Nippon Budokan (日本武道館, Nippon Budōkan), often shortened to simply Budokan, is an indoor arena located in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. Budokan was originally built for the judo competition in the 1964 Summer Olympics, hence its name, which translates in English as Martial Arts Hall. Its primary purpose is to host martial arts contests and for a time was a popular venue for Japanese professional wrestling. It has hosted numerous other sporting events such as the 1967 Women's Volleyball World Championship and other events such as musical concerts.
A number of famous rock music acts have played at Budokan, such
as Tina Turner in 1985. The Beatles were the first rock group to
play there, in a series of concerts held between June 30 and July
2, 1966. Another big act to enter the stage at Budokan were ABBA.
They ended their last tour there, ABBA: The Tour. Their final show,
on 27. March 1980, also came to be the last live concert they did
together. Several live albums were recorded at Budokan, including
releases by Bryan Adams, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Cheap Trick,
Dream Theater, John Hiatt, Kiss, Mr. Big, Ozzy Osbourne, and
Journey.
Location
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. The
42 m (140 ft) high 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.
Venue
history
Martial
arts
Although it also 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. The
Budokan has also been 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 has ceased running regular shows in the Budokan. During
Wrestle Kingdom 12, New Japan Pro Wrestling announced that its
yearly G1 Climax tournament's finals would be held at the
Budokan.
The Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki hybrid rules fight held at
the Budokan in 1976 is seen as a forerunner to mixed martial arts.
K-1, Shooto and Pride Fighting Championships have all held events
at the arena.
Music
The Beatles were the first rock group to perform at Budokan in a
series of five shows held between June 30 and July 2, 1966. Their
appearances were met with opposition from those who felt the
appearance of a western pop group would defile the martial arts
arena.
In July 1973 Japanese television recorded the Santana
performance at Budokan.
The Budokan gained worldwide fame when American artists Cheap
Trick and Bob Dylan used the arena to record their performances,
Cheap Trick at Budokan (1978) and Bob Dylan at
Budokan (1979). In explaining the popularity of the venue for
live albums, Eric Clapton described the Tokyo audience as "almost
overappreciative" in interviews promoting Just One Night
(1980), his own live album recorded at the Budokan.
The record for the most Budokan music concerts is held by
Eikichi Yazawa, 142 times as of December 19, 2017.
Artists that have released live recordings from the venue
include:
1970s
- Led Zeppelin; September 23 and 24, 1971 and October 2 and 3,
1972.
- Chicago; June 8, 1972.
- Uriah Heep; 1973, (Live concert filmed on 16mm for television.
DVD versions available)
- Deep Purple; 1972; for the last of the three concerts making up
their Made in Japan live album.
- The Carpenters; June 7–9, 1974; Live in Japan
- Queen; 1975, 1976, and 1979.
- Rainbow; December 16, 1976; On Stage Rainbow performed
here both afternoon and evening shows at 3:00 pm and
6:00 p.m.
- Aerosmith; 1977 (Jan-Feb); see the Japanese record Rocks
Budokan (label Calm&Storm).
- Fleetwood Mac; December 5, 1977 and February 3, 4th and 5,
1980
- Bay City Rollers; 1977; released as Rollerworld: Live at the
Budokan 1977 in 2001.
- Kiss; 1977 and 1978.
- Cheap Trick; April 27, 28 and 30, 1978; Cheap Trick at
Budokan
- Ian Gillan Band; 1977–1978; Live at the Budokan (Vols.
1-2).
- Eric Clapton; December 1979; Just One Night.
- Diana Ross; 1977; "An Evening with Diana Ross" concert was
videotaped during her 1977 tour.
- Coloratura Soprano Julie Andrews; 1977 "An Evening with Julie
Andrews" concert was part of a highly acclaimed sold out national
tour of Japan by Julie Andrews
- Eikichi Yazawa; 1977; Super Live Nippon Budokan,
recorded his Budokan concerts of 1977.
- Bob Dylan; 1979; Bob Dylan at Budokan, recorded during
his 1978 world tour.
1980s
- Sadao Watanabe; 1980; How's Everything.
- ABBA; 1980;
- Momoe Yamaguchi; 1980; Budokan at Last
- Yellow Magic Orchestra; 1980; Live at Budokan 1980,
recorded 1980, released 1993.
- The Police; 1981; Budokan Radio On, released 1988.
