Top 10 G1 Climax Mid-Tournament Venues

brendan durant
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Prithee, pro wrestling fan, gain solace from the podcasts, the discourse, the video essays. Enter a world of peace and burning spirit. The weather is starting to heat up. The air begins to thicken. The eyes of the wrestling world become focused upon perhaps the most prestigious tournament in our beautiful sport: The G1 Climax.

Every year, a merry traveling band of men participate in a pre-determined athletic tournament to decide who will be the one to pose in front of cameras with a giant trophy, and for some to bathe in the increasingly valuable star ratings, match guides, and spreadsheets of countless pro-wrestling fanatics.

But where exactly do these matches take place? Of course we have Ryogokou Kokugikan— a near-perfect square that’s geometric simplicity creates a perfect venue for viewing sumo wrestlers and aging pop musicians alike. In contrast, we see performances in a more intimate venue, Kouraken Hall, where personality and showmanship are put aside for strong style moves per second exhibitions.

In between, we have the venues henceforth discussed. The arenas where for a brief moment, notebooks are forgotten. T-shirts, towels, and 8x10s are sold by the hundreds. The wrestlers only goal is this: do as little work to gain the two points to help further your legacy as a pro-wrestling icon.  So, dear reader, it’s time to get comfortable. Turn on the bright fluorescent overhead LEDs, remove the entrance video screen, and let’s sell some merchandise while celebrating these venues.

10. Ishikawa Industrial Exhibition Hall

A 2000 seat capacity venue that played host to NJPW G1 Climax 2013 Day 5. The only interesting element of the building here is a pointed glass roof that allows natural sunlight to enter the building.

9. ZIP Arena Okayama

ZIP Arena Okayama should be immediately recognizable to fans of Days 6-8 of the past few New Japan Cup tours. It was lucky enough to host Day 12 of the 2020 G1. You would probably want to buy floor seats for a show here; the bleachers seem to be a far distance from the ring. Fun fact: This venue is home court of the Third division basketball club Tryhoop Okayama.

8. Gifu Industrial Hall

Our long and perilous journey has left us here in Gifu. From kinda reading a Wikipedia page, Gifu has historical significance in the history of Japan. For New Japan fans, this shadowy warehouse gave them Day 10 of the 2017 G1. I can’t find a picture of the outside, but what goes on inside is a 1:33 EVIL vs. Toru Yano B Block match.

7. Kagoshima Arena (Nishihara Shokai Arena)

A Madison Square Garden roof is what makes this arena special. Not only did it host a Jehovah’s Witness convention (which drew more fans), it also hosted Day 12 of the 2018 G1 Climax! Awesome! 

6. Ao-re Nagaoka

The floor of Ao-re Nagaoka has 5 different 3 point lines, and 2 separate SANADA main events (2023 G1 Day 5, 2018 G1 Day 8). He stuck to his post game and did not opt to shoot a three and still left a winner. I would also like to mention the Great-O-Khan/El Phantasmo match as one of the best group stage matches of the 2023 G1.

5. Iwate Industrial Bunka Center Apio

This one has green floors and yellow chairs. If you were free and available on a summer’s day in 2015 (G1 Day 11), you would have seen a Cody Hall tag team match and Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Doc Gallows. Shin Nihon FreakFact: Kota Ibushi and Tetsuya Naito had their third ever encounter in this building. 

4. Twin Messe Shizuoka North Pavilion

This looks like the perfect site for a grocery store or a large retail space. We could maybe put a Target here. In 2005 (G1 Day 5), Osamu Nishimura scored a victory over his mentor Tatsumi Fujinami. Holds were exchanged. Suplexes were thrown. Maybe one day the only selling done will be vegetables, fruits, canned goods, etc.

3. Big Palette Fukushima

Our next stop on the tour is a building that is themed around gray rectangles. I wonder if the rectangles that push out of the wall are theater seats or just a stylistic decision. It appears to be a large floor that can accommodate many seats. The action in this show was likely focused around throwing your opponent into the guardrails and t-shirt choking tactics. And Michael Elgin!!! One has to assume that shoulder blocks were also performed. It hosted Day 6 of the 2017 G1.

2. Fukuoka Citizen Gymnasium

ATTENTION CITIZENS! Fukuoka Citizen Gynasium hosted 4 straight years of Day 11 and 12s of the G1 Climax. With the exception of one World Tag League show, these were the only shows held in this venue for 4 years! Get the fuck out of here World Tag League! If you haven’t been paying attention, this article is about the G1 CLIMAX! The summer heat is no match for burning spirit. You can also take a swim next door! This building was built in 1972! The spirit of New Japan lives here! Fukuoka’s own Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka play in this building, and they were coached by Kobe Bryant’s dad! 

1. Takamatsu City General Gymnasium

We have arrived at the final stop on our tour. Takamatsu City General Gymnasium has been a significant venue for various undercard title changes. BUT we are here to talk about the G1 Climax. Twice has Tomoaki Honma main evented a show in Takamatsu, because the people of Takamatsu want and need kokeshi! If you are not satisfied with a Honma masterclass, you can get a 1:05 Yano victory over Shibata. When you come to Takamatsu, you will see something captivating. These gems are what the G1 Climax is all about. 3am at night, you are going to sit through because they craft a tournament atmosphere like no other. The G1 Climax is almost here, and the underdog could win it all, the dominant champion could easily win, and the biggest wrestler in the tournament will get 10 points! Everything that can happen, will happen. We will all sit and cheer and predict and mathematize scenarios because it’s tournament season! So lets get fucked up and watch some 4.25 star matches!