Korakuen Hall

{{Short description|Arena in Tokyo, Japan}}

{{Infobox venue

| name = Korakuen Hall

| nickname = The Hall

| image = File:20170104 Korakuen Hall.jpg

| location = Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan

| coordinates = {{coord|35|42|15.55|N|139|45|6.98|E|region:JP_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| opened = April 16, 1962

| owner = Tokyo Dome Corporation

| tenants = Nippon TV (1962–present)
Japan Boxing Commission (1962–present)

| seating_capacity = 1,403 seat
2,005 seats (maximum)

| dimensions =

}}

{{nihongo|Korakuen Hall|後楽園ホール|Kōrakuen Hōru|lead=yes}} is a sports arena in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan, which has hosted boxing, professional wrestling, kickboxing, mixed martial arts and Lethwei matches.{{cite news|url=https://jp.vice.com/sports/lethwei-the-most-radical-martial-arts-in-the-world|title=世界で一番過激な格闘技 ラウェイの世界(Japanese)|website=VICE Japan|date=17 March 2018}}

  • {{cite web|title=ポーケーを圧倒したデーブ・レダック Lethwei in Japan ~ Korakuen Hall|url=http://miruhon.net/63548|website=The Weekly Fight|date=21 February 2017}}
  • {{cite web|url=https://fight.abematimes.com/posts/2277934|title=度目となる日本大会『バガン遺跡群復興支援チャリティーLETHWEI IN JAPAN 3 ~GRIT~』を緊急生中継|website=Abema Times|date=18 April 2017|access-date=5 April 2020|archive-date=3 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181103091822/https://fight.abematimes.com/posts/2277934|url-status=dead}}
  • {{cite web|url=http://www.mmajournal.net/report/lethwei-in-japanyuki-blackandfight/|title=勇気の拳「LETHWEI in Japan~YUKI~」2.21 in 後楽園ホール|website=MMA Journal|date=23 February 2018|access-date=4 March 2018}}
  • {{cite web|title=【ラウェイ】無敗のミャンマー人と対する一休そうじゅん、日本刀を持って覚悟の会見|url=https://efight.jp/news-20180912_304554|website=efight Japan|date=12 September 2018}}
  • {{cite web|title=(Japanese)『ラウェイinジャパン5 NEXURISE|url=https://miruhon.net/78847|website=The Weekly Fight|date=29 September 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Eaton|first1=Matt|title=Embracing tradition: The rise of Lethwei|url=http://www.thefightnation.com/embracing-tradition-the-rise-of-lethwei/|website=The Fight Nation|date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218174027/https://www.thefightnation.com/embracing-tradition-the-rise-of-lethwei/|archive-date=18 February 2019|url-status=dead|quote=The Kōrakuen Hall – an arena famous for hosting Lethwei and mixed martial arts matches.}}

History

File:Dave Leduc in Tokyo Japan.png sweeping opponent at Lethwei in Japan 2 inside the Korakuen Hall.]]

On April 16, 1962, the Korakuen Hall was officially opened with a capacity of approximately 2,000 people. It is located inside the Tokyo Dome City, one of Tokyo's biggest attractions. The venue hosted the boxing events for the 1964 Summer Olympics.

On March 30, 1993, the Japanese kickboxing promotion K-1 held its first event K-1 Sanctuary I at Korakuen Hall.

In March 2011, as the hall suffered structural damage in the Tōhoku earthquake. Events including a World Boxing Council triple female world title fight were postponed or canceled.{{cite news|script-title=ja:後楽園ホールの天井ゆがむ、当面興行中止|url=http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/news/f-bt-tp0-20110312-747698.html|date=March 12, 2011|newspaper=Nikkan Sports|access-date=March 13, 2011|language=ja}} The repair work was completed on March 18. The Hall was closed until the next day, then gradually resumed a variety of events.{{cite news|script-title=ja:後楽園ホール、21日の昼夜興行で再開ゴング|url=http://www.daily.co.jp/ring/2011/03/21/0003881628.shtml|date=March 20, 2011|newspaper=Daily Sports|access-date=August 16, 2011|language=ja}}