- Michael Schenker Group; 1981; One Night at Budokan,
released in 1982, deluxe edition released in 2009
- Quincy Jones; 1981; Quincy Jones Live at the
Budokan.
- Toto; 1982; Live at Budokan 1982, Toto IV Tour.
- Dave Grusin; 1983; Dave Grusin and the NY-LA Dream Band.
- Michael Schenker Group; 1982; One Night at Budokan.
- Asia; 1983; Live at Budokan, Asia in Asia.
- Frank Sinatra; 1985; Live at the Budokan Hall,
Tokyo
- Queen; 1981 and 1985.
- Iron Maiden; 1987, "Somewhere on tour"
- Dead or Alive; 1987 video Rip It Up Live
(VHS/Laserdisc)
1990s
- Seiko Matsuda - Precious Moment ~1990 Live at Budokan~
- Loudness - Live Loudest at the Budokan '91
- Tin Machine; 1992; who recorded a portion of Tin Machine
Live: Oy Vey, Baby, during the It's My Life Tour.
- Skid Row - Live at Budokan, Tokyo 1992.
- Diana Ross, Tokyo 1992; 'The Force Behind the Power World
Tour'
- The Doobie Brothers; 1993; Live at Budokan.
- Yngwie Malmsteen; 1994; video Live at Budokan 94,
VHS/DVD.
- Blur; 1995-6; recorded a live compilation CD, Live at the
Budokan, in 1995, at the height of Britpop; it was released in
1996.
- Chic; 1996; performance later released as Live at the
Budōkan (1999). This was bassist Bernard Edwards's last
performance; he died the next day.
- Diana Ross; 1996; 'Take Me Higher World Tour'
- Prince; 1996 Prince performed four concerts during the year as
the Artist formerly known as Prince.
- Mr. Big; 1997; recorded Live at Budokan in 1997 (and
Back to Budokan in 2009).
- Oasis; 1998; Oasis performed three nights in a row during their
'Be Here Now tour'.
- Puffy; 1998; Recorded Jet Tour '98 in support of the album
Jet-CD.
- Malice Mizer; 1998; two night stint at the Budokan in support
of Merveilles, which yielded their live video Merveilles
~Shuuen to Kisuu~ L'Espace.
- Journey; 1998; Recorded several songs from their Frontiers Tour
in 1983 at the Budokan which was included on their live album
Greatest Hits Live.
- Ms. Lauryn Hill; 1999; The Miseducation Tour (two sold-out
shows)
- Janet Jackson; 1999; The Velvet Rope Tour (five sold-out
shows)
- Faye Wong; 1999; Budokan Live (for further information
see: Faye Wong#1999: Venturing into Japan).
2000s
- Bryan Adams; 2000; Live at the Budokan.
- Morning Musume; 2000; DVD Morning Musume First Live at
Budōkan: Dancing Love Site 2000 Haru (Also Sayaka Ichii's
graduation from the group)
- Malice Mizer; 2-night stint at the Budokan in support of
Bara no Seidou, which yielded their live video Bara ni
Irodorareta Akui to Higeki no Makuake.
- Bay City Rollers; 2001; Rollerworld, Live at the Budokan 1977,
released as Rollerworld: Live at the Budokan 1977 in
2001.
- Ozzy Osbourne; 2002; filmed CD/DVD combination Live at
Budokan.
- Pearl Jam; 2003; recorded an official bootleg at Budokan during
their Riot Act Tour (for further information see: Pearl Jam#Riot
Act: 2002–2005).
- Duran Duran; July 11 + 12, 2003; played at Budokan; shows
recorded live
- Mariah Carey; 2003; performed three concert shows, part of her
Charmbracelet World Tour on July 6, 8 and 10.
- Incubus; March 3, 2004; performed at Budokan and show recorded
as CD Live in Japan 2004 on June 1, 2004
- Dream Theater; 2004; 2DVD/3CD Live at Budokan.
- Hikaru Utada; July 28, 2004; video Utada Hikaru in Budokan
2004: Hikaru no 5.
- Judas Priest; 2005; DVD Rising in the East.
- Nana Mizuki; 2005; DVD Nana Mizuki Live Rainbow at
Budokan.
- Avril Lavigne; 2005; DVD Live at Budokan: Bonez Tour,
Bonez Tour.
