Ryōgoku Kokugikan (Japanese: 両国国技館, Hepburn: ryogoku kokugikan, lit. "Ryōgoku National Sports Hall"), also known as Ryōgoku Sumo Hall or Kokugikan Arena, is the name bestowed to two different indoor sporting arenas located in Tokyo. The fist Ryogoku Kokugikan opened its doors in 1909 and was located on the lands of the Ekōin temple in Ryōgoku, Tokyo. Although no sumo bouts were held after 1945, following the capitulation of Japan and the requisition of the building by the occupying forces, the building itself remained active until 1983, being notably used by the Nihon University.[1909kokugikan 1] The second Ryogoku Kokugikan is currently located in the Yokoami neighborhood of Sumida next to the Edo-Tokyo Museum. It opened in 1985, following the closure of the Kuramae Kokugikan, and is still in use today.

The first Kokugikan

Ryogoku Kokugikan
両国国技館

Daitetsusan (the big iron umbrella)
Ryogoku Kokugikan, 1909
Full name	Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena
Address	Sumida Tokyo Japan
Location	2 Chome-10-14 Ryogoku
Coordinates	35.69368°N 139.79247°E / 35.69368; 139.79247
Owner	Japan Sumo Association then Nihon University
Current use	Sumo tournaments venues then sporting venues and Nihon University Auditorium
Construction
Broke ground	March, 1906
Built	1906-1909
Opened	June 2, 1909
Renovated	1920, 1923, 1945
Closed	September, 1946
Demolished	1983
Years active	77 years
Construction cost	280,000 yen
Architect	Tatsuno Kingo, Kasai Manji [ja]
Acreage	4,959 m² (land area) 2,995 m² (stadium area)
Website
https://www.ryogoku-city.co.jp/

History

The growing popularity of Sumo during the Meiji period led to the building of the original Kokugikan in Ryōgoku. Until then, Sumo bouts were performed in temples precincts and depended on the weather. In March 1906, the 22nd Imperial Diet decided to build an indoor sumo facility within the precincts of the Ekōin temple in Ryōgoku.
The task was given to two of the most predominant architects in Japan at the time, Tatsuno Kingo and Kasai Manji [ja] (mostly known for the Bank of Japan, the Hamadera Park Station or the Tokyo Station). Inspired by western architecture, the building is Japan's first dome-shaped steel framed building. Construction began in June 1906 and the arena was quickly nicknamed "big iron umbrella" (大鉄傘, Daitetsusan) because of the large roof resembling a huge umbrella.[1909kokugikan 2] Although it was a Western-style building, the roof imitated the kondo (centerpiece) of Horyuji Temple. The opening ceremony was held on June 2, 1909.
Originally set to be called Shobukan (lit. Home of Martial Arts) by the founding committee chairman Itagaki Taisuke, the building took the name of Kokugikan (lit. National Sports Hall) thanks to another member of the committee, writer Suiin Emi.[1909kokugikan 3]
The arena was thought to accommodate 13,000 people, including about 1,000 square seats. The inner diameter of the building was 62m, and the central height was 25m.[1909kokugikan 3] In 1931, the Japan Sumo Association decided to make the roof standing ontop of the ring in a Shinmei-zukuri style roof, replacing the old Irimoya-zukuri style.
The building of the Ryogoku Kokugikan consacrated the turn of Sumo from a Shinto ritual to a national sport.

Fire and earthquake, war damage and requisition

The fist Kokugikan suffered extensive damage during its years of service.
In November 1917, during the series of big fires in Tokyo. The arena burned down due to the accidental fire and its large roof collapsed.[1909kokugikan 4] The Ryogoku Kokugikan was destroyed for the first time and needed to be built from scrap. The total amount of damage amounted to about 1.2 million yen and the tournaments had to be held at the Yasukuni Shrine until the arena was rebuilt in January 1920, notably using zinc to fortify the roof.[1909kokugikan 5]
Three years later, in September 1923, the Ryogoku Kokugikan was destroyed in the Great Kantō earthquake[1909kokugikan 6] and tournaments had to be held at the Butokuden lot in Nagoya.[1909kokugikan 4]
In February 1944, the Kokugikan was requisitioned by the military and turned into a balloon bomb factory.[1909kokugikan 7] The Summer tournament was therefore held at the Korakuen Stadium (sekitori) and Meiji Jingu Stadium (Makushita and below).[1909kokugikan 4] In March 1945, an air raid over Tokyo damaged the Ryogoku Kokugikan and the surrounding sumo stables.[1909kokugikan 7] After the war, the Kokugikan was occupied by the allies forces and the budo ban was enforced, preventing tournaments until November. As the arena was requisitioned by the allies, the Kokugikan undergone a new phase of restoration and was renamed Ryogoku Memorial Hall. The renovations were completed by September 1946 leaving the November 1945 tournament to a burnt-out Kokugikan. The November basho of 1946 was the last tournament to occur in the arena.

