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Olympic Stadium (Tokyo)
Encyclopedia
or National Stadium is a stadium
in Kasumigaoka, Shinjuku
, Tokyo
, Japan
that served as the main stadium for the 1964 Summer Olympics
. It currently serves as the stadium where the Japan national football team
s home matches and major football club cup finals are held.
. Its first major event was the 1958 Asian Games
.
Despite the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
, the venue appears to be unscathed. Yasuhiro Nakamori, international relations director for the Japanese Olympic Committee, told Around the Rings he attributes the lack of damage to Japan's stringent building codes.
After Tokyo submitted their bid
for the 2020 Summer Olympics
, there has been talk of possibly renovating the National Olympic Stadium. The stadium could host the opening and closing ceremonies as well as track and field events.
, the stadium has held many other significant events, most notably the 1991 World Athletics Championships
, the Mirage Bowl (college football) games from 1976–1993, and the Intercontinental Cup
(Toyota Cup) from 1980–2001. As the National Stadium of Japan, it is the venue for the final game of the Emperor's Cup
on New Year's Day
, and the J. League Cup
in November, as well as the Fuji Xerox Cup
in the end of February or early March, every year. The stadium's capacity is currently 57,363. Rugby games are also played at this venue, including the annual university rugby semi-finals and finals, as the nearby Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
's capacity is insufficient for the number of student fans the event attracts.
As of 2009, only three music bands have performed at the National Stadium: Dreams Come True, SMAP
, and Arashi
.
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
.
See also Yoyogi National Gymnasium
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
in Kasumigaoka, Shinjuku
Shinjuku, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. It is a major commercial and administrative center, housing the busiest train station in the world and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, the administration center for the government of Tokyo.As of 2008, the ward has an estimated population...
, Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
that served as the main stadium for the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
. It currently serves as the stadium where the Japan national football team
Japan national football team
The Japan national football team represents Japan in association football and is operated by the Japan Football Association, the governing body for association football in Japan...
s home matches and major football club cup finals are held.
History
The stadium was completed in 1958 as the Japanese National Stadium on the site of the former Meiji Shrine Outer Park StadiumMeiji Shrine Outer Park Stadium
Meiji Jingu Gaien Stadium, was a multi-use stadium in Tokyo, Japan. It was as the main venue for the 1930 Far Eastern Games. It was demolished to make room for Tokyo Olympic Stadium in 1956. The stadium held 65,000 spectators.-External links:*...
. Its first major event was the 1958 Asian Games
1958 Asian Games
The 3rd Asian Games were held from May 24 to June 1, 1958 in Tokyo, Japan. A total number of 1,820 athletes, coming from 16 countries, competed in thirteen events at this Asiad. Debuting sports were field hockey, table tennis, tennis, and volleyball. Tokyo would go on to host the 1964 Summer...
.
Despite the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
The 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku, also known as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, or the Great East Japan Earthquake, was a magnitude 9.0 undersea megathrust earthquake off the coast of Japan that occurred at 14:46 JST on Friday, 11 March 2011, with the epicenter approximately east...
, the venue appears to be unscathed. Yasuhiro Nakamori, international relations director for the Japanese Olympic Committee, told Around the Rings he attributes the lack of damage to Japan's stringent building codes.
After Tokyo submitted their bid
Tokyo bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics
Tokyo 2020 is a bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics launched by the city of Tokyo and the Japanese Olympic Committee. The IOC will announce the official candidate cities on May 23, 2012. The winning bid will be announced on September 7, 2013 at the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires...
for the 2020 Summer Olympics
2020 Summer Olympics
The 2020 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXXII Olympiad, will be a major international sports and cultural festival, celebrated in the tradition of the Olympic Games....
, there has been talk of possibly renovating the National Olympic Stadium. The stadium could host the opening and closing ceremonies as well as track and field events.
Events
In addition to the 1964 Summer Olympics1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
, the stadium has held many other significant events, most notably the 1991 World Athletics Championships
1991 World Championships in Athletics
The 3rd World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held in the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Japan between August 23 and September 1 and athletes from 167 countries participated in the event.The event is best-remembered for the...
, the Mirage Bowl (college football) games from 1976–1993, and the Intercontinental Cup
Intercontinental Cup (football)
The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores...
