The Japan Times, Friday 30th November 1917 (Page
8)
TOKYO'S WRESTLING HALL DESTROYED
Famous Kokugikan One of City's Landmarks, Guttered in Disastrous
Fire
The Kokugikan, the great wrestling amphitheatre of
which the public of Tokyo was exceedingly proud, was burnt down early yesterday
morning. A chrysanthemum exhibit was being held there, and Wednesday evening
the show was closed at ten o'clock as usual, and the officials and employees
left the building about half an hour later, only four night watchmen staying.
Thirty minutes past midnight, one of the watchmen
found a blaze in the building consuming the chrysanthemum figures. The
alarm was given at once, and not only the fire brigades, but also wrestlers
connected with the amphitheatre, and many others attempted vigorously to
stop the fire. The fire fighters found it extremely difficult to fight
the flames, as they had already spread throughout the building. Officials
of the Kokugikan succeeded in carrying out the photographs of T.I.M. the
Emperor and Empress, but lost almost everything else in the building, including
valuable old documents and pictures.
Immense Dome Collapses
At two o'clock, the great umbrella-like steel frame
of the building, weakened by the heat, crashed down to the ground, totally
demolishing the building. Hanaregoma, a wrestler who is one of the committee
of the Kokugikan did almost superhuman work in trying to prevent the spread
of the fire, and in his attempt was burned all over his body, and finally
becoming unconscious, had to be carried to a hospital.
At about the same time as the great steel roof came
down, the fire spread to the Yeko-in Temple, despite all the efforts of
the fire fighters. The statue of Buddha and some old treasures there were
carried out by the priest and employees, but many valuable old pieces of
art were burnt.
Building Worth 3 Times Original Cost
The Kokugikan was built in 1909 at the cost of 300,000
yen, but at present the building alone is worth 1,000,000 yen, and the
total damage of the fire is estimated at 1,300,000 yen. The building was
insured for 120,000 in five companies.
The steel frame of the dome, which fell to the ground,
can not be used again, but at this moment of the high price of steel, it
is reported that as junk it will be worth about 1,500,000 yen. The officials
of the Kokugikan, however, report that they will positively open the spring
season of wrestling matches on January 11th. They will be held in a temporary
structure.
The Wrestling Association which built the Kokugikan,
had been losing money for many years, but with the recent prosperity, the
Association became able to pay most of its debts, and if the coming meeting
is successful, it is expected to clear off all its debts. Consequently
the officials of the Association especially regret the fire.
The cause of the fire is not positively known, but
as extreme care was taken to guard against any such occurrence, it must
have been caused by inadequate insulation of electric wires.
The Association will immediately plan the construction
of a new building on the same site, and it will be finished by the end
of next year.