The Japan Sport Council and Meiji Shrine are reported to be considering the sale of the air rights above the Meiji Jingu Stadium and Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Stadium in central Tokyo to help cover the stadiums’ redevelopment costs. Both stadiums are located near the Olympic Stadium.
The rights will be sold to nearby landowners, allowing them to build larger buildings. In 2015 it was announced that the two stadiums would be rebuilt after the 2020 Summer Olympics.
The Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Stadium was opened in 1947 and is owned by the Japan Sport Council. It has been used for rugby sevens and rugby union matches. It was used for soccer events in the 1964 Summer Olympics
The Meiji Jingu baseball stadium is owned by Meiji Shrine. It was built in 1926, a year after the formation of the Tokyo Big6 Baseball League – originally the highest level of baseball in Japan. In 1934, Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth played at the stadium during a tour of Japan. The stadium was confiscated by the US forces after WWII and the name was changed to Stateside Park from 1945 to 1952.
Source: The Tokyo Shimbun, January 7, 2018.
