Re: [SUMO-History] Kokugikans (Was: Phot

[" Masumi Abe" <abe@accesscom.com>]

Dale:
I checked the more detailed sumo history record and you (and Sumo World) are
right.
Jun. 1909 (Meiji 42) Opening of the first Kokugikan
The roof style is imitation of Horyuji Temple's Kondo. Each four side of
roof has a small triangular wall area. Dohyo has double circles.
Jan. 2,  1910 (Meiji 43) Gyoji's dress changed to the current style from the
semi-formal Samurai style (kamishimo)
Nov. 29, 1917 (Taisho 6) Kokugikan Burned Down because of the mistreatment
of the fire at a souvenir shop
Jan. 1918 (Taisho 7) Ozumo Haru-basho at Yasukuni Shrine at Kudan in Tokyo
(for four basho)
Mar. 1919 (Taisho 8) Wind destroyed the structure of iron beams of the new
Kokugikan before completion
Jan. 1920 (Taisho 9) Opening ceremony of the newly rebuilt Kokugikan.
Sep. 1, 1923 (Taisho 12) Kokugikan was totally burnt up because of the Great
Kanto Earthquake, but the iron structure and the concrete surface stayed
intact.
Jan. 1921 (Taisho 10) Hon-basho was held in Nagoya, the first time ever to
have a hon-basho out of Tokyo (or Yedo) by the Ozumo organization located in
Tokyo (or Yedo).
May 1924 (Taisho 13) Ozumo Hon-basho returned to Ryogoku Kokugikan
Apr. 1925 (Taisho 14) Ozumo was shown to Prince Hirohito at Akasaka Palace.
He donated money to Sumo Kyokai. Sumo Kyokai used this money to make the
Emperor's Cup for Yusho winner.
May 1930 (Showa 5) Four judges moved down to the floor level from the four
corner of the dohyo
Apr. 1931 (Showa 6) Dohyo circle getting larger from 13-shaku (Japanese
feet) to 15-shaku with simplified from two circles to one circle (the inner
circle is gone). Roof style changed to "Shinmei" style or shinto shrine
style.
Feb. 1944 (Showa 19) Japanese Imperial Army took over Kokugikan
Mar. 1945 (Showa 20) US carpet bombing damaged Kokugikan. All sumo-heya were
burnt down.
May 1945 (Showa 20) The free Ozumo at Meiji Shrine was cancelled because of
air bombing on the first day.
Jun. 1945 (Showa 20) Hon-basho was held in the damaged Kokugikan for 7 days
without opening to the public.
Oct. 1945 (Showa 20) Hon-basho was held at open-sky at Kokugikan for 10
days.
Nov. 1945 (Showa 20) GHQ took over the Kokugikan.
Nov. 1946 (Showa 21) Hon-basho was held at Memorial Hall (former Kokugikan)
which was fixed by GHQ.
Jul. 1952 (Showa 27) Memorial Hall former Kokugikan released.
Sep. 1952 (Showa 27) Four poles at the corners of dohyo was replaced by four
tussles hanging from the four corners of the roof.
May 1953 (Showa 28) Sumo on TV start
Sep. 1954 (Showa 29) Opening of Kuramae Kokugikan
The Ryogoku Kokugikan was burnt in two occasion. First one destroyed the
structure and the second one burnt completely inside of the building. So, at
the moment, I don't know if the change from the circular seating to the
square seating took place.
In addition, the shape or style of the roof changed from four-wall style to
two-wall style in one of the two re-constructions. But I don't know which
one.
I have a book with a memorial post card photoed for the opening of the very
first Kokugikan. The photo was taked from the very high spot and the dohyo
and roof are clearly in the picture.
-Toshiyori Masumiriki
Dale Carlson wrote:
> At 08:03 AM 12/3/98 -0800, Masumi Abe wrote:
> >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. <snip>
>
> Thanks for all the information, as always. I didn't mean to suggest
> that I thought you were in the audience in pre-war times :) The
> chronology I was going on was mainly that on the "Sumo World"
> website. It says that the Kokugikan built in 1909 was destroyed
> by fire in 1917, and that it wasn't reopened until January 1920.
> I've posted photos of each, taken from approximately the same
> location, at http://www.oz.net/~drc/kokugikans.html for comparison.
> Basically the same building, but the first one looks to be largely
> built of wood (and a fanciful mix of Japanese and European styles)
> while the second is of masonry construction and a bit more "serious"
> looking. I suppose they could be regarded as the same Kokugikan,
> extensively rebuilt. I was just curious if the interior photo
> I posted could be associated with one or the other for dating
> purposes.
>
> The "New Kokugikan" looks like a beautiful facility, but it's too
> new to have much "character" yet. Maybe by the time I finally get
> to Japan for a basho, it will be delightfully old and deprepit.
> That reminds me- Go Mitoizumi & Terao!!! :)
>
> Thanks,
> Dale
>
> P.S. Sorry that my last post was sent from the year 1999 :)