(Toyota Cup) from 1980–2001. As the National Stadium of Japan, it is the venue for the final game of the Emperor's Cup
Emperor's Cup
, commonly known as or , is a Japanese association football competition. It has the longest tradition of any football tournament in Japan, dating back to 1921, before the formation of the J. League, Japan Football League and their predecessor, Japan Soccer League...
on New Year's Day
Japanese New Year
The is one of the most important annual festivals, with its own unique customs, and has been celebrated for centuries. Due to the importance of the holiday and the preparations required, the preceding days are quite busy, particularly the day before, known as Ōmisoka.The Japanese New Year has been...
, and the J. League Cup
J. League Cup
J. League Cup is a Japanese football competition organized by J. League. It is also known as Yamazaki Nabisco Cup or Nabisco Cup because confectionery/bakery company Yamazaki Nabisco have sponsored the competition since its inception in 1992.It is generally regarded as the Japanese equivalent to...
in November, as well as the Fuji Xerox Cup
Japanese Super Cup
The Japanese Super Cup or is an annual one-match football competition in Japan organised by J. League and the Japan Football Association . This competition serves as the season opener and is played between the J. League Champions and the Emperor's Cup Winners of the previous season...
in the end of February or early March, every year. The stadium's capacity is currently 57,363. Rugby games are also played at this venue, including the annual university rugby semi-finals and finals, as the nearby Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
Chichibunomiya rugby stadium
in the Aoyama district of central Tokyo is the spiritual home of Japanese rugby union and the headquarters of the Japan Rugby Football Union.-Facilities:...
's capacity is insufficient for the number of student fans the event attracts.
As of 2009, only three music bands have performed at the National Stadium: Dreams Come True, SMAP
SMAP
SMAP is a Japanese boy band formed by Johnny & Associates. While originally consisting of six members, the current group members are Masahiro Nakai, Takuya Kimura, Goro Inagaki, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, and Shingo Katori...
, and Arashi
Arashi
is a Japanese boy band formed under the Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates, which announced the formation of the group on November 3, 1999 in Honolulu, Hawaii...
.
Access
Access to the stadium is from SendagayaSendagaya Station
is a railway station operated by East Japan Railway Company and located in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan.-Around the station:Located in front of the station is Kokuritsu Kyogijo Station on the Toei Ōedo Line....
or Shinanomachi
Shinanomachi Station
is a railway station operated by East Japan Railway Company and located in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.- Surrounding area :* Keio University Medical School Hospital* Meiji-Jingu Stadium* Soka Gakkai Headquarters* Minon Music Museum-History:...
stations along the JR
East Japan Railway Company
is the largest passenger railway company in the world and one of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo....
Chūō-Sōbu Line
Chuo-Sobu Line
The is a railway line located in Tokyo and Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Part of the East Japan Railway Company network, it runs on separate tracks along the right-of-way of the Chūō Main Line and Sōbu Main Line , providing service between Mitaka Station in the cities of Mitaka and Musashino and...
; from Kokuritsu Kyogijo Station
Kokuritsu Kyogijo Station
, also known as Tokyo Taiikukan Mae, is a Tokyo subway station located in Sendagaya, Shibuya and Shinanomachi, Shinjuku. Situated on the Toei Ōedo Line, the station is operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation....
on the Toei Oedo Line
Toei Oedo Line
The is a subway line in Tokyo, Japan operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation . It commenced full operations on December 12, 2000; using the Japanese calendar this reads "12/12/12" as the year 2000 equals Heisei 12...
; and from Gaienmae Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line
Tokyo Metro Ginza Line
The is a subway line located in Tokyo, Japan. It is part of the of Tokyo Metro network. The official name is . It is 14.3 km long and serves the wards of Shibuya, Minato, Chūō, Chiyoda, and Taitō....
.
See also Yoyogi National Gymnasium
Yoyogi National Gymnasium
is an arena in Yoyogi Park, Tokyo, Japan which is famous for its suspension roof design.It was designed by Kenzo Tange and built between 1961 and 1964 to house swimming and diving events in the 1964 Summer Olympics. A separate annex was used for the basketball competition at those same games...