As the Japan Sport Council's advisory panel on Tuesday approved a blueprint for the new national stadium, the nation was left wondering how it would find ¥252 billion to pay for it.
JSC, an external body of the education ministry in charge of stadium construction, and the education ministry, which is supervising the overall plan, have been blamed for failing to predict ballooning construction costs.
An initial estimate of ¥162 billion quickly morphed into ¥252 billion — and some fear the figure could rise again. Construction is expected to begin in October.