1. Preparation for the Venue Experience
Where you watch a show in Japan dictates the entire vibe of the event, and Korakuen Hall and Shinkiba 1stRING are two combat sport-dedicated venues located in Tokyo that are very popular with pro-wrestling fans while being very different in atmosphere. The Madison Square Garden of Japan, the Korakuen Hall is a highly respected 1,000+ seat venue known as a place where many historical moments in the Japanese pro-wrestling scene have occurred.
Shinkiba 1stRING is a 300-people-capacity small, wood-paneled converted storage warehouse that has a fun and laid-back atmosphere as it provides an intimate experience, focusing on in-ring action and interaction between the pro-wrestlers and the crowd.
2. Choosing the Promotion to See
Many wrestling promotions have shows at Korakuen Hall regularly, each with its unique style and loyal following. While NJPW quickly comes to mind for many, there are other notable promotions, including STARDOM, NOAH, AJPW, BJW, Michinoku Pro, Dream Star Fighting Marigold, SEAdLINNNG, and World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana- which celebrated its 15th anniversary at Korakuen Hall this past April.
Meanwhile, promotions ranging from small-sized to major can be seen at Shinkiba 1stRING. Along with STARDOM, NOAH, AJPW, BJW, and Diana, SEAdLINNNG, ZERO1, Actwres girl'Z, Marvelous, and Sendai Girls can be seen there as well.
Each offers a distinct style of puroresu, from the power of joshi to the King's Road style to the hardcore style to the lucha libre style to promotions that have a unique blend of wrestling styles.
3. Navigating the Ticket Landscape
If you want to see a show at Korakuen Hall, the easiest ways to get tickets if you are visiting Japan will be via Korakuen Hall 5th Floor Office (same-day tickets are sold at the 1st-floor box office near the main entrance) or pro-wrestling shop Champion, with an alternative being ticket agencies. If you want to see an NJPW event, you can also purchase tickets at Tokon Shop.
As for shows at Shinkiba 1stRING, tickets for these events are not as easy to get if you are visiting Japan, since the most common way to get them is by reserving tickets via promotions directly, via an online shop, phone, social media, or by joining a promotion's fan club. However, Korakuen Hall 5th Floor Office does handle advance tickets for select Shinkiba 1stRING events.
4. Understanding Venue Etiquette
The atmosphere in a Japanese venue during a pro-wrestling event is a mix of deep respect and enthusiastic energy. Cheering and clapping are encouraged, but there is often silence during technical wrestling, with the crowd focused on the action. While fans at Korakuen Hall wrestling events are generally more likely to be quieter at events than fans at many other venues in Japan (as they analyze the wrestlers and the matches), they are loud at both the hall and Shinkiba 1stRING when it appears that a match is going to end, as it seems that a wrestler they like is about to win or lose.
When it comes to sitting at ringside, the rule is the same at both venues: Be prepared to run. When a brawl carries out of the ring, it will soon go into the crowd. Stand up and get out of the way immediately.
Most promotions allow still photography but not video recording of the matches. Any unauthorized recording is a subject of copyright infringement, and putting recorded videos online is against the law and is punishable.
5. Post-Show
Keep in mind that the Japanese train system usually stops running around midnight. If you stay in the area past this time, night buses, bicycles, or staying in a karaoke box or capsule hotel until the first train runs at roughly 5:00 AM are common solutions. Alternatively, you can take a taxi or stay overnight at a hotel near the venue.
With Japanese wrestling having competitiveness at such a high level that many pro-wrestlers in America study the style, watching an event live is a very memorable experience. Pick a promotion, secure your ticket, respect the venue etiquette, and get ready to see the fighting spirit of Japanese wrestling in-person.
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