Post sumo venues

Since then, the Kokugikan has been used for roller skating, professional boxing and professional wrestling. Japan's first public wrestling match was held at the Memorial Hall on September 30, 1951.[1909kokugikan 8] It was also used as the venue for the All Japan Judo Championships in May 1951.[1909kokugikan 9]
In 1958, the former Kokugikan (Ryogoku, Sumida Ward) was purchased from the Japan Sumo Association by the Nihon University, to create a large auditorium that could hold unified ceremonies such as entrance ceremonies and graduation ceremonies throughout the university. The Memorial Hall was therefore renamed Nihon University Auditorium (日大講堂).[1909kokugikan 10] During the Zenkyōtō the auditorium was used as a conference room for the protest rally.[1909kokugikan 11]
Due to aging equipments, notably failing to meet fire protection regulations, the building was dismantled in 1983. After the demolition, the complex building facility "Ryogoku City Core" and other offices, residences, and restaurants were built. In the courtyard, the location of the dohyo of the former Kokugikan is indicated by a circle on the ground.

First Ryogoku Kokugikan gallery

Ryogoku Kokugikan
両国国技館

Home of Sumo
Ryōgoku Kokugikan, view from the West with the Edo-Tokyo Museum in the background
Full name	Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena
Address	Sumida Tokyo Japan
Location	1 Chome-3-28 Yokoami
Coordinates	35.69694°N 139.79338°E / 35.69694; 139.79338
Public transit	JR East/Toei Subway: Chūō-Sōbu Line and Oedo Line at Ryogoku
Owner	Japan Sumo Association
Current use	Sumo venues, boxing, pro wrestling, and music concerts[1985kokugikan 1]
Construction
Broke ground	April 27, 1983
Built	1983-1985
Opened	January 9, 1985[1985kokugikan 2]
Architect	Takashi Sugiyama Architects
Builder	Kajima Corporation
Acreage	35,700m²
Website
https://ryogoku-kokugikan.jp/ (in Japanese)

The second Ryogoku Kokugikan

The second Ryogoku Kokugikan opened as the aging Kuramae Kokugikan became less practical due to modernization problems. Therefore, the Japan Sumo Association sought to purchase a new location to build a new arena.

History

The Japan Sumo Association, has been eyeing the location of the switchyard next to the former Ryogoku Station, therefore, the first consultation was held with the Japanese National Railways in June 1977. Wanting to eliminate a large deficit, the JNR thought that if the Kokugikan was built next to the station, the number of passengers would increase. As the land in Kuramae was selected as a candidate site for the construction of a sewage treatment plant in Tokyo, the association acquired the means to purchase the land located in Ryogoku. The move to Ryogoku was decided in 1980, and in March 1982, a land purchase contract was concluded between the Japanese National Railways and the Sumo Association.[1985kokugikan 3] The cost of purchasing land was of 15 billion yen with 14.5 billion yen provided by the association and 500 million yen of subsidies from the Ministry of Education.[1985kokugikan 3] As the project to built a new arena progressed, the overall picture of a Kokugikan which made full use of modern technology was solidified. The construction faced heavy challenges in terms of cost and construction period as the association requested that the construction be shortened by half a year, in place of the two years initially planned, and completed by January 1985.
On September 20, 1982, plans for the new Kokugikan were announced during a press conference. The new arena would be made of 3 floors above ground and 2 underground. The total floor area is 35,700m² and the seating capacity is 11,500. The ring and the square seats on the first floor are movable and can be stored for multi-purpose use, so that they can be used effectively outside the 45 days of the annual sumo competition.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on April 27, 1983. Both yokozuna Kitanoumi and yokozuna Chiyonofuji performed a yokozuna dohyo-iri as part of the Shinto ceremony. On January 9, 1985, the inauguration ceremony and unveiling party were held with 2,300 people in attendance. Following a solemn ritual, both yokozuna performed a yokozuna dohyo-iri, ozeki Wakashimazu and Asashio performed Shinto ritual sumo (called shinji-zumo, 神事相撲) and yokozuna Chiyonofuji and Kitanoumi performed a very rare sandangamae ceremony.[1985kokugikan 3]