On October 27, 2016, the hall became the chosen venue for the International Lethwei Federation Japan.{{cite web|url=http://www.dvb.no/news/burmese-kick-boxing-champ-kos-australian/72131|title=Burmese kick-boxing champ KOs Australian|website=Burmese DVB|date=28 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181103210350/http://www.dvb.no/news/burmese-kick-boxing-champ-kos-australian/72131|archive-date=3 November 2018|url-status=dead}} The Lethwei Grand Prix Japan 2016 was the first event of the promotion held at the venue.{{cite web|url=http://ilfj.or.jp/event/1027-2016/|title=Lethwei Grand Prix Japan 2016|publisher=ILFJ|access-date=4 March 2018}}

  • {{cite web|url=http://battle-news.com/?p=23662|title=Japan's first MTBF-certified event "Lethwei Grand Prix in Japan 2016" is held at Korakuen Hall|website=Battle News|date=12 September 2016}}
  • {{cite web|url=http://www.boutreview.com/2/schedule/lethwei/161027lethweigp.html|title=Lethwei GP in Japan 2016|website=Bout Review|access-date=4 March 2018|archive-date=3 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181103210342/http://www.boutreview.com/2/schedule/lethwei/161027lethweigp.html|url-status=dead}}

Tokyo JCB Hall (''Korakuen Hall 2'')

{{Main|Tokyo Dome City Hall}}

The Tokyo JCB Hall also known Tokyo Dome City Hall is a facility for sports, fashion shows, and live concerts inside the Tokyo Dome City complex, a few minutes walk from the Korakuen Hall. It was announced that a new version of Korakuen Hall would be built in Tokyo Dome City which would act as the Korakuen Hall 2 and it would hold 2,500–3,000 people. The naming rights of the hall were purchased by Japan Credit Bureau (JCB) so it opened as JCB Hall. After the construction completed, the Tokyo Dome Corporation, which owns the original Korakuen Hall as well as the Tokyo Dome, would continue to rent out the original Korakuen Hall, lowering rental prices (currently it costs 1,500,000 Yen to rent) to allowing smaller promotions to use the building on a regular basis.

Although most of the sporting events take place at the Tokyo Dome, the JCB Hall is considered one of the primary spots in Tokyo Dome City for smaller scale sporting events, like boxing, pro-wrestling, Lethwei and mixed martial arts.{{cite web|title=ラウェイinジャパン4 FRONTIER (Japanese)|url=https://ameblo.jp/tks0604/entry-12284453895.html|website=Ameblo|date=17 June 2017}} The JCB Hall hosted Miss International Japan.

Since its completion, JCB Hall has been host of Lethwei in Japan 4,{{cite web|title=ラウェイinジャパン4 FRONTIER (Japanese)|url=https://ameblo.jp/tks0604/entry-12284453895.html|website=Ameblo|date=17 June 2017}}

  • {{cite web|last1=Smith|first1=Pierre|title=LEDUC Proves 9 Is Greater Than 8|url=http://www.muay-thai-guy.com/dave-leduc-2-article.html|website=The Muay Thai Guy|date=22 June 2017|access-date=29 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170625205458/http://www.muay-thai-guy.com/dave-leduc-2-article.html|archive-date=25 June 2017|url-status=dead}}
  • {{cite web|title=TMT Fighter Dave "The Nomad" Leduc sucesfully [sic] defends his Lethwei Bare Knuckle World Title|url=http://www.tigermuaythai.com/tmt-fighter-dave-the-nomad-leduc-sucesfully-defends-his-lethwei-bare-knuckle-world-title|website=Tiger Muay Thai|date=24 May 2017}}
  • {{cite web|title=Lethwei In Japan 4 : Frontier|url=http://www.mma-japan.net/2017/06/20/lethwei-in-japan-4-frontier/|website=MMA Japan|date=20 June 2017}} and has been rarely used for pro wrestling events after the Pro Wrestling Zero1 show in early 2008.{{cite web |title=ZERO1-MAX Miracle Rocket ~ 2nd Impact ~ |url=https://www.cagematch.net//?id=1&nr=20041 |publisher=Cagematch |access-date=27 June 2019}} During 2009, JCB Hall was used twice for pro wrestling, both times for a tour ending show by Pro Wrestling Noah.

References

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