[Disclaimer: The following is a translation of a free article posted on Tokyo Sports Online on December 23, 2021 with regard to the Korakuen Hall 60th Anniversary Celebration. This article is not readily available in English. Do not reuse, repurpose or repost any of this translation without asking for permission first and proper accreditation/linking on social media. Do not screenshot and post on any social media, especially Twitter, Instagram & FaceBook/Meta.]
NOTE: At the time of TSO’s publishing of the article (December 2021) and this translation nearly two months later (February 2022), neither NJPW nor AJPW have formally announced their participation in the event, despite Korakuen Hall listing the special event on their company website.
The Hallowed Grounds of Korakuen Hall to Commemorate 60th Annivesary with Special Pro-Wrestling Event! Participation From Companies including NJPW & AJPW
(Tokyo Sports Online; 2021.12.23 at 5:15AM JST)
It has been revealed that Korakuen Hall in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo, which is sometimes called the Mecca1 for professional wrestling and martial arts (in Japan), will hold a special pro-wrestling event “The 60th Birthday Celebration” to commemorate the venue’s 60th anniversary. The event will be held on April 15th and 16th next year (2022), sixty years after the first opening on April 16th, 1962. Wrestlers from multiple companies including New Japan Pro-Wrestling and All Japan Pro-Wrestling are scheduled to participate. Who will be scheduled to participate?
When Korakuen Hall opened on April 16, 1962, it was under the name of “Korakuen Gymnasium.” The name was later changed to “Korakuen Hall” starting in 1967, and it remained the same to this day. It has become the stage for many famous combat sports events as a “sacred place” for boxing and professional wrestling. [Korakuen] will celebrate its 60th anniversary next year.
The first professional wrestling event to be held there was on November 25, 1966. The main event of Japan Wrestling Association was Giant Baba versus Luis Hernandez. Baba continued to add milestones including his celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of his debut and his sixtieth birthday with memorial shows in the same venue.
Korakuen Hall decided to hold a pro wrestling show to commemorate the venue’s 60th anniversary. It will be the first time in the venue’s 60-year history that a celebratory event will be held for the venue. “60th Birthday Festival” was the name announced as the event will commemorate the milestone year. “Women’s Wrestling Dream Festival” will be held on April 15th, and the “50th Anniversaries of New Japan Pro-Wrestling and All Japan Pro-Wrestling” will be held on the next day on April 16th.
At the time of the announcement, no match participants were announced. However, cooperation is highly anticipated for the “Festival” in honor of the venue. As the subtitle of the April 16th celebratory event suggests, participants from both New Japan and All Japan will participate as each company celebrates the golden (fiftieth) anniversary of their respective establishment next year [in 2022], so a rare, dream card will come to fruition.
At the New Japan’s [Wrestle Kingdom 16 in] Yokohama Arena show on January 8th [2022], there will be a rivalry between New Japan and Pro-Wrestling NOAH. There will likely be an electric atmosphere between both companies! Further details of the special event are expected to be announced in the new year. We look forward to future developments.
Translator’s Notes
- Mecca, holy place, or sacred spot could all be used due to the venue’s historial significance in combat sports and professional wrestling. Often compared to New York City’s Madison Square Garden in terms of signicance in sports history.
Karen in Translation 
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