[Conductor] A Japanese conductor. Recommended Japanese conductors.
Do you know any Japanese conductors? Centered in Europe, classical music has been loved by people from many countries and widely popularized by numerous performers and the conductors who lead them.
There are many renowned conductors like Karajan, and a conductor’s interpretation can change the atmosphere of the same piece so much that it often determines which concert audiences choose to attend—making conductors truly essential.
While foreign conductors’ names may roll off the tongue, how many Japanese conductors can you name? Foreign conductors are outstanding, but Japanese conductors are no less impressive.
In this article, we’ll introduce Japanese conductors active in Japan and abroad—from principal conductors and music directors, to familiar faces in orchestral concerts of video game and anime music, to popular wind band conductors, and those who have founded Japan-based ensembles to showcase the appeal of Japan’s classical music scene.
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[Conductor] Japanese conductors. Recommended Japanese conductors (1–10)
Symphonic Suite “Dragon Quest” / Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestrasugiyama kouichi
Koichi Sugiyama, renowned as a master of video game music and active as a conductor, had a career that spanned a wide range of genres, from pop songs to anime and game music.
He produced numerous hit songs, including The Tigers’ “Hanano Kubikazari” (A Garland of Flowers) and Garo’s “Gakuseigai no Kissaten” (The Coffee Shop in the Student Quarter).
What made Koichi Sugiyama’s name resound around the world was surely the music of the beloved RPG series Dragon Quest.
The triumphant fanfare of the grand overture that heralds the start of the adventure became a symbol of Japanese culture when it echoed through the stadium at the 2021 Olympic opening ceremony.
In 2016, it was also recognized by Guinness World Records.
He is a conductor recommended not only for game fans but also for anyone who wants to enjoy the splendor of classical music and melodies that resonate with the heart!
Variations on a Theme by HaydnNumajiri Ryūsuke
Ryusuke Numajiri is active on the world stage in three roles—conductor, composer, and pianist.
His talent blossomed rapidly after winning the Besançon International Competition for Young Conductors in 1990.
He is also renowned as an opera conductor, and the Wagner productions he led as Artistic Director of Biwako Hall were lauded even in Germany, the composer’s homeland.
His illustrious list of honors, including the Medal with Purple Ribbon, eloquently attests to his achievements.
His recordings, such as the complete Beethoven symphonies, are also highly regarded.
If you want to experience how a conductor can transform music, or explore the multifaceted appeal of a single musician, attending one of Numajiri’s concerts may become an unforgettable experience.
Overture to the opera “The Marriage of Figaro” / Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestraokizawa nodoka
Nodoka Okisawa is attracting attention as a rising star in the world of classical music.
A native of Aomori Prefecture, she graduated at the top of her class from Tokyo University of the Arts before studying in Germany to further hone her craft.
Beginning with her historic win as the first woman to take first prize at the Tokyo International Music Competition in 2018, she went on to win the Besançon International Conductors’ Competition the following year.
She has showcased her talent by conducting leading orchestras in Japan and abroad, including the NHK Symphony Orchestra and the Munich Symphony Orchestra.
In 2022, she broadened her activities by conducting the opera The Marriage of Figaro at the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival.
Okisawa’s conducting combines delicacy with boldness, captivating audiences.
If you’re interested in classical music, why not attend a concert under her baton at least once?
[Conductor] Japanese conductors. Recommended Japanese conductors (11–20)
Symphonie fantastique / Kanagawa Philharmonic OrchestraOoue Eiji
Eiji Oue is a conductor who channels the passion he inherited from his mentors, Seiji Ozawa and Leonard Bernstein, into his baton, thrilling audiences around the world.
Ranging from classical to contemporary music, his repertoire is broad, and his performances paint vivid colors in listeners’ hearts like energetic works of art.
After winning a competition in Salzburg in 1981, he gained international attention, and his album “The Firebird” with the Minnesota Orchestra was nominated for a Grammy Award.
He is also known for becoming the first Japanese conductor to take the stage at the Bayreuth Festival in 2005, as well as for the charming anecdote of conducting in a traditional happi coat as a devoted Hanshin Tigers fan.
He is the perfect conductor for those who want to experience how a conductor can transform music, or who wish to feel the fiery energy of classical music.
Matsuken Samba IIMiyagawa Akira
Akira Miyagawa, who calls himself a “stage musician,” works across a wide range from classical to anime music.
Composed and arranged by Miyagawa, Ken Matsudaira’s 2004 smash hit “Matsuken Samba II” is a tune everyone can hum.
He also made a strong impression by appearing on NHK music programs himself, sharing the allure of music with children.
In 1996, he received the ABC International Music Award for his work with the Osaka Philharmonic.
Guided by his belief that “a concert is a show,” Miyagawa commands the stage as conductor, pianist, and commentator—like musical magic! He may be the perfect conductor for anyone seeking music they can truly enjoy, regardless of genre.
Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major, D 485 / Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony OrchestraKoizumi Kazuhiro
A maestro who captivated even the great Karajan in his youth and leapt onto the world stage.
Kazuhiro Koizumi excels in grand symphonies from the Romantic to the modern era, known for his warm sonority and weighty, well-crafted music-making.
In 1973, he won the Karajan International Conducting Competition and made his debut conducting the Berlin Philharmonic.
Among his notable recordings is the acclaimed album “Tchaikovsky: Symphonies Nos.
4, 5 & 6.” The episode of his appearance at the Salzburg Festival at age 27 in the same year is also well known, and his music is distinguished by a reassuring sense of fulfillment that meets audience expectations.
Perfect for those who want to immerse themselves in dramatic sonorities or savor the beauty of orthodox classical music at length.
It may also be a great opportunity to enjoy the differences in sound that conductors can bring.
Main Theme from the NHK Taiga Drama ‘Reach Beyond the Blue Sky’ / NHK Symphony OrchestraHirokami Jun’ichi
Junichi Hirokami is a conductor whose energetic baton sweeps audiences into a whirl of excitement.
Known for his passionate music-making across everything from classical to contemporary repertoire, he burst onto the world stage in 1984 with a unanimous first prize at an international competition at the age of 26.
His performances, where the entire orchestra seems to pulse like a single living organism, stir the hearts of all who watch.
His celebrated partnership with the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra—spanning 13 seasons and crowned with the Suntory Music Award—surely remains vivid in the memories of many classical music fans.
If you’re looking to open a new door to classical music or to immerse yourself in the full force of music’s energy, he is a conductor you should experience.