Yoyogi National Gymnasium facts for kids
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Yoyogi
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| Location | 2-1, Jinnan, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan |
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| Coordinates | 35°40′3.0″N 139°42′1.1″E / 35.667500°N 139.700306°E |
| Public transit | Tokyo Metro (at Meiji-jingumae): C Chiyoda Line F Fukutoshin Line JR East: JY Yamanote Line at Harajuku |
| Owner | Japan Sport Council |
| Capacity | 1st Gymnasium:
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| Construction | |
| Broke ground | February 1963 |
| Opened | October 1964 |
| Architect | Kenzo Tange |
The Yoyogi National Gymnasium is a famous indoor sports arena in Tokyo, Japan. It's located near Yoyogi Park in Shibuya. This building is well-known for its unique roof design, which looks like it's hanging from cables.
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Contents
History and Design
The Yoyogi National Gymnasium was designed by a famous architect named Kenzo Tange. Construction started in 1961 and finished in 1964. It was built especially for the 1964 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo.
During the 1964 Olympics, the main gymnasium was used for swimming and diving events. The smaller building next to it hosted basketball games. The design of the Yoyogi Gymnasium was so impressive that it even inspired other architects. For example, it influenced the design of the Olympic Stadium in Munich, Germany.
What Happens There Now?
Today, the Yoyogi National Gymnasium is a busy place. It can hold over 13,000 people. It's mostly used for different sports like ice hockey, futsal, basketball, and volleyball.
It also hosted handball competitions during the 2020 Summer Olympics. The building is right next to the NHK television studios. Because of this, you can often see pictures of the gymnasium at the end of NHK Newsline broadcasts.
Major Events
The Yoyogi National Gymnasium has been the site of many exciting events over the years.
Sports Championships
- The 1977 World Figure Skating Championships and the 1985 World Figure Skating Championships were held here.
- It hosted the official 1971 Asian Basketball Championship for men.
- The official 1982 Asian Basketball Championship for Women also took place at the gymnasium.
- The finals of the 2006 Women's Volleyball World Championship and the 2010 Women's Volleyball World Championship were played here.
- Since 2007, it has been the venue for the Cheerleading Asia International Open Championships (CAIOC).
Famous Concerts and Shows
Many popular music artists and groups have performed at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium.
- In 1985, the legendary band Queen performed a concert that was recorded.
- Westlife performed here in 2001 as part of their "Where Dreams Come True Tour."
- SM Entertainment brought their "SMTown Live '10 World Tour" to the venue in 2011.
- The popular K-Pop group Girls' Generation held several concerts here in 2011 and 2014.
- Britney Spears performed two sold-out concerts in 2017 during her "Britney: Live in Concert" tour.
- More recently, many K-Pop groups have performed here, including Stray Kids (2019, 2022), NiziU (2022, 2023), Twice (2022), aespa (2023), and Le Sserafim (2023).
- Japanese groups like AKB48, Nogizaka46, Sakurazaka46, and Hinatazaka46 have also held major concerts at the gymnasium.
- In 2024, Hololive GAMERS fes. Cho-Cho-Cho-Cho GAMERS was held here.
See also
- List of indoor arenas in Japan
