Jingu Gaien, a historic sports venue in Tokyo, "will undergo a major transformation in about a decade, in a move driven by the city’s plan to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics," according to Masaaki Kameda of the JAPAN TIMES.
In addition to the plan to rebuild the National Stadium before the Olympics, earlier this month the Tokyo Metropolitan Government "unveiled a blueprint for post-Games redevelopment of the Gaien district, which has flourished as a 'sacred site' for modern sports" since the '20s. It includes plans "to rebuild the iconic baseball and rugby stadiums by the end of fiscal 2025."
By revamping the now aging sports facilities, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government "aims to help the area continue to attract visitors after the Olympics." The project covers 17 hectares of property, including Jingu Stadium, which was built in '26 and is owned by Meiji Shrine, and Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, which was constructed in '47 and belongs to the Japan Sport Council.
A number of Major League Baseball legends have played in Jingu Stadium, "including Ty Cobb in 1928 and Babe Ruth in 1934, both on teams representing the league." The proposed redevelopment plan "involves swapping the locations of the two stadiums, which stand next to each other,in an effort to minimize the impact on sports events." Hideaki Ochi, a section chief at the metro government's urban development bureau, said, "It’s a fact that Jingu Stadium and the rugby ground are fairly old and replacement will be necessary at some stage in the future." A new sports center "is planned to consolidate various existing sports facilities scattered across the district, including tennis courts and an indoor baseball field, according to the blueprint, while Jingu Sub Stadium, located north of Jingu Stadium, will be demolished" (JAPAN TIMES, 4/20).