- Hikaru Utada; 2006; video Utada United 2006 (Hikaru
Utada discography#Video Releases)
- Nana Mizuki; 2006; DVD Nana Mizuki Livedom -Birth- at
Budokan.
- MUCC; 2006; DVD World Tour Final Nippon Budokan 666
- Morning Musume; 2006; DVD Morning Musume Concert Tour 2006
Aki: Odore! Morning Curry
- The Gazette; 2006; DVD Standing Live Tour 2006 [Nameless
Liberty. Six Guns...] Tour Final at Nippon Budokan.
- TM Network; 2007; video TM Network -Remaster- at Nippon
Budokan 2007.
- TVXQ; 2007; Tohoshinki 2nd Live Tour 2007: Five in the
Black.
- Perfume; 2008; "Budokaaaaaaaaaan!!!!!".
- Joe Hisaishi; 2008; Joe Hisaishi in Budokan – 25 years with
the Animations of Hayao Miyazaki.
- Flow; 2008; Flow Live Tour 2007–2008 'Isle' Final at Nippon
Budokan
- Chatmonchy; 2008; [Restaurant Main Dish] Live at :
Budokan 2008.
- Nana Mizuki; 2009; Blu-ray/DVD Nana Mizuki Live Diamond x
Fever.
- MUCC; 2009; DVD -MUCC Live Chronicle 3 "Kyutai" in Nippon
Budokan-
- Mr. Big; 2009; live CD/DVD Back to Budokan.
- AKB48; 2009; AKB104 Senbatsu Members Sokaku Matsuri
- The Pillows; 2009; live DVD Lostman Go to Budokan.
2010s
- Dir En Grey; January 9-10, 2010; live DVD Uroboros: With the
Proof in the Name of Living... At Nippon Budokan.
- Backstreet Boys; February 18, 2010; recorded live DVD
Backstreet Boys: This Is Us Japan Tour 2010 on the This
Is Us Tour.
- Nico Touches the Walls; March 12, 2010; "Walls is Auroras"
LIVE.
- Polysics; March 14, 2010; Budokan or Die!!!!
2010.3.14
- One Ok Rock; 2010; live DVD This Is My Budokan?!.
- Morning Musume; 2011; Ai Takahashi's graduation concert "Ai
Believe ~Takahashi Ai Graduation Memory Special~.
- F.T. Island; 2011; Live in Budokan 'Summer Mesengger
Tour'.
- MUCC; 2011; live DVD Chemical Parade
- 2PM; 2012; 2PM Six Beautiful Day Live in Budokan
- Milky Holmes; 2012; Milky Holmes Live in Budokan
- Lee Seung-gi; 2012; First Japan Live in Budokan Kidou
(Hope).
- T-ara; 2012; Live in Budokan, recording of a concert
performed as part of their Jewelry Box tour
- Dream Morning Musume; March 10, 2012; Dream Morning Musume
Special Live 2012 Nippon Budokan~Dai 1 Shou Shuumaku 'Yuusha tachi,
Shuugou seyo'
- U-KISS; 2012; live DVD U-KISS Live in Budokan.
- Morning Musume; 2012; Risa Niigaki and Aika Mitsui's graduation
concert Ultra Smart.
- Scandal; March 28, 2012; Japan Title Match Live 2012:
Scandal vs Budokan
- Sonar Pocket; August 3, 2012; Sonapokeizm Special - Natsu no
Jin - in Nippon Budokan
- Acid Black Cherry; 2012; "Live DVD Acid Black Cherry Tour
『2012』".
- Spyair; December 18, 2012;
- Morning Musume; 2013; Reina Tanaka's graduation concert,
Michishige☆Eleven Soul.
- °C-ute; 2013; Queen of J-Pop ~Tadoritsuita Onna
Senshi~.
- AKB48; 2013; AKB48 Group Rinji Soukai "Shirokuro tsukeyou
janai ka!"
- T-ara; 2013; T-ara Japan Tour 2013: Treasure Box.