Technical specifiquations

The planned construction site for the new Kokugikan is a place prone to urban floods, therefore the introduction of a rainwater utilization system for the Kokugikan was asked by the Sumida municipality. The roof area is 8,360m². Rainwater is stored in an underground 1,000m³ rainwater tank, and 70% of miscellaneous water used at the Kokugikan is covered by this rainwater. In the event of an earthquake, this water can be used as emergency domestic water. When a heavy snowfall falls, this rainwater can be ejected from the headdress on the roof to melt the snow. The ring is illuminated by 124 lights for TV broadcasts, and the angles of each are adjusted so as not to interfere with the wrestlers' mental unity and to prevent halation caused by the wrestlers' sweat. In addition, since Japanese people have dark hair, the lighting in the audience seats on the background of the ring is adjusted so that the colors appearing on the TV screen are not dark.[1985kokugikan 3] The Ryogoku Kokugikan houses the offices of the Japan Sumo Association[1985kokugikan 4] and, at the rear of building, the "Sumo School" where new recruits must complete a six-month course on various topics such as calligraphy, sports science, sumo history and civics in addition to sumo's basic movements and techniques.[1985kokugikan 5] Near the main entrance, two Inari shrines (called Toyokuni Inari and Shusse Inari) are dedicated to wrestlers safety and success. Originally the twin-shrines were built in the backyard of the former Ryogoku Kokugikan and were relocated in 1963 in the Kuramae Kokugikan before finally moving to their current location.
The arena also includes a number of dedicated venues such as the Sumo Museum, restaurants or a banquet hall for chankonabe tasting.

Emblematic venues also includes the Annaijo Entrance (lit. Information desk, also called Chaya-dori: Tea House Street), a flower-theme decorated corridor for souvenirs buying.[1985kokugikan 6] Now under the control of the Japan Sumo Association, the cha-ya were originally independent named teahouses that sold tickets and refreshments to their customers. Following a system of inheritance, today's 20 businesses can be dated back to the nineteenth century, the oldest teahouse dating back to 1818. Now the teahouses also offer gifts packages. Their services usually go to regular customers who have agreements in place. Attendants (called dekata) dressed in attire that resembles a yobidashi, guide patrons to their seats and supply them with refreshments in exchange of a tip.[1985kokugikan 7]

The Ryogoku Kokugikan also have its own yakitori skewers factory in the basement of the building.[1985kokugikan 8]

Sumo

For its first tournament, the Ryogoku Kokugikan was visited by the Emperor Shōwa. It was the first time Tenran-sumo was performed on the first day of the first tournament of the year. The January 1985 tournament also marked a milestone in Sumo as yokozuna Chiyonofuji achieved a zenshō yusho while yokozuna Kitanoumi (who had been yokozuna for 10 years) announced his retirement on the third day of the tournament after three consecutives defeats.
Since its completion, the Ryogoku Kokugikan is the place where every Tokyo tournaments are held : in January, May and September. The arena also holds other sumo related events such as retirement ceremonies, known as danpatsu-shiki, where sekitori-ranked wrestlers ritually cut their topknot in a long and solemn ceremony. Only sekitori with at least 30 tournaments in the top division can qualify for a ceremony at the Kokugikan, other wrestlers usually perform the ceremony at hotels or in their stable.[1985kokugikan 9] Kanreki dohyo-iri ceremonies, where former yokozuna celebrate their sixtieth birthday during a particular yokozuna dohyo-iri ceremony, are also usually held at the Kokugikan.[1985kokugikan 10]
The Kokugikan also holds sumo events for boys such as the Goodwill Sumo Tournament, and high-school championships, such as the National Junior High School Sumo Tournament.[1985kokugikan 11] The arena also regularly hold the All Japan Sumo Championships (Japan Sumo Federation main event) and Hakuho Cup (a children's sumo event). Also, prior to each Tokyo tournaments, willing wrestlers will meet in joint training in the training room of the Sumo School for four to six days. These trainings are usually in presence of the press and oyakata. Finally, the public broadcast company NHK hold in the Kokugikan its own Sumo event, called the NHK Welfare Sumo Tournament (NHK福祉大相撲). Taking place each February, this charity event has been held since 1966. It takes the form of a festival where traditional jungyo activities are performed (sumo wrestlers songs, yokozuna's tsuna exhibition, makuuchi bouts). The profits are donated to social care institutions across the country.[1985kokugikan 12]

