National Olympic Stadium (Tokyo)

National Olympic Stadium
Kokuritsu Kyōgijō
Location	10-2, Kasumigaoka-machi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Opened	1958
Owner	Japan Sport Council
Surface	Grass
Architect	Mitsuo Katayama
Capacity	48,000 (seated) 57,363
Field dimensions	105 × 68 m

National Olympic Stadium (国立霞ヶ丘陸上競技場, Kokuritsu Kasumigaoka Rikujō Kyogijō) or National Stadium is a stadium in Kasumigaoka, in 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 teams 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 Stadium. Its first major event was the 1958 Asian Games.

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 attributes the lack of damage to Japan's stringent building codes.

Redevelopment

Rendering of the new National Olympic Stadium

After Tokyo submitted their bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics, there has been talk of possibly renovating or recontructing the National Olympic Stadium. The stadium could host the opening and closing ceremonies as well as track and field events. It was confirmed in February 2012 that the Stadium would receive a $1 billion upgrade for the 2019 Rugby World Cup as well as the 2020 Olympics bid.

In November 2012, renderings of the new national stadium were revealed. The new national stadium will be built to a design by architect Zaha Hadid. It is planned that the existing stadium is to be demolished in 2015 and the new one completed in March 2019.

Events

In addition to the 1964 Summer Olympics, 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. It is also the venue, every year in early January, for the semifinals and final of the All Japan High School Soccer Tournament, which is commonly known as Winter Kokuritsu.

The stadium's official capacity is currently 57,363, but the real capacity is only 48,000 seats. 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 2012, only four music bands have performed at the National Stadium: Dreams Come True, SMAP, Arashi, and L'Arc-en-Ciel

Access

Access to the stadium is 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.

See also Yoyogi National Gymnasium

References

• 1964 Summer Olympics official report. Volume 1. Part 1. pp. 118–20.

External links

• Satellite photo of the stadium from Google Maps
• Stadiums in Japan:Tokyo National Stadium
• National Stadium
• National Stadium, Tokyo

Preceded by Stadio Olimpico Rome	Summer Olympics Opening and Closing Ceremonies (National Stadium) 1964	Succeeded by Estadio Olímpico Universitario Mexico City
Preceded by Stadio Olimpico Rome	Olympic Athletics competitions Main Venue 1964	Succeeded by Estadio Olímpico Universitario Mexico City
Preceded by Stadio Flaminio Rome	Summer Olympics Football Men's Finals (National Stadium) 1964	Succeeded by Estadio Azteca Mexico City
Preceded by Two-legged finals	Intercontinental Cup Final Venue 1980–2001	Succeeded by International Stadium Yokohama Yokohama
Preceded by Vacant ( Two-legged finals )	AFC Champions League Final Venue 2009-2010	Succeeded by Jeonju World Cup Stadium