- Morning Musume; 2013; ~Chance!~
- Berryz Kobo; 2013; Berryz Koubou 10 Shuunen Kinen Budokan
Special Live ~Yappari Anata Nashi de wa Ikite Yukenai~
- AKB48 Group Research Students; 2013; AKB48 Group Kenkyuusei
Concert ~Oshimen Hayai Mono Gachi~
- Super Junior KRY; 2013; Special Japan tour Super Junior
K.R.Y. Special Winter Concert'
- Mamoru Miyano; October 4, 2013; MAMORU MIYANO SPECIAL LIVE
2013 ～TRAVELING!～ first male voice actor to uphold a one man
show in Budokan
- LiSA; January 3, 2014; Live Is Smile Always - Kyo mo Ii Hi
Da - In Nippon Budokan
- Avril Lavigne; February 4 and 5, 2014: The Avril Lavigne
Tour
- Babymetal; March 1 and 2, 2014 ; Live at Budokan: Red
Night & Black Night Apocalypse
- Dir En Grey; March 8–9, 2014; Dum Spiro Spero at Nippon
Budokan
- S/mileage; July 15, 2014; S/mileage Live 2014 Natsu Full
Charge ~715 Nippon Budokan~
- Junho (from 2PM); August 12 and 13, 2014; "Feel" Solo Tour
in Japan 2014
- Dish; January 1, 2015
- LiSA; January 10 and 12, 2014; LiVE is Smile Always - PiNK &
BLACK - in Nippon Budokan
- Silent Siren; January 17, 2015; Silent Siren Live Tour
2014–2015 Fuyu ~Budokan e Go! Siren Go!~ at Budokan
- Oldcodex; February 11, 2015; "Capture" in Budokan
- Mamoru Miyano; 2015; MAMORU MIYANO LIVE TOUR 2015
～AMAZING!～ final at Budokan
- Kalafina; February 28, 2015; Kalafina Live Best 2015 "Red
Day". March 1, 2015; Kalafina Live Best 2015 "Blue
Day"
- The Gazette; March 3, 2015; 13th Anniversary Nippon
Budokan
- Kana-Boon; March 31, 2015
- Morning Musume; May 27, 2015; ~Gradation~.
- 己龍 (Kiryu); July 31, 2015
- Hatsune Miku; September 4–5, 2015; Magical Mirai.
- Eir Aoi; November 2, 2015; Eir Aoi Special Live 2015 World
of Blue at Nippon Budokan
- Angerme; November 29, 2015, Angerme First Concert Tour 2015
Aki "Hyakka Ryouran" ~Fukuda Kanon Sotsugyou Special~
- Morning Musume; December 7–8, 2015; ~Prism~.
- Dish; January 1–2, 2016; 4 Monkey Magic.
- Wagakki Band; January 6, 2016; Dai Shinnenkai 2016 Nippon
Budokan -Akatsuki no Utage-.
- Scandal; January 12–13, 2016; SCANDAL ARENA TOUR 2015–2016
「PERFECT WORLD」
- Mamoru Miyano; 2016; MAMORU MIYANO LIVE TOUR 2015-16
～GENERATING!～ final at Budokan
- Dir En Grey; February 5–6, 2016; Arche at Nippon
Budokan
- iKon; February 15–16, 2016; iKoncert 2016: Showtime
Tour
- Symphogear; February 27–28, 2016; Symphogear Live
2016
- YuiKaori; March 12, 2016; RAINBOW CANARY!! ～Brightest
Stage～
- Shouta Aoi; March 13, 2016; Wonder Lab. ~Bokutachi no
Sign~
- Kalafina; September 16–17, 2016; Kalafina Arena LIVE
2016
- Suzuko Mimori; October 27–28, 2016; Mimori Suzuko Live Tour
2016 "Grand Revue" Final at Nippon Budokan
- Eir Aoi; November 4–5, 2016; Eir Aoi 5th Anniversary Special
Live 2016 ～Last Blue～ at Nippon Budokan
- My First Story; November 18, 2016; We're Just Waiting 4 You
Tour 2016 Final at Budokan
- ClariS; February 10, 2017; ClariS 1st Budōkan Concert
~Futatsu no Kamen to Ushinawareta Taiyō~ (ClariS 1st Budōkan
Concert: Two Masks and the Lost Sun)
- Versailles; February 14, 2017; Chateau de Versailles at
Nippon Budokan
- Taemin; July 1–2, 2017; TAEMIN The 1st Stage Nippon
Budokan
- Blackpink; July 20, 2017, Japanese Debut Showcase
- After the Rain; August 9–10, 2017; AtR -Clockwise /
Anti-Clockwise-
- Aimer; August 29, 2017; Live in Budokan "blanc et
noir"
- Dream Theater; September 11, 2017; Back
to Budokan 2017
- Nana Mizuki; January 11–21, 2018; NANA MIZUKI LIVE GATE
2018
- Kalafina; January 23, 2018; Kalafina 10th Anniversary LIVE
2018 at Nippon Budokan
- coldrain; February 6, 2018; FATELESS JAPAN TOUR
2017
- Winner; April 28, 2018; WINNER Japan Tour 2018 ~We’ll always
be young~
- Mariah Carey; October 31 and November 1, 2018; #1's Tour (Two
sold-out shows)
- Maaya Uchida; January 1, 2019; UCHIDA MAAYA New Year LIVE
2019「take you take me BUDOKAN!!」 (Sold out concert)
- Ensemble Stars!; January 13, 2019; Ensemble Stars! Starry
Stage 2nd ～in Nippon Budokan～
- Milky Holmes; January 28, 2019; Milky Holmes Final Live
Q.E.D.
