Nippon Budokan Facts for Kids

Outside of the arena

Nippon Budokan is a very famous arena located in Chiyoda-ku, a part of Tokyo, Japan. It's known for hosting many different events, especially martial arts competitions and big concerts. It has a special design, looking a bit like a traditional Japanese temple.

What is Nippon Budokan?
- A Home for Martial Arts
- More Than Just Sports
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What is Nippon Budokan?

Nippon Budokan is a large indoor building where many events take place. It's not just a sports stadium; it's also a popular place for music concerts. The name "Budokan" means "Martial Arts Hall" in Japanese. This shows its main purpose when it was first built.

A Home for Martial Arts

The Budokan was originally built for the 1964 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo. It was the main venue for judo, which was introduced as an Olympic sport for the first time that year. Since then, it has become a very important place for Japanese martial arts.

Many national championships for different martial arts are held here. These include:

Judo
Kendo (Japanese fencing)
Karate
Aikido
Kyūdō (Japanese archery)

It's a dream for many martial artists to compete in the Budokan. It was also used again for judo and karate events during the 2020 Summer Olympics, which were held in 2021.

More Than Just Sports

Even though its name means "Martial Arts Hall," Nippon Budokan is also famous for music. Many Japanese and international music artists have performed concerts here. It's considered a special place to play for musicians.

The arena can hold about 14,471 people. This makes it a great size for both large sports events and popular concerts. Its unique octagonal shape makes it stand out in Tokyo.