http://sport.my.msn.com/football/article.aspx?cp-documentid=2115607

Japan is bidding to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Currently, Japan doesn't have an 80,000 seat stadium. The biggest stadium in Japan is Yokohama's 72,327 seat International Stadium (The 2002 final was here).

Interestingly, Japan didn't host a single match in Tokyo in 2002. Obviously that will change if they win one of these two bids. Depending on it's upkeep, Tokyo's venue would probably be the Olympic Stadium over the Tokyo Stadium as it has a higher capacity, better sight lines, and is more well loved that the latter.

I fully expect Japan to build new venues if they're elected to host, but here are the other current venues that could see use.

Automatic: Niigata Stadium, 42,300 (with 2,000 temporary seats for a WC) - Niigata, Niigata. Niigata will probably host knockout matches despite not being well known to westerners. While Shizuoka is the heart of Japanese football, Niigata has become it's soul.

Automatic: Saitama Stadium 63,700 - Saitama, Saitama. Probably semi-final host. Home of Urawa Reds (and the rare major match for Omiya Ardija).

Automatic: Ecopa Stadium 50,889 - Fukuroi, Shizuoka.

Automatic: Nagai Stadium 50,000 - Osaka, Osaka. Biggest stadium in Japan's second city. Kobe and Kyoto are in Osaka's metro area.

Probable: Toyota Stadium 45,000 - Toyota, Aichi. Toyota is a suburb of Nagoya.

Probable: Hiroshima Big Arch 50,000 - Hiroshima, Hiroshima. Hiroshima is a major city, but Sanfrecce don't exactly burn up the attendance charts.

Probable: Oita Big Eye 40,000 - Ōita, Ōita. It holds more for football.

Other things worth noting. Vissel Kobe is a relatively small team, you may remember that Kobe hosted matches in 2002. Their Kobe Wing Stadium has since been downgraded to 30,000 seats and had it's always planned retractable roof installed.

The Sapporo Dome is also probable but doesn't meet seating requirements at the moment.

If Kashima fills in the corners, their stadium will meet the 44,000 requirement and would become an automatic host due to Kashima's standing in Japanese football.

So, yea, that was long. Sorry.

I think they're wasting their time even thinking they have a chance. They just hosted. If FIFA's going to go to that part of the world it's impossible to see them passing over China and Australia to give it to a country that just had it already.

It terms of "spreading the game", yea, it'd be insane to pick Japan over China or Australia. But in terms of infrastructure and simply "being the best bid", I'd take the Japanese over anyone else in Asia.

NO CHANCE! They only just hosted in relative terms. BUT, would make a good reserve host if a country is awarded the finals and then has either political turmoil/war etc or a natural disaster.

It terms of "spreading the game", yea, it'd be insane to pick Japan over China or Australia. But in terms of infrastructure and simply "being the best bid", I'd take the Japanese over anyone else in Asia.


We all know the Chinese would build a plethora of extravagant stadiums. Just look at the Olympics. They're not afraid to over do it. I doubt Japan's 20 year old stadiums would stack up to Chinese ones that would be built.

They probably would, but don't discount Japan's ability to innovate.

I agree their best shot is as a reserve host, but I welcome their bid as the very presence of Japan will force the likes of England, USA, Australia, and Benelux to step it up.

I agree their best shot is as a reserve host, but I welcome their bid as the very presence of Japan will force the likes of England, USA, Australia, and Benelux to step it up.

No it won't. England and Spain/Portugal will force the US to step it up. The US and Spain/Portugal will force England to step it up. And England and the US will force Spain/Portugal to step it up. This competition couldn't be ramped up anymore than it already is and adding Japan into the mix won't make an iota of difference. It's already as difficult as it can be for these countries. It's not as though they're going to go "oh no, Japan are in the mix, we're really up against it now!"

Japan can bid but if FIFA are sensible, it seems a waste of Japanese resources.

Host WC on the Mars

Host WC on the Mars

And have the European Cup final in Australia.

Seriously though, if Japan were to win the hosting rights for 2022, you can bet your last $$$ that the center-piece of the bid will be a brand spanking new, state of the art, best in the world, 80-100k seater in Tokyo... None of this messing around with existing stadia.

Because they're bidding too...

Rugby Union is Japan's 4th sport, after baseball, association football, and sumo.

Currently Japan are champions of Asia having won the first Asian Five Nations championship. The national league, the Top League, features 14 teams.

The 30,000-capacity Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium is Japan's biggest purpose-built rugby stadium but it's beginning to show it's age and there are rumors that it may end up being destroyed because it costs a lot to maintain. The national stadium is actually the Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, named for Prince Chichibu, in Tokyo which holds 27,188.

