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Budokan

Nippon Budokan
日本武道館
Budokan
Nippon Budokan Hall Main entrance
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.

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). The building is modeled after Yumedono (Hall of Dreams) in Hōryū-ji in Nara.

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.


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