A historic baseball stadium in Tokyo, where Babe Ruth played, is at risk of being demolished as part of a controversial redevelopment plan. The news was tweeted by the Associated Press’ sports division on Tuesday.
The Meiji Jingu Stadium has been around since 1926 and has hosted several important games. It was also the site where Babe Ruth hit his first home run during an exhibition game between American League all-stars and Japanese all-stars in 1934.
However, the stadium’s future is now uncertain as it falls within a proposed redevelopment area that includes the surrounding parkland. The redevelopment plan has faced opposition from local residents and preservation advocates who argue that tearing down the stadium would erase an important piece of Japan’s baseball history.
According to reports, there are plans to replace Meiji Jingu Stadium with a new stadium for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows baseball team, which currently shares the facility with Waseda University’s baseball team. The proposal is part of wider plans to redevelop the area around Shibuya Station ahead of the 2020 Olympics.
Despite protests from locals and preservationists, officials have defended their decision to demolish Meiji Jingu Stadium, saying that it is necessary for urban renewal and creating more space for commercial development.
This isn’t the first time that Japan’s sporting heritage has come under threat due to urban development. In recent years, several iconic venues have been torn down or changed beyond recognition in order to make way for new developments. For example, Tokyo’s National Stadium was rebuilt ahead of the 2020 Olympics while Osaka’s Hanazono Rugby Stadium underwent major renovations earlier this year.
The debate over whether or not to demolish Meiji Jingu Stadium will likely continue in coming weeks and months as stakeholders weigh up economic benefits against cultural importance. However, one thing seems clear: whatever happens next will have significant implications for Japan’s love affair with sport – both past and present.