It is almost time for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, where athletes from around the world will strive to unleash their full power in competitive events. We are sure to be moved by their performance as we witness the limitless possibilities that humankind is capable of. Beside these excellent athletes, there are other stars that deserve recognition: the stadiums where the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games will take place. With their refined design, and features incorporating many types of Japanese technologies, these stadiums will serve as a wonderful part of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Olympic Stadium is Made in Beautiful Harmony with Nature

     Among the many stadiums that are involved in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the main stadium, called the “Olympic Stadium,” is an absolute must-see. This stadium is where the opening and closing ceremonies will be hosted, and it will also serve as the venue for track and field events and soccer games. The National Stadium, which was the main stadium for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, has been taken down and will be reborn as the brand-new Olympic Stadium. The new stadium is a unique construction incorporating an elegant balance with nature that resembles Japan’s traditional architectural design.

     When you first look at the stadium, your eyes are immediately drawn to its exterior, with lush greenery planted in multiple vertical layers. This part of the building is called Noki-Bisashi, a defining characteristic in traditional Japanese architecture. The word Noki-Bisashi means the eaves of a building that stick out from its walls. Almost all traditional Japanese houses had these eaves, which served as inspiration for this part of the stadium. The term Noki-Bisashi is only used for this feature in the new National Stadium. Houses in many other countries have eaves that look like Noki-Bisashi, but one significant difference is that Noki-Bisashi are built to extend much further outward than other eaves. This means that they can shield people from sunlight from directly above in the summer so as to reduce heat in the building, but they can also allow light to come all the way inside during the winter when the sun is low in the sky. In this way, these eaves are the product of our ancestors’ innovative ideas. The Noki-Bisashi in the Olympic Stadium feature Japanese timber arranged in vertical stripes that produce a gentle shade beneath them. This part of the design adds a touch of tenderness to the bold image of the large stadium. When lit up at night, the entire venue is enveloped in a soft glow resembling that of traditional Japanese lanterns called “Chochin.”

     There are other interesting aspects of note within the stadium as well. For example, its large roof made by combining wood with a metal frame is uniquely Japanese in style, featuring a futuristic, complex design, but also including a sense of warmth achieved through its timber construction. Also, the stands are built in a three-story arrangement where they become gradually steeper in the higher levels, allowing everyone to easily see the action, wherever they sit. What’s more, the spectator seats completely surround the field, creating a sense of unity between the athletes and the audience.

     Japan has a long history of using timber as a building material. The Olympic Stadium is built by gathering timber from all the prefectures in Japan and using this material effectively for eaves in order to create a harmonious balance with the surrounding scenery. This design encourages you to appreciate the kind nature and culture of Japanese people who place great importance on nature and desire to coexist with the natural world.

The Modern, Ahead-of-its-Time Design of the Yoyogi National Gymnasium

     Not all of the venues for the Olympic and Paralympic Games are newly built. There are some existing buildings with as much appeal as the new Olympic Stadium. One notable example is a stadium with a highly refined design that looks new today, despite its long history: the Yoyogi National Gymnasium, which will be the venue for handball events in the Games.

     The Yoyogi National Gymnasium was built as an arena for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. This historical building has been standing for over 50 years. Its unique appearance makes it look like a spacecraft, and it features a suspended roof using the technology that cannot be found in many other places around the world. A suspended roof is made through a construction technique where cables are arranged at the left and right of the roof like a suspension bridge, and the strength of these cables supports the weight of the roof on the building. This technique removes the need for pillars, making it possible to create open-wide spaces indoors. After enjoying its iconic exterior and its amazingly spacious interior, why not walk around the venue to look at the enormous concrete slabs that keep the cables up?

Nippon Budokan is the Culmination of Iconic Japanese Design

     If you wish to experience a profound construction that evokes the spirit of old Japan, you may wish to visit Nippon Budokan. Serving as the location for judo and karate events, Nippon Budokan was originally built for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. The building features an octagonal perimeter based on the Yumedono (the living quarters for believers of Buddhism) in Horyuji, a temple registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site as the world’s oldest building made from wood. Nippon Budokan also has an iconic roof shaped so as to resemble Mount Fuji. These features give the arena a majestic and truly Japanese aura. The shining golden Giboshi decorating the center of the roof is a traditional architectural ornament, and is lovingly known as “the onion” because of its appearance.

     After a concert was held there by the British rock band The Beatles in 1966 when they came to Japan, Nippon Budokan is now famous as a highly important place in the world of music. Many musicians working in Japan have a goal of holding a concert in Nippon Budokan, and they strive day and night to achieve this dream.

     The Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games is the second time for the event to be held in Tokyo. The venues for the Games have many different faces; some having an advanced, futuristic design, while others being well loved by people today with a history stretching back to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. With its powerful presence and beauty to complement the performance of the athletes inside it, the stadiums for the Tokyo 2020 events are sure to enhance your enjoyment of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.