Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium

Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium
釜石鵜住居復興スタジアム
Location Kamaishi, Iwate, Japan
Coordinates 39°19′40″N 141°53′32″E / 39.32778°N 141.89222°E / 39.32778; 141.89222Coordinates: 39°19′40″N 141°53′32″E / 39.32778°N 141.89222°E / 39.32778; 141.89222
Public transit Unosumai Station
Owner Kamaishi City
Capacity 16,187 (Rugby World Cup)[1]
6,000 (permanent)
Construction
Broke ground April 2017
Opened 19 August 2018 (planned)
Construction cost ¥3 billion
Tenants
2019 Rugby World Cup

Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium (Japanese: 釜石鵜住居復興スタジアム, Hepburn: Kamaishi Unosumai Fukkō Sutajiamu), also known as Kamaishi Unosumai Stadium, is a planned stadium in Unosumai-cho, Kamaishi, Iwate. Construction on the 16,187-seat venue broke ground in April 2017 and is scheduled to be completed in August 2018 ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

History

The city of Kamaishi historically hosted one of Japan's most successful rugby union clubs, Nippon Steel Kamaishi, which won several national titles during the 1970s and 1980s. The club folded in 2001 and was replaced by the Kamaishi Seawaves.[2] Kamaishi suffered major damage during the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, leaving over 1,000 residents dead or missing, and damaging a large portion of the city.[3]

In 2014, the municipal government announced that it would bid to host part of the 2019 Rugby World Cup and build a new stadium as part of the Unosumai area's post-disaster recovery.[4][5] The stadium, to be located on the former site of schools that were destroyed in the tsunami,[6] was named as one of twelve venues selected in March 2015 by World Rugby for the tournament.[2][7] The ¥3 billion cost of the stadium attracted criticism from residents and observers, noting that the area was in need of rebuilt infrastructure.[4]

Construction on the stadium began in April 2017, with a groundbreaking and prayer ceremony. The stadium is scheduled to be completed in July 2018.[8] Unosumai Station on JR East's Yamada Line will be rebuilt to serve the stadium.[1]

The first event at the stadium, an exhibition match between the Kamaishi Seawaves and Yamaha Jubilo, is scheduled to take place on 19 August 2018.[9]

Design

The stadium will use 10,000 temporary seats for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, with 6,000 permanent seats remaining after the tournament.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 "釜石鵜住居復興スタジアム (仮称)" [Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium (Tentative Name)] (in Japanese). World Rugby. 1 December 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  2. 1 2 Ikezawa, Hiroshi (3 March 2015). "Twelve cities selected for 2019 RWC". The Japan Times. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  3. ↑ "About Kamaishi City". Kamaishi City. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  4. 1 2 Psaltis, Eleni (27 July 2015). "Tsunami-devestated Kamaishi hoping luck turns on 2019 Ruby World Cup". ABC News Radio. Sydney, Australia. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  5. ↑ "平成26年7月4日記者会見" [Press conference: 4 July 2014] (in Japanese). Kamaishi City. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  6. 1 2 Takahama, Yukihito (12 October 2017). "Hard plastic seats await 99% of spectators at 2020 Olympics". Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  7. ↑ "Tsunami-ravaged Kamaishi to host Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup matches". Stuff.co.nz. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  8. ↑ "ラグビーW杯へ鵜住居スタジアム着工、来年7月の完成目指す〜復興支援、世界へ感謝の場に" [Construction underway at Rugby World Cup stadium in Unosumai, to be completed next July]. Kamaishi Shinbun (in Japanese). 4 May 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  9. ↑ Tarrant, Jack (15 May 2018). "Rugby Union: World Cup stadium a 'beacon of hope and inspiration', says Beaumont". Reuters. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
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