Japan National Stadium

Japan National Stadium
国立競技場
Map
Full nameJapan National Stadium
Location10-2, Kasumigaoka-machi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Coordinates35°40′41.5″N 139°42′52.5″E / 35.678194°N 139.714583°E / 35.678194; 139.714583
Public transit E25 Kokuritsu-Kyōgijō
East Japan Railway Company JB12 Sendagaya
OwnerJapan Sport Council
Capacity68,000 (track and field)
68,698 (football)[1]
80,016 (football and rugby union, maximum with temporary seats over running track)
Field size107 × 71 m
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke ground11 December 2016; 7 years ago (2016-12-11)
BuiltDecember 2016 – 30 November 2019
Opened21 December 2019; 4 years ago (2019-12-21)
Construction costUS$1.4 billion (¥157 billion)
ArchitectKengo Kuma
Tenants
Japan national rugby union team
Japan national football team
The rugby game Classic Meiji University versus Waseda University at 56th All-Japan University Rugby Championship - final
Outside and inside the stadium, 2022
A scene from the 2020 Summer Olympics opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, with drones flying around and creating the official logo of the Games

The Japan National Stadium, officially the National Stadium (国立競技場, Kokuritsu Kyōgijō),[2][3][4][5][6] alternatively “Olympic Stadium” (オリンピックスタジアム, Orinpikku Sutajiamu, during 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics),[7][8] and a.k.a. formerly “New National Stadium” (新国立競技場, Shin Kokuritsu Kyōgijō) is a multi-purpose stadium used mostly for association football in Kasumigaoka, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. The facility served as the main stadium for the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the venue for track and field athletics events at the 2020 Summer Olympics and 2020 Summer Paralympics in 2021.

Demolition of the old National Stadium was completed in May 2015, allowing for the construction of the new stadium to begin on 11 December 2016.

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 prompted by increased building costs. As a result, the new design was not ready for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, as originally intended.[9] A new design created by architect Kengo Kuma was chosen in December 2015 to replace the original design, which was completed on 30 November 2019.[10]

  1. ^ "FIFA Women's World Cup 2023: Bid Evaluation Report" (PDF). FIFA. 10 June 2020. pp. 177–178. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Olympic Stadium". Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  3. ^ "国立競技場 一般の皆さまへ初めてのお披露目イベント開催のお知らせ 「国立競技場オープニングイベント ~HELLO, OUR STADIUM~」 日本を代表するアスリートやアーティストなどと一緒に競技場完成を祝う 1日限りのスペシャルイベント!" (PDF) (Press release) (in Japanese). Japan Sport Council. 3 July 2019. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  4. ^ "Japan National Stadium, Main Venue of 2020 Games, Completed". nippon.com. 30 November 2019. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  5. ^ "Olympics: National Stadium launched ahead of 2020 Tokyo Games". Kyodo News. 30 November 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  6. ^ "New National Stadium declared finished nearly eight months ahead of Tokyo Olympics". The Japan Times. 30 November 2019. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  7. ^ "オリンピックスタジアム|競技会場等|大会情報|東京2020大会開催準備|東京都オリンピック・パラリンピック準備局". www.2020games.metro.tokyo.lg.jp. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  8. ^ "オリンピックスタジアム(新国立競技場)|東京オリンピック2020会場:朝日新聞デジタル". 朝日新聞デジタル (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  9. ^ Himmer, Alastair (17 July 2015). "Japan rips up 2020 Olympic stadium plans to start anew". news.yahoo.com. AFP. Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  10. ^ "New National Stadium declared finished nearly eight months ahead of Tokyo Olympics". japantimes.co.jp. 30 November 2019. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2019.