Re: [Query] Photo info request

[Masumi Abe <abe@accesscom.com>]

Dale:

According to the information I have, the first "Kokugi-Kan" was built in
1909 in Ryogoku and used until the end of the WW-II or 1947 when General
McArthur's GHQ (General Head Quarter) took over the ownership of the
building.

The temporary Kokugikan was built in 1950 in Kuramae.
The second semi-permanent Kokugikan was built in 1954 in Kuramae.

The current Kokugikan was built in 1985 in Ryogoku, but not in the same
place as the first one. The first one was on the territory of Ekoh'in
temple in the south of Ryogoku station, and the current one is in the
north of Ryogoku station. The current one is right next to the station
but the original one was not so close.

Since I was born after the end of WW-II, I don't remember the first
Kokugikan building as Kokugikan. It was Nichidan Kodo or Nihon
University Hall until it was demolished. It got spotlight during the
"students riot" days in late 60's and early 70's.

-Toshiyori Masumiriki


Dale Carlson wrote:

> This pales in comparison to Greg Lund's find, but
> I pick up the occasional old sumo postcard or photo.
> I'm curious about one, which I've posted at-
> http://www.oz.net/~drc/280a.jpg
>
> I don't have any hope of finding out who these rikishi
> were, but I'd just like to know if this photo from inside
> the second Kokugikan (1920-1957) or the first (1909-1917).
> The postcard I bought was sold as being circa 1910, but
> it looks newer than that to me. The diffuse lighting from
> the roof would be more like the first Kokugikan, though,
> I think. Well, I don't suppose anybody on this list went
> to a basho prior to 1917, but if the photo is of the second
> one, maybe someone will recognize it. The second Kokugikan
> survived the great Kanto earthquake of 1923, as well as
> direct hits from bombs in the second world war. There must
> have been many very sad sumo fans (as well as people with
> a general respect for history) when it was torn down in
> 1983. I've posted a poignant (IMHO) photo of the second
> Kokugikan standing amid the rubble of the 1923 earthquake
> at http://www.oz.net/~drc/Kokugikan2.jpg
> It's symbolic of alot of things, to me...
>
> Well, I'm starting to babble.
>
> Thanks,
> Dale
>
> P.S. I'm desperately seeking a photograph of the roof above
> the dohyo back when it was supported by posts, prior to it
> being hung from cables, as it is today. Well, "desperate"
> may be overstating it, but I'd appreciate any leads :)