By SHUHEI SHIBATA/ Staff Writer
November 3, 2025 at 07:00 JST
The Japan National Stadium in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
Tokyo’s iconic National Stadium will adopt a new name, “MUFG Stadium,” from January following a five-year naming rights agreement announced by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. and the stadium’s operating company.
The deal running through late 2030 is one of the largest of its kind in Japan, with insiders estimating the annual value at 2 billion yen ($13 million).
“We aim to create a stadium that connects with people around the world,” said MUFG President Hironori Kamezawa.
Even during the five-year deal, the official title “Japan National Stadium” will remain in place for international events and formal occasions.
Rebuilt in 2019, the stadium was designed through a collaboration led by renowned architect Kengo Kuma.
It features a distinctive wooden eave structure crafted from cedar and pine sourced from across Japan. With a seating capacity for 68,000 people, it served as the primary venue for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games held a year behind schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The stadium was privatized in April 2025, with operational rights acquired by a consortium including NTT Docomo Inc. and the Japan Professional Football League (J.League).
In addition to hosting sports and music events, the naming rights deal is a key revenue stream for the newly privatized facility.
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