[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.
- Masterpiece Performances: Introducing Japan’s World-Renowned Pianists and Their Iconic Performances
- Ranking of popular classical pieces
- Popular classical piano pieces. A collection of masterful performances by Japanese pianists.
- [2026] Japan’s Leading Famous Drummers — From Veterans to Rising Stars
- Classical music by Japanese composers. Recommended classical music.
- 【2026】A Collection of Beloved Japanese Classics Worldwide【JAPAN MUSIC】
- From Fast Picking to Acoustic: Famous Japanese Guitarists
- YOSHIKI's famous and popular songs
- Only famous artists! Anime songs that energize the Reiwa era
- [Japanese-style Piano Pieces] A selection of recommended works with a pleasantly Japanese flavor
- [Japan] A collection of J-pop with a traditional Japanese (wa) vibe and Japanese-style taste
- Cute masterpieces of J‑Pop: recommended popular songs
- [J-POP] For those who want to listen to everything! A compilation of medleys by popular artists
[Conductor] Japanese conductors. Recommended Japanese conductors (11–20)
Festival Variations / NHK Symphony Orchestra (Wind Ensemble Arrangement)Genda Shigeo
Conductor Shigeo Genda is known for his unique style that fuses orchestra and wind ensemble.
While specializing in classical music, he is also deeply involved in opera and wind ensemble performance, cultivating a multifaceted career.
Since his debut as an opera conductor in 1986, he has performed both in Japan and abroad.
The essence of Genda’s musicality lies in his original approach—what could be called “wind band in the orchestra”—which brings wind and percussion instruments within the orchestra to the fore and lets them shine.
Having led the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra since 1996, his leadership is highly praised for dramatically elevating the ensemble’s sound.
He is a captivating maestro who opens new doors to classical music and delivers performances that resonate with those who love the sonorities of wind instruments.
Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 “Pathétique” / Sendai Philharmonic OrchestraEnkoji Masahiko
Masahiko Enkōji is a conductor who studied under maestros such as Hideo Saito and Otmar Suitner, and has enriched Japan’s classical music scene.
He launched his full-scale career in the 1980s as an associate conductor of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, and became widely known through appearances on NHK’s television program “Famous Music Album.” The music Enkōji creates is born from a refined style cultivated in Europe and the warm trust he has built over many years with Japanese ensembles.
In June 2010, he conducted the “Olympic Concert,” showcasing his talent on major stages, while also devoting himself passionately to coaching junior orchestras.
With performances that combine playing and commentary to convey the allure of music, Enkōji’s stage may be a wonderful guide for those taking their first steps into the world of classical music.
Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92 / Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony OrchestraŌno Kazushi
Kazushi Ono is a conductor Japan is proud of, who continues to lead at the forefront of both orchestral and operatic fields on the world stage.
After winning the Toscanini International Conducting Competition in 1987, he launched an international career and went on to serve as music director at institutions including La Monnaie in Belgium and the Opéra National de Lyon in France.
His achievements are evidenced by numerous awards at home and abroad, beginning with the 1997 Hideo Saito Memorial Fund Award.
The music born from Ono’s baton brilliantly fuses meticulous architectural beauty with passionate expressiveness.
At the New National Theatre, Tokyo, he has boldly championed world premieres of contemporary operas as artistic director, constantly opening up new horizons in classical music.
He is a maestro you will want to hear if you wish to savor everything from timeless masterpieces to the cutting edge.
Mahler: Symphony No. 1 / Yomiuri Symphony OrchestraIimori Taijiro
When it comes to Japanese conductors of Wagner, many would name Taijiro Iimori.
After winning an international competition in 1966, he took off onto the world stage, captivating audiences with a weighty sound imbued with the spirit of German Romanticism.
A signature achievement of Iimori’s career was the complete staging of The Ring of the Nibelung with the Tokyo City Philharmonic, undertaken over four years starting in 2000.
This monumental endeavor earned such acclaim that Wagner’s grandson recognized him as a Kapellmeister.
Selected as a Person of Cultural Merit, Iimori’s baton seems to speak music from the heart.
If you wish to experience the essence of grand German music or immerse yourself in soul-stirring, dramatic performances, why not step into Iimori’s world?
Cycle of Symphonic Poems “Má vlast” / Sendai Philharmonic OrchestraKoseki Ken
Conductor Ken Takaseki, who honed his craft under the legendary Herbert von Karajan and made his Japan debut in 1985, is one of the country’s leading maestros, having served as music director and principal conductor with numerous orchestras, including the Gunma Symphony Orchestra and the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra.
His appeal lies in a wide-ranging repertoire that spans symphonies, opera, and even world premieres of contemporary works.
His musicality is grounded in a rigorous analysis of the score and a sincere pursuit of each work’s essence.
This earnest approach has been highly acclaimed, earning him the 50th Suntory Music Award for 2018.
He is the ideal conductor for those who wish to savor performances that are both meticulously crafted and grand in scale, while treasuring the orchestra’s inherent sonority.
“Star Wars” Main Title / Tokyu Silvester Concert 2022Harada Keitaro
Keitaro Harada is attracting attention as a rising star shining in the world of classical music.
Born in 1985, he is a Japanese conductor active both in Japan and abroad.
In 2010, he received the Seiji Ozawa Fellowship Award at the Tanglewood Music Festival, and has gone on to win numerous other honors.
In 2023, he became the first Japanese recipient of the Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award, earning global recognition for his talent.
While centered on classical music, he conducts across a wide range of genres including opera, ballet, pops, and jazz, and he is also dedicated to music education for children.
Listening to Harada’s conducting conveys the splendor and emotional power of music.
He is recommended not only for those interested in classical music, but also for anyone looking to discover new charms in music.
[Conductor] Japanese conductors. Recommended Japanese conductors (21–30)
Serenade for Strings, Movement I / Saito Kinen OrchestraOzawa Seiji
When asked who represents Japan among classical music conductors, the first person who comes to mind is the world-renowned Seiji Ozawa.
In Japan, he received the Order of Culture, awarded to those who have made significant contributions to the advancement of the arts, and he was also the first Japanese recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors in the United States, which recognizes outstanding artists.
He served as Music Director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1973, and from 2002 he also held the post of Music Director of the Vienna State Opera, a globally acclaimed temple of classical music—truly a great conductor.
The Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival (formerly the Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto), held in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, was launched in 1992 at Ozawa’s initiative to bring together the disciples of his mentor, Hideo Saito, and it has had a profound impact on Japan’s classical music scene.