Japan National Stadium, Multi-purpose sports venue in Kasumigaoka, Tokyo, Japan.
The Japan National Stadium is a multi-purpose facility in Kasumigaoka that rises five stories above ground and extends two levels below, with a total capacity of 68,000 seats. The seating tiers wrap around an oval athletics track with a grass pitch at the center, while timber features from across Japan line the interiors and exterior cladding.
The stadium replaced the 1958 National Stadium, demolished in 2015. Zaha Hadid's 2012 winning design was scrapped in July 2015 by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over costs, and Kengo Kuma's bid with Taisei Corporation was chosen that December. Construction ran from December 2016 to completion in November 2019, with the opening event on December 21, 2019. The first sports event was the Emperor's Cup final on January 1, 2020, before the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics.
The building features timber sourced from each of Japan's 47 prefectures, woven into its framework as a nod to regional craftsmanship. This approach echoes centuries-old carpentry traditions where local materials are paired with skilled joinery techniques.
The venue provides 450 wheelchair spaces and links to three nearby railway stations within a five-minute walk. Visitors will find entrances on multiple levels that allow direct access to different seating sections.
The stadium's 47.4-metre height was deliberately kept low to emphasise a horizontal line against the Meiji Jingu Gaien trees, and the three-tiered eaves under the roof were inspired by the five-storey pagoda at Horyu-ji. Around 2,000 cubic metres of cedar and larch gathered from all 47 prefectures were used, lightened with paint.
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