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 moving its base to Tokyo in 1938, the orchestra played a pivotal role in bringing authentic opera to the Japanese public under Chief Conductor Manfred Gurlitt (1890-1972). Shortly after WWII, the orchestra became a fully independent organization and changed its name to the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. The orchestra not only holds regular concerts, but also continues to focus on performing operas and ballets, and is actively involved in broadcasting programs with NHK. Since 1997, Tokyo Phil has been the regular orchestra at the New National Theatre, Tokyo.
In 1999, the late Norio OHGA, Chairman of SONY Corporation, was appointed Chairman of the Tokyo Phil.
In 2001, with visions of further growth, the Tokyo Phil merged with the Shinsei Japan Symphony Orchestra.
In 2001, Mo. Myung-Whun Chung became the Special Artistic Advisor of the Tokyo Phil. Since then, Mo. Chung and Tokyo Phil have maintained a close relationship. In 2011, after former Chairman Mr. Norio OHGA passed away, Mr. Ryoji CHUBACHI, vice chairman and corporate executive officer of SONY Group Corporation assumed the position of Tokyo Phil’s President, and Hiroshi MIKITANI, founder, chairman, and CEO of Rakuten Group, Inc., became Tokyo Phil’s Chairman.
In 2011, the Tokyo Phil celebrated the 100th anniversary of Japan’s first symphony orchestra and in 2012, it held its 100th Anniversary Special Concert at Suntory Hall conducted by Myung-Whun Chung.
In March 2014, Tokyo Phil became a global sensation in its centennial world tour of six major cities: New York, Madrid, Paris, London, Singapore, and Bangkok. In December 2015, it held Beethoven’s 9th symphony concerts in Seoul and Tokyo with Mastro Myung-Whun Chung, with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra combined into one orchestra celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Normalization of Japan-ROK Relationship.
In 2025, Tokyo Phil plans its European concert tour with maestro Myung-Whun Chung. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Tokyo Phil gave 450 performances a year, but during the outbreak, it held no concerts, rehearsals or tours for 100 days. After recovering from the pandemic, which imposed international travel restrictions, Tokyo Phil has resumed several overseas tours since 2024.

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