Kokugikan - Sumo Hall

This name was given to the permanent sumo hall that was completed in June 1909 (Meiji 42) on the grounds of Ekoin Temple in Honjo Ryogoku, Tokyo. The opening speech on the day was written by the writer Emi Suiin, and included the phrase "sumo is Japan's national sport." As a result, sumo was renamed Kokugikan in January of the following year, after Oguruma Oyakata (former ozeki Ootohira), an association official, recommended this phrase. The large, circular building with a large iron umbrella, which was rare at the time, gained a reputation as a new Tokyo attraction, and in addition to the two annual tournaments, it also hosted a summer summer tournament and an autumn chrysanthemum doll exhibition. Kokugikans were subsequently built in other places, including Asakusa, Osaka, Kyoto, and Toyama. The Ryōgoku Kokugikan was burned down many times, including in 1917 (Taishō 6), the Great Kanto Earthquake (1923), and damage during World War II, and was restored, but after the war it was taken over by the occupying forces and renamed Memorial Hall. After the takeover was lifted in 1958 (Showa 33), it became Nihon University Auditorium, and was demolished in 1983. During that time, the Sumo Association, which had lost its home base, moved around to places such as the grounds of Meiji Shrine and Hamacho Park in search of a venue for its performances, eventually moving to the temporary Kokugikan in Kuramae in 1950. Later, in the autumn of 1954, the Kokugikan was completed in Kuramae as a gymnasium-style building, and it became the regular venue for the Tokyo tournaments three times a year (January, May, September).

However, due to the use of old materials from a former naval hangar, it had deteriorated significantly, so a new Kokugikan was built on the site of the former marshalling yard on the north side of Ryogoku Station (1-20 Yokoami, Sumida-ku). Construction began in April 1983, and the sumo ring was opened in January 1985. The site area is 18,280 square meters, the building area is 13,000 square meters, and the two aboveground floors have a square Japanese-style large corner-cut roof. The box seats and sumo ring on the first floor have storage facilities and can be turned into a flat dirt floor, making it a multi-purpose hall for boxing, judo, professional wrestling, etc. There are box seats and VIP seats at the front of the second floor, and handicapped seats on the first and second floors. The capacity is approximately 11,500 people. Inside the building, there is a sumo information center (formerly called the Sumo Teahouse), a sumo museum on the first floor, and a sumo training center on the second floor. There is a sumo clinic on the first basement floor and a parking lot with capacity for 95 cars on the second basement floor.

[Masao Ikeda]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

1909年（明治42）6月、東京・本所両国の回向院(えこういん)境内に完成した相撲(すもう)常設館に命名された名称。開館当日の式辞を文士の江見水蔭(えみすいいん)が執筆したが、文中に「相撲は日本の国技」の表現があり、協会役員の尾車(おぐるま)親方（元大関大戸平）がこの辞句を推薦したため、翌年1月には国技館と改称した。当時としては珍しい大鉄傘円形の大建築は東京新名所として評判をよび、年2場所の本場所のほか夏の納涼大会、秋の菊人形展などが催された。その後、浅草、大阪、京都、富山など各地にも国技館が建てられた。両国国技館は1917年（大正6）、関東大震災（1923）、第二次世界大戦による戦災などで再三焼け、修復されたが、戦後占領軍に接収され、メモリアルホールと改称し、接収解除後の1958年（昭和33）日本大学講堂となり、1983年に取り壊された。その間本拠地を失った相撲協会は、興行場所を求めて、明治神宮境内や浜町公園などを転々とし、1950年から蔵前仮設国技館に移った。その後1954年秋、蔵前に体育館様式建築で国技館が完成し、以降東京場所年3回（1月、5月、9月）の定場所となった。

　しかし、旧海軍格納庫の古材使用のため、老朽化が著しく、新しく両国駅北側操車場跡地（墨田(すみだ)区横網1-20）に新国技館を建設することになり、1983年4月に新築工事を始め、1985年1月完成した新国技館で、土俵開きが行われた。敷地面積1万8280平方メートル、建築面積1万3000平方メートル、地上2階は正方形の和風隅切型大屋根の外観で、1階枡席(ますせき)と土俵は収納装置をもち、平土間にすることができ、ボクシング、柔道、プロレスなど多目的ホールとして利用される。なお2階前面にも枡席、貴賓席、1・2階に身障者席などが設置されている。収容人員約1万1500。館内の地上1階には相撲案内所（旧称相撲茶屋）、相撲博物館、2階に相撲教習所がある。地下1階に相撲診療所、地下2階に95台収納の駐車場がある。

［池田雅雄］

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