- Janet Jackson; February 10 and February 11, 2019; State of the
World Tour (Two sold-out shows)
- Inori Minase; June 28–29, 2019; Inori Minase LIVE TOUR 2019
Catch the Rainbow!
American crossover thrash band Stormtroopers of Death released a
live album titled Live at Budokan (1992), though the title
was in jest and the album was recorded at famed New York City venue
The Ritz.
The original Beatles concert is heavily bootlegged on audio and
video; the first night's concert video was officially released by
Apple in Japan only as Beatles Concert at Budokan 1966, and
excerpts are shown in The Beatles Anthology, while the
second Anthology album included the first show's
performances of "Rock and Roll Music" and "She's A Woman". The
venue is one of the stages in The Beatles: Rock Band video
game. Chatmonchy currently holds the record for the largest crowd
at Budokan.[]
South Korean Girl group T-ara was the first Korean female artist
to perform in Nippon Budokan in 2012 and the only Korean female
artist to perform there twice in 2013. South Korean Girl group
Blackpink became the second Korean female artist to perform in
Nippon Budokan after T-ara in 2017.
Other
events
The National Memorial Service for War Dead is held with the
attendance of the Prime Minister, the Emperor and the Empress
annually in Budokan on August 15, the day of Japan's surrender.
As well as holding the Live Concert in appreciation of the
Popular Anime series Lucky Star: Live in Budokan (Anata No Tame
Dakara).
A concert was held in honor of Studio Ghibli's 25th anniversary
at the Budokan, hosted by Joe Hisaishi. It included repertoire from
most of the films Hisaishi composed for Hayao Miyazaki's Studio
Ghibli filmography.
Diana Ross performed and taped her "Here and Now" television
special in 1991 to a sold-out audience.
The Japan Record Awards took place in the arena from 1985 to
1993 where all of the artists from around the country receive these
awards.
Muhammad Ali won a unanimous decision over Mac Foster in their
1972 heavyweight boxing match.
On August 27, 2011, Japan's three biggest professional wrestling
promotions; All Japan Pro Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling and
Pro Wrestling Noah came together to produce a charity event titled
All Together at the arena. On August 10, 11 and 12, 2018 New Japan
Pro Wrestling held the final 3 days of the G1 Climax in the
Budokan, which marked the first time in 15 years that New Japan has
promoted an event there. New Japan will once again return to the
arena for the final 3 days of the 2019 G1 Climax.
Professional wrestler and legend in Japan Kenta Kobashi wrestled
his final match in Budokan on May 11, 2013, at an event titled
Final Burning in Budokan. Kobashi is synonymous with the arena
along with fellow wrestlers Toshiaki Kawada and the late Mitsuharu
Misawa.
In November, the Budokan is a two day-venue for the annual Japan
Self-Defense Forces Marching Festival, a yearly tradition and the
nation's military tattoo first held here in the fall of 1963. Aside
from JSDF bands, foreign armed forces military bands are also
invited to join the event.
Other
uses
A fictional concert hall based on Nippon Budokan appeared in the
music video game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (2007)
under the name "Kaiju Megadome". The Beatles' appearance at Nippon
Budokan was featured in The Beatles: Rock Band (2009).
Another fictional hall based on the Nippon Budokan appeared in
the Japanese pro-wrestling video game Virtual Pro Wrestling 2:
Ōdō Keishō (2000).
External
links
