Meiji Jingu Gaien Stadium (明治神宮外苑競技場, Meiji Jingū Gaien Kyōgijō) was a multi-use stadium located in the Meiji Jingu Gaien (Meiji Shrine Outer Garden) district of Tokyo, Japan. It was one of the first large-scale modern stadiums in Japan and served as a major venue for national and international sporting events from its opening in 1924 until its demolition in 1957.
Location and Design
The stadium was situated in the Aoyama area of Tokyo, within the Meiji Jingu Gaien complex in what was then Yotsuya Ward (now part of Shinjuku). It was designed by Kobayashi Masakazu, an engineer of the Meiji Shrine Construction Bureau (内務省明治神宮造営局). The design featured a 400-meter oval running track oriented north-south, with a main stand on the western side constructed of reinforced concrete. The main stand included a central VIP section, 26 tiers of general seating accommodating approximately 13,400 spectators, and internal facilities such as offices, changing rooms, a press room, and a dining area. The grass areas around the track could accommodate an additional 20,000 spectators, giving the stadium a total capacity of approximately 35,000 (some sources cite a maximum capacity of up to 65,000 including standing room). Towers stood at both ends of the main stand, with a large clock on the northern tower.
The infield, measuring approximately 160.58 meters by 67.39 meters, was planted with grass and designed for use by soccer, rugby, and hockey. Field event areas for jumping and throwing disciplines were located in the semicircular ends of the track.
Construction and Opening
Planning for the stadium began in 1915 with the establishment of the Meiji Jingu Hōsankai (Meiji Shrine Support Association), which commissioned the design and construction of the outer garden. The cornerstone ceremony was held on November 9, 1922. Construction was interrupted by the Great Kantō Earthquake of September 1, 1923, but later resumed. The total construction cost was approximately 7.26 million yen at the time.
The stadium's completion ceremony was held on October 25, 1924, and the first Meiji Jingu Athletic Meet (明治神宮競技大会) was held there from October 30 to November 3, 1924, organized by the Ministry of Home Affairs. From the third edition in 1926, the event was renamed the Meiji Jingu Sports Meet (明治神宮体育大会) and was held biennially until 1939, after which it was held annually under the name Meiji Jingu National Sports Meet until 1943.
Notable Events
1930 Far Eastern Games
The stadium served as the main venue for the 9th Far Eastern Championship Games, held in Tokyo from May 24 to 31, 1930. This was one of the largest pre-war international multi-sport events in Asia, featuring teams from Japan, China, the Philippines, and other regional nations. The event drew a total attendance exceeding 450,000 across the eight-day competition.
Athletics World Records
At the 6th Meiji Jingu Sports Meet on October 27, 1931, Japanese athletes Oda Mikio (triple jump) and Nanbu Chūhei (long jump) set new world records at the stadium.
American Football
On November 29, 1934, the stadium hosted the first official American football match in Japan, between a Japanese student selection team and a Yokohama foreign residents' team.
World War II Era
On October 21, 1943, the stadium hosted the "Send-off Ceremony for Student Conscripts" (出陣学徒壮行会), organized by the Ministry of Education's School National Service Corps Headquarters, during which approximately 25,000 student conscripts marched through the stadium in heavy rain.
In 1944, the entire outer garden area, including the stadium, was taken over for military use. During an air raid on May 25, 1945, the stadium was bombed, and large quantities of stored fuel and charcoal burned for three days.
Allied Occupation Period
Following Japan's surrender in 1945, the Meiji Jingu Gaien area was requisitioned by the Allied occupation forces. The stadium was renamed "Nile Kinnick Stadium" by the Eighth Army, in honor of Nile Kinnick, the winner of the 1939 Heisman Trophy who died as a soldier in 1943. The occupation continued until 1952, though Japanese use of the facility continued during this period. On October 1, 1950, the Waseda–Keio soccer regular match was held as Japan's first night soccer game at the stadium.
Post-War Events
In 1949, the stadium hosted the track and field events and closing ceremony of the 4th National Sports Festival (国民体育大会). In 1952, following the return of the facility, a major renovation was undertaken, including Japan's first installation of an all-weather (antuka) track surface.
In March 1954, the stadium hosted two 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification matches between Japan and South Korea. Because the South Korean side refused entry to the Japanese team, both matches were held in Japan. Japan lost the first match 1–5 and drew the second 2–2, resulting in South Korea's qualification for the World Cup.
Demolition and Successor
In 1954, it was decided that Tokyo would host the Asian Games, and the Japanese government resolved to demolish the Meiji Jingu Gaien Stadium and construct a new National Stadium on the same site. A farewell ceremony was held on November 25, 1956, and the stadium was demolished between January and April 1957. The National Stadium (国立霞ヶ丘陸上競技場, later known as the old National Stadium) was completed on March 30, 1958, and served as the main venue for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. That stadium was itself demolished in 2015 and replaced by the New National Stadium, which opened in 2019.
Legacy
The Meiji Jingu Gaien Stadium is recognized as the first large-scale modern stadium in Japan and the predecessor of the National Stadium. Its site within the Meiji Jingu Gaien complex remains a significant sports and cultural area in central Tokyo. The broader Jingu Gaien district has been the subject of an ongoing urban redevelopment project since the 2020s, which has generated public debate over the preservation of the area's historic ginkgo tree avenues and green spaces.