Other sports

Like the Kuramae Kokugikan, the Ryogoku Kokugikan hosted a number of wrestling events as soon as its first year of service. In September 1985, the first wrestling card, promoted by All Japan Pro Wrestling, happened with the first Japanese appearance of the Road Warriors.[1985kokugikan 13] In December of the same year, New Japan Pro Wrestling held its first card in the Ryogoku.[1985kokugikan 13] It became a regular venue for NJPW's cards such as G1 Climax. In 1998, Antonio Inoki's Universal Fighting Arts Organization held its first card at the arena.[1985kokugikan 14] As All Japan began to use the Nippon Budokan as main venue, the Ryogoku Kokugikan became established as a venue for rival puroresu promotion New Japan Pro Wrestling. In 2009, Dynamic Dream Team Wrestling held its first card in the arena.[1985kokugikan 15] WWE also held numerous events in the Ryogoku between 2010 and 2015, the latest being WWE's The Beast in the East.
The Kokugikan also host Boxing competitions including the hosting of the boxing competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics.[1985kokugikan 16]

Other events

In 1992, The Kokugikan hosted the very first official Street Fighter II tournament. In 2017 it hosted Ferrari's 70th anniversary celebrations.[1985kokugikan 1] Paul McCartney performed a concert at the venue as part of his world tour "Freshen Up" on November 5, 2018.
In May 2021 the stadium was used as a vaccination center for the COVID-19 vaccine, with some retired sumo wrestlers among those getting vaccinated.[1985kokugikan 17]

Second Ryogoku Kokugikan gallery

In other media

The Ryogoku Kokugikan is featured in anime series such as boxing manga and anime Hajime no Ippo, where some of the characters participate in boxing matches in the Ryōgoku Kokugikan. Also Sumo mangas, such as Aah! Harimanada and Hinomaru Zumō, are held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan. In the manga series Prison School, some of the characters attend a student sumo tournament in the Ryōgoku Kokugikan.

Transportation links

The arena is served by the Ryōgoku Station with platforms to the south and east of the arena. The JR East Chūō-Sōbu Line platforms to the south are served by local trains while rapid trains bypass the platforms by going through a tunnel north of the platforms. The two main platforms are built as an island platform, with trains heading west to Tokyo and east to Chiba, while there is a third terminal platform that is only used on special event days. The Toei Subway Ōedo Line platforms lie in a north–south axis directly underneath Kiyosumi Street to the east of the arena. There are regular trains to Iidabashi and Tochomae from platform 1 and Daimon and Roppongi from platform 2.

See also

• List of indoor arenas in Japan

Notes

1.^ Ban on martial arts gatherings enforced from 1945 to 1950.[1909kokugikan 12]

2.^ Called Takasago, Kinokuni, Yamato, Yoshikazu, Minohisa, Nakahashi, Wakashima, Joshu, Nishikawa, Mikawaya, Kamisho, Shimman, Musashiya, Hakuho, Hasegawa, Kabira, Fujishima, Isefuku, Tatekawa and Hayashi.[1985kokugikan 18]

3.^ Tenran-sumo (天覧相撲) are sumo bouts in presence of the emperor.

References

1909 Kokugikan

1985 Kokugikan

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ryogoku Kokugikan.

• Ryogoku Kokugikan - Japan Sumo Association (in Japanese)
• 100 years of the Kokugikan
• Old Tokyo Blog (sourced website on 18th century Tokyo)
• Google Maps Street View inside the arena
• Google Maps Street View inside the Teahouse Street

На других языках

[de] Ryōgoku Kokugikan

[es] Arena Kokugikan

[fr] Ryōgoku Kokugikan

[ru] Рёгоку Кокугикан