Most of the matches would obviously be held in the larger, more modern football stadiums like:

Toyota Stadium (45,000), Nissan Stadium (73,000), Saitama Stadium (63,000), Kobe Wing Stadium (30,000), Nagai Stadium (50,000), Sapporo Dome (54,000), Ecopa (51,000), Miyagi Stadium (50,000 - This stadium is the only true white elephant from 2002, all others are used regularly), Big Eye (45,000), and the National Stadium (58,000).

Keep in mind Tokyo is also bidding for the Olympics and would build a 100,000-seat stadium for.

It would be good for rugby union's growth if Japan hosted it.

While there are a lot of good arguments regarding Japan, saying it would be a catalyst to the sports growth in Asia and that if they were to win millions of dollars would be spent on the development of the sport, im still a bit worried. If you talked to the average japanese person how much would they know about the sport?

If they are to win one, id prefer them to win 2019 so that would give them more time to get the sport prepared. Also would get the game out of the pacific region.

Er, how is Japan not in the Pacific region?

as in get out of the pacific region for 2015.

Ah, gotcha.

Just spotted this on the JRFU website:

http://www.rugbyjapan.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=572&Itemid=1

Venues

Japan

Nissan Stadium, Kanagawa
Nagai Stadium, Osaka
National Stadium, Tokyo
Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Tokyo
Yurtec Stadium Sendai, Miyagi
Level 5 Stadium, Fukuoka
Toyota Stadium, Aichi
Sapporo Dome, Hokkaido
Homes Stadium, Hyogo

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Stadium

Singapore

Singapore Sports Hub

American Football in Japan... A few stadiums:

Proposed Japanese Hall of Fame (Paul Rush Memorial) Stadium in Hokuto, Yamanashi
http://www.yamanashi-nponet.jp/system/users/270/img/dendofield.jpg

Kwansei Gakuin University Stadium
http://www.oku.co.jp/jisseki/ground/kangaku.jpg

Expo Flash Field in Osaka
http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/5066/expoflashfieldosaka.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/691/expoflashfieldosaka.jpg/)

Nihon University Football Ground
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/2975/3ca61cedb9223da2fcc680e.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/135/3ca61cedb9223da2fcc680e.jpg/)

Yokkaichi Dome in Yokkaichi, Mie
http://blog-imgs-40.fc2.com/k/u/m/kumamotoeiji/yokkaichidome.jpg
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/1/pano3h.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/88/pano3h.jpg/)

Football at the Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama
http://img806.imageshack.us/img806/6909/e43dc8f3.jpg

Daito Bunka University Stadium
http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/411/10000474338.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/543/10000474338.jpg/)

Pine Bowl, Sapporo Dome, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/1313/tkss9735std.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/151/tkss9735std.jpg/)
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/3674/20071118121205.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/84/20071118121205.jpg/)

Yokohama Stadium in Yokohama, Kanagawa:
http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/7757/0811031202800x600.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/842/0811031202800x600.jpg/)

Japan will go it alone for the 2019 Rugby World Cup:-



Japan has been confirmed as the sole host country of the 2019 Rugby World Cup after Hong Kong and Singapore withdrew as potential destinations for matches.

Hong Kong and Singapore informed the Japan Rugby Football Union president Yoshiro Mori of their decision following an inspection tour of Japan by International Rugby Board (IRB) chairman Bernard Lapasset. "Hong Kong and Singapore have told us they are withdrawing", Mori told Kyodo News. "Japan will host the tournament on its own".

After Lapasset’s visit, the IRB chief expressed his confidence in the country’s safety measures which have been put in place since the earthquake and tsunami in March. "Some countries were saying the 2019 tournament should be held elsewhere, but I think we've managed to further our understanding with the IRB", Mori said.

Source (http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/183602/singapore-and-hong-kong-leave-japan-as-sole-2019-rugby-world-cup-host)

Kawasaki Stadium is being turned into an American Football-only facility:

Now:
http://i45.tinypic.com/2h57cc9.jpg

After the renovations are completed in 2014:
http://littlemermaids.lolipop.jp/swfu/d/2014kawasaki.JPG

I think they're wasting their time even thinking they have a chance. They just hosted. If FIFA's going to go to that part of the world it's impossible to see them passing over China and Australia to give it to a country that just had it already.http://amzn.to/OLhmrA
http://www.zhenpinhui.co.cc/2012/08/amazon.html

I think they're wasting their time even thinking they have a chance. They just hosted. If FIFA's going to go to that part of the world it's impossible to see them passing over China and Australia to give it to a country that just had it already.http://amzn.to/OLhmrA
http://www.zhenpinhui.co.cc/2012/08/amazon.html

?

The 2022 WC has already been allocated to Qatar. Don't worry, Japan won't be hosting a FIFA WC anytime soon.