Kuramae Kokugikan
Location | 2-1-1 Kuramae |
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Coordinates | 35°42′08″N 139°47′30″E / 35.702333°N 139.791556°E |
Owner | Japan Sumo Association |
Current use | Sumo tournament venues |
Construction | |
Broke ground | October 23, 1949 |
Built | 1949 |
Opened | September, 1954 |
Closed | September, 1984 |
Years active | 30 years |
Builder | Obayashi Corporation[1] |
Acreage | 17,769 m2 |
Kuramae Kokugikan (
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,[1] 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.
Sumo
At the opening ceremony (September 18, 1954), both yokozuna
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]
Gallery
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The inside of the building (1949).
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Inside of the building during a tournament (1950).
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The main entrance of the building (1954)
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Secondary entrance during a tournament (1954), note the nobori (right) and traditional sake barrels (left).
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Emperor Shōwa greeted by officials and wrestlers in 1956.
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The Kuramae Kokugikan during a honbasho (1971)
Notes
References
- ^ "Kuramae Kokugikan". Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ a b c Gunning, John (10 September 2019). "Sumo 101: Kuramae Kokugikan". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 20 September 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
- ISBN 0-8348-0283-X.
- ^ a b "Kuramae Kokugikan made with surplus materials". Kajima Co. 28 July 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ "Sumo Museum". Japan Sumo Association. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
- ^ "NSK history". Nihon Sumo Kyokai. 28 July 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ISBN 4-06-205938-X.
- ^ "National sport supported by "Tenran"". Asahi Shimbun Digital. 25 February 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ "Pro wrestling history ('50s)". Puroresu blog. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ "Pro wrestling history ('60s)". Puroresu blog. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ "1st All Japan Kendo Championship Final". Japanese Kendo Association. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ "Documentation Regarding the Budo Ban in Japan, 1945-1950". Journal of combative sport. 10 December 2002. Retrieved 13 October 2022.