National Stadium (Tokyo)

National Stadium (国立競技場, Kokuritsu kyōgijō) was a multi-purpose stadium in Kasumigaoka, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. The stadium served as the main stadium for the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as being the venue for track and field events at the 1964 Summer Olympics.[1] The Japan national football team's home matches and major football club cup finals were held at the stadium. The stadium's official capacity was 57,363, but the seating capacity was only 48,000 seats.

This article is about the demolished stadium. For the new stadium built on its ground, see Japan National Stadium.

National Stadium
Kokuritsu Kyōgijō
The stadium during a J.League Cup match in 2004
Location10-2, Kasumigaoka-machi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Public transit E25 Kokuritsu-Kyōgijō
East Japan Railway Company JB12 Sendagaya
OwnerJapan Sport Council
Capacity48,000
Field size105 m × 68 m (344 ft × 223 ft)
SurfaceGrass
Construction
OpenedMarch 1958 (1958-03)
Closed31 May 2014 (2014-05-31)
DemolishedMay 2015 (2015-05)
ArchitectMitsuo Katayama

Demolition was completed in May 2015, and the site was redeveloped with a new larger-capacity Olympic Stadium.[2] The new stadium was the main venue for the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.

The original plans for the new stadium were scrapped in July 2015 by Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, who announced a rebid after a public outcry because of increased building costs. As a result, the new design was not ready for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, as originally intended.[3] A new design created by architect Kengo Kuma was chosen in December 2015 to replace the original design and was completed in November 2019.

History

The stadium was completed in 1958 as the Japanese National Stadium on the site of the former Meiji Shrine Outer Park Stadium. Its first major event was the 1958 Asian Games.[4]

The venue was unscathed by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Yasuhiro Nakamori, international relations director for the Japanese Olympic Committee, told Around the Rings he attributed the lack of damage to Japan's stringent building codes.[5]

The National Stadium has also held a number of music concerts in the past: The Three Tenors (Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, and Jose Carreras) in 1996, SMAP in 2005, Dreams Come True in 2007, Arashi (15 concerts between 2008 and 2013),[6] L'Arc-en-Ciel in 2012,[7] Momoiro Clover Z in 2014,[8] AKB48 in 2014,[9] and finally, the Joint concert "Sayonara National Stadium Final Week Japan Night" on 28 & 29 May 2014,[10][11] which served as final goodbye to the stadium before being demolished, with artists such as Ikimono-gakari, Gospellers, Sukima Switch, Naoto Inti Raymi, Funky Kato, Sekai no Owari, Perfume, Man with a Mission, L'Arc-en-Ciel, among others.

Notable events

Transportation

Access to the stadium was from Sendagaya or Shinanomachi stations along the JR Chūō-Sōbu Line; from Kokuritsu Kyogijo Station on the Toei Oedo Line; and from Gaienmae Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line.

References
  1. 1964 Summer Olympics official report. Volume 1. Part 1. pp. 118–120.
  2. "Demolition of Tokyo's old Olympic stadium completed, clearing way for new 2020 Olympic venue". espn.go.com. ESPN. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  3. Himmer, Alastair (17 July 2015). "Japan rips up 2020 Olympic stadium plans to start anew". news.yahoo.com. AFP. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  4. "Historical: National Olympic Stadium (Kokuritsu Kyōgijō) – until 2014 –". Stadiumdb.com. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  5. "Tokyo Olympic Venues Escape Earthquake Damage". Aroundtherings.com. 11 March 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  6. "５年目国立ライブはリクエストの「嵐」！全２４０曲からファン投票：芸能：スポーツ報知". Archived from the original on 21 July 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  7. "L'Arc~en~Ciel LIVE 2014 - National Stadium, March 21st, 2014 (Fri) - March 22nd, 2014 (Sat)". larcenciel.livejournal.com.
  8. "Live Report: Momoclo's DREAMED Kokuritsu!!". Japanese kawaii idol music culture news | Tokyo Girls Update.
  9. "ＡＫＢ来年３・２９国立単独公演 女性グループでは初― スポニチ Sponichi Annex 芸能". Sponichi.co.jp. 18 December 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  10. "Japan Night -Move with the Music-". Archived from the original on 27 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  11. "SAYONARA National Stadium FINAL WEEK JAPAN NIGHT – Day 2 [29th May 2014] | Kojacon Report".
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35°40′41″N 139°42′53″E

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