo, Japan: Kodansha. 1993. pp. 817. ISBN 4-06-205938-X.
  8. "National sport supported by "Tenran"". Asahi Shimbun Digital. 25 February 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  9. "Pro wreslting history ('50s)". Puroresu blog. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  10. "Pro wreslting history ('60s)". Puroresu blog. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  11. "1st All Japan Kendo Championship Final". Japanese Kendo Association. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  12. "Documentation Regarding the Budo Ban in Japan, 1945-1950". Journal of combative sport. 10 December 2002. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
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