Nippon Budokan

Nippon Budokan
日本武道館
Budokan
Location 2-3 Kitanomarukōen, Chiyoda, Tokyo 102-8321, Japan
Coordinates 35°41′36″N 139°45′00″E / 35.69333°N 139.75000°E / 35.69333; 139.75000
Public transit Tokyo Metro/Toei Subway
(at Kudanshita):
S Toei Shinjuku Line
T Tozai Line
Z Hanzomon Line
Owner The Nippon Budokan Foundation
Capacity 14,471
Field size Height: 42 m (140 ft)
Construction
Built 1964
Opened October 3, 1964
Construction cost 2 billion Japanese yen
(5.6 million USD in 1964)
Architect Mamoru Yamada
Main contractors Takenaka Corporation

Nippon Budokan (日本武道館, Nippon Budōkan), often shortened to simply Budokan, is an indoor arena located in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan.

The Budokan is the venue where a number of famous live albums were recorded, including those of Bob Dylan, Cheap Trick, Dream Theater and Ozzy Osbourne. The Nippon Budokan, however, was originally built for the judo competition in the 1964 Summer Olympics, hence its name, which translates in English as Martial Arts Hall.

It was the host arena for the official 1967 Women's Volleyball World Championship.

Location

The Nippon Budokan is located in Kitanomaru Park in the center of Tokyo, two minutes' walking distance from Kudanshita Subway Station, and near the Imperial Palace and Yasukuni Shrine. This 42 m (140 ft) high imposing octagonal structure holds 14,471 people (arena seats: 2,946, 1st floor seats: 3,199, 2nd floor seats: 7,846, standee: 480).[1] The building is modeled after Yumedono (Hall of Dreams) in Hōryū-ji in Nara.

Venue history

Martial arts

The 57th Japan National Kendo Championship (3 November 2009)

Though it still functions as a venue for big musical events, its primary purpose is for Japanese martial arts. The national championships of the different branches of the martial arts (judo, kendo, karate, aikido, etc.) are held annually at the Budokan. For wrestling fans the Budokan is associated with professional wrestling's big shows, typically from All Japan Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah. However, due to declining business following the death of Mitsuharu Misawa and the retirement of Kenta Kobashi, professional wrestling promotions have ceased running regular shows in the Budokan.

The Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki hybrid rules fight held at the Budokan in 1976 is seen as a forerunner to mixed martial arts. K-1, Shooto and Pride Fighting Championships have all held events at the arena.

Music

A concert stage at Budokan

The Beatles were the first rock group to perform here, in a series of shows in June/July 1966. Their appearances were met with opposition from those who felt the appearance of a western pop group would defile the martial arts arena.[2]

In July 1973 Japanese television recorded the Santana performance at Budokan.

However, the Budokan gained worldwide fame when American artists Cheap Trick and Bob Dylan used the arena to record their performances, Cheap Trick at Budokan (1978) and Bob Dylan at Budokan (1979), respectively. In explaining the popularity of the venue for live albums, Eric Clapton described the Tokyo audience as "almost overappreciative" in interviews promoting Just One Night (1980), his own live album recorded at Budokan.

Artists to release live recordings from this venue include:

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

American crossover thrash band Stormtroopers of Death released a live album titled Live at Budokan (1992), though the title was in jest and the album was recorded at famed New York City venue The Ritz.

The original Beatles concert is heavily bootlegged on audio and video;[8] the first night's concert video was officially released by Apple in Japan only as Beatles Concert at Budokan 1966, and excerpts are shown in The Beatles Anthology, while the second Anthology album included the first show's performances of "Rock and Roll Music" and "She's A Woman". The venue is one of the stages in The Beatles: Rock Band video game.[9] Chatmonchy currently holds the record for the largest crowd at Budokan.

South Korean Girl group T-ara was the first Korean female artist to perform in Nippon Budokan in 2012 and the only Korean female artist to perform there twice in 2013. South Korean Girl group became the second Korean female artist to perform in Nippon Budokan after T-ara in 2017.

Other events

The National Memorial Service for War Dead is held with the attendance of the Prime Minister, the Emperor and the Empress annually in Budokan on August 15, the day of Japan's surrender.

As well as holding the Live Concert in appreciation of the Popular Anime series Lucky Star:Live in Budokan (Anata No Tame Dakara)

A concert was held in honor of Studio Ghibli's 25th anniversary at the Budokan, hosted by Joe Hisaishi. It included repertoire from most of the films Hisaishi composed for Hayao Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli filmography.

Diana Ross performed and taped her "Here and Now" television special in 1991 to a sold out audience.

The Japan Record Awards took place in the arena from 1985 to 1993 where all of the artists from around the country receive these awards.

Muhammad Ali won a unanimous decision over Mac Foster in their 1972 heavyweight boxing match.

On August 27, 2011, Japan's three biggest professional wrestling promotions; All Japan Pro Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah came together to produce a charity event titled All Together at the arena.

Professional wrestler and legend in Japan Kenta Kobashi wrestled his final match in Budokan on May 11, 2013. Kobashi is synonymous with the arena along with fellow wrestlers Toshiaki Kawada and the late Mitsuharu Misawa.

In November the Budokan is a 2 day-venue for the annual Japan Self-Defense Force Marching Festival, a yearly tradition and the nation's military tattoo first held here in 1978.[10]

Other uses

A fictional concert hall based on Nippon Budokan appeared in the music video game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock under the name "Kaiju Megadome." The Beatles' appearance at Nippon Budokan was featured in The Beatles: Rock Band.

References

  1. ↑ 日本武道館建物概要（アリーナ面積・座席表） (in Japanese). Nippon Budoukan. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  2. ↑ "Japan keeps Lennon's memory alive". BBC News. December 8, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
  3. ↑ Personal memoir, Todd Fischer
  4. ↑ "Duran Duran Music". Duran Duran Music. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  5. ↑ "Duran Duran DURAN DURAN TIMELINE". Duran Duran. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  6. ↑ see 'other'
  7. ↑ "Lee Seung-gi Mesmerizes Fans in Japan's Budokan". HanCinema. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  8. ↑ Unterberger, Richie (2006). The Unreleased Beatles: Music & Film. Hal Leonard Corporation. pp. 321–322. ISBN 978-0-87930-892-6.
  9. ↑ The Beatles Rock Band: If I Needed Someone- Sight Read (100% FC Gold Stars). YouTube. 5 September 2009. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  10. ↑ "DVIDS - News - III MEF Band impresses at Budokan". DVIDS. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
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Preceded by
Imperial Garden Theater		 Host of the
Japan Record Awards
1985–1993 		Succeeded by
TBS Broadcast Center
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