National Yoyogi Stadium, Second Gymnasium

The National Yoyogi Stadium is one of the most important architectural icons of postwar Japan. The complex was designed by architect Kenzo Tange in collaboration with structural engineer Yoshikatsu Tsuboi and built for the 1964 Summer Olympics. The building is known for its striking suspension roof, which was groundbreaking at the time and had a major international influence, including on the design of the 1972 Munich Olympic Stadium. When Tange was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1987, the Yoyogi complex was explicitly cited as one of the finest buildings of the twentieth century. In 2021, the stadium was officially designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan, as a monumental example of postwar architecture. The Second Gymnasium, smaller and more rounded in shape than the First Gymnasium, shares the same architectural signature and is now used for a wide range of events, from sporting competitions to concerts and martial arts events such as K-1. The Second Gymnasium has seating for 4,002 spectators, including eight wheelchair spaces and accompanying seats. The adjacent First Gymnasium is considerably larger and offers approximately 12,900 to 13,000 seats, depending on the configuration. The complex was an Olympic venue in 1964 and again during the 2020 Games, which were held in 2021. Its broader event history includes world figure skating championships, world volleyball championships, NHL ice hockey games, and concerts by Queen and Britney Spears.