Japan’s New National Stadium Completed In Just 3 Years For S$1.96 Billion

Japan is known for more than its anime and food. It is also famous for having an incredible work ethic, incredibly punctual bullet trains (unlike other countries in the region), and amazing technology.

And of course, they have excellent standards.

Want an example? Read on.

Ahead Of Schedule

The new Japanese National Stadium, the spotlight in which world-class athletes will play for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, has been built.

The massive stadium, fully equipped with state-of-the-art amenities and facilities, has been fully built within three years.

This was eight full months before the expected completion dead. Moreover, it only costs S$1.96 billion. Although this may seem like a lot instinctually, for contextual reference, the Rio De Janeiro stadium was built for nearly S$18.1 billion.

Interesting Features

The Olympic stadium also has some very modern and interesting features.

The three-storey stadium has a frame of wood and steel. The lumber used actually originates from all 47 of Japan’s prefectures.

The stadium also emphasises natural cooling. It tries to let as much wind into the stadium as possible, using traditional eave designs to direct the air.

They change depending on the season and weather. For example, in summer, the southerly winds are directed through narrower vertices, which guide the winds upwards, pulling heat away from the ground and the spectators.

The stands can hold 60,000 seats for the Olympics, and 58,000 seats for the Paralympics. It’s designed as a continuous oval bowl, with three tiers of seats sloped at a progressively steeper angle.

This ensures that even people sitting in the upper decks can see the match vividly (for short people like me, it is really important).

The stadium is also incredibly equipped for our friends with disabilities or mobility issues. There are 500 seats, unobstructed, which are reserved only for people with special needs. This allows them to partake in spectating the spots we all love, and not leave them out of it.

A Welcome Change

Japan’s masterful construction of the Olympic stadium under the deadline, under the budget, actually shows to the world and future bidding nations that – yes, you can host the Olympics successfully.

Here’s to hoping the other preparations for Tokyo 2020 Olympics will be as smooth-sailing as the completion of the stadium.