About the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra

What the Tokyo Phil is

Founded in 1911, the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra celebrates its 114th anniversary as Japan’s first symphony orchestra in 2025. With about 160 musicians, it regularly performs symphonies and operas. It is proud to have appointed Maestro Myung-Whun Chung, who has been conducting Tokyo Phil since 2001, as Honorary Music Director, Maestro Andrea Battistoni as Chief Conductor, and Maestro Mikhail Pletnev as Special Guest Conductor. In addition, many world-class musicians have performed with the Tokyo Phil.
It has performed regularly at Tokyo's most distinguished halls, Suntory Hall, Bunkamura Orchard Hall, and Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall. It has established its world-class reputation through its subscription concert series, regular opera and ballet assignments at the New National Theatre, Tokyo (NNTT), and a full, ever-in-demand agenda around Japan and the world, including broadcasting with NHK Broadcasting Corporation, various educational programs, and tours abroad.
Tokyo Phil has partnerships with Bunkamura Orchard Hall, the Bunkyo Ward in Tokyo, Chiba City, Karuizawa Cho in Nagano, and Nagaoka City in Niigata, and also cooperation agreement with Kariya City in Aichi. Tokyo Phil also regularly performs in regions outside Tokyo and engages in regional cultural exchange and education programs.

Performances abroad and Rewards

In 1973, the Tokyo Phil performed overseas for the first time (7 performances in 4 countries in Southeast Asia,) and in 1984 it carried out its first European tour (28 performances in 7 countries). It has carried out 3 well-received European and frequent Asian tours and is now regarded as an upcoming world-class orchestra.
The orchestra has received many awards and honors, including the Ongaku No Tomo Sha Prize (1984), the Agency for Cultural Affairs "Art Festival Prize"(1986), and the "Art Festival Grand Prize" (1995). Furthermore, the orchestra has been designated as one of the organizations for the Agency for Cultural Affairs "Special Program to Artistic Creativity." While it frequently receives the ACA National Arts Festival Award in Japan, its recordings have been highly acclaimed internationally, winning the "OPUS KLASSIK 2021" award in the symphonic category (20th-21st century) and received “the Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation Foundation for the Arts” in 2022. The prize is the twentieth annual prize awarded by Mitsubishi UFJ.

History of Tokyo Phil

The Tokyo Phil was founded in Nagoya in 1911 and has the longest history and tradition among Japanese orchestras. After relocating its base to Tokyo in 1938, the orchestra played a pivotal role in introducing authentic opera to Japanese audiences under Chief Conductor Manfred Gurlitt (1890–1972). Shortly after World War II, it became a fully independent organization and adopted its present name.
In addition to presenting regular symphonic concerts, the Tokyo Phil has long maintained a strong commitment to opera and ballet productions and has been actively involved in broadcasting programs with NHK. Since 1997, the orchestra has served as the regular orchestra of the New National Theatre, Tokyo.
In 1999, the late Norio OHGA, Chairman of Sony Corporation, was appointed Chairman of the Tokyo Phil. With a vision for further growth, the orchestra merged with the Shinsei Japan Symphony Orchestra in 2001. In the same year, Maestro Myung-Whun Chung was appointed Special Artistic Advisor, marking the beginning of a long-standing artistic partnership that has continued to shape the orchestra’s history.
Following the passing of Norio OHGA in 2011, Ryoji CHUBACHI, Vice Chairman and Corporate Executive Officer of Sony Group Corporation, assumed the position of President of the Tokyo Phil, while Hiroshi MIKITANI, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Rakuten Group, Inc., became Chairman. That same year, the orchestra celebrated the 100th anniversary of Japan’s first symphony orchestra, and in 2012 presented its 100th Anniversary Special Concert at Suntory Hall, conducted by Maestro Chung.
In March 2014, the Tokyo Phil attracted international attention with its centennial world tour, performing in six major cities—New York, Madrid, Paris, London, Singapore, and Bangkok. In December 2015, the orchestra presented Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in Seoul and Tokyo together with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Chung, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the normalization of relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea.
In April 2015, Maestro Andrea Battistoni and Maestro Mikhail Pletnev were appointed Principal Guest Conductor and Special Guest Conductor, respectively. In September 2016, Maestro Chung assumed the title of Honorary Music Director, and in October of the same year Maestro Battistoni became Chief Conductor.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tokyo Phil gave approximately 450 performances annually. During the outbreak, all concerts, rehearsals, and tours were suspended for 100 days. Following the lifting of international travel restrictions, the orchestra marked its 1,000th subscription concert at the Bunkamura Orchard Hall with Messiaen’s Turangalîla-Symphonie, conducted by Maestro Chung.
Since 2024, the Tokyo Phil has steadily resumed its international activities. In May, under Maestro Chung, the orchestra undertook its first overseas tour since the pandemic, presenting four sold-out concerts in three cities across South Korea. In November, the Tokyo Phil made its Middle East debut in Riyadh, appearing in ‘Echoes of Eorzea: A Decade of Final Fantasy XIV in Symphony.’ In March 2025, the orchestra joined forces with the KBS Symphony Orchestra under Maestro Chung to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the normalization of Japan–ROK relations with concerts in Tokyo and Seoul. In April, the Tokyo Phil appeared as the host orchestra at the InClassica International Music Festival in Dubai, performing six concerts with seven soloists. In October and November 2025, the orchestra embarked on its first European tour with Maestro Chung, presenting eight concerts in seven countries to critical acclaim, with audiences and critics alike praising the Tokyo Phil as a world-class orchestra.

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