[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 (41–50)
“Autumn” from The Four SeasonsSaitō Hideo
Hideo Saito was highly active as a cellist, conductor, and music educator, and he had a profound impact on the Japanese music world.
In 1936, he met the Jewish conductor Joseph Rosenstock, who had come to Japan, and through his efforts to absorb everything about music, he established the “Saito Method,” which continues to be passed down to this day.
Among his students are many conductors active on the world stage, such as Seiji Ozawa, Kazuyoshi Akiyama, and Naosumi Yamamoto.
Eine kleine Nachtmusik, Movement 3 / Senzoku Gakuen College of Music Basic OrchestraNobutaka Masui
Nobutaka Masui, who studied under many renowned conductors, studied abroad at the Bavarian State Opera in 1989 and took part in numerous opera productions.
In the same year, he became a conductor of the Gunma Symphony Orchestra, and in 1992 he performed with the Vienna Wind Ensemble; that performance was featured in a documentary commemorating the Vienna Philharmonic’s 150th anniversary and was broadcast worldwide.
Symphony No. 9 “From the New World,” Fourth Movement / Kyushu University Philharmonic OrchestraSuzuki Masato
Masato Suzuki is a talented Japanese musician born in 1981, known for his multifaceted career as a conductor, composer, and pianist.
After graduating from Tokyo University of the Arts and studying in the Netherlands, he has been active both in Japan and abroad.
As the Principal Conductor of Bach Collegium Japan, he conveys the allure of Baroque music while also being well-versed in contemporary music, boasting a wide-ranging repertoire.
In May 2022, he conducted Gluck’s opera at the New National Theatre, showcasing his abilities to the fullest.
He is a recommended conductor not only for those interested in classical music but also for anyone looking to discover new charms in music.
Festive OvertureYazaki Hikotaro
Driven by an unfulfilled passion for music, Hikotaro Yazaki left the Department of Mathematics at Sophia University and went on to graduate with distinction from the Conducting Department of the Tokyo University of the Arts.
He served as an assistant to Seiji Ozawa at the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra and subsequently built an international career with ensembles such as the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, and the Hof Symphony Orchestra in Germany.
He currently serves as the Principal Guest Conductor of the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra.
Dance of the Wind / Tokyo Kosei Wind OrchestraWatanabe Kazumasa
Kazumasa Watanabe, who is highly regarded in the field of wind ensemble music, is one of Japan’s leading conductors.
He made his debut in 1991 conducting the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, and his collaborations with the Osaka Municipal Symphonic Band—Kansai’s flagship professional wind ensemble—have also drawn attention, exerting a significant influence on Japan’s wind band scene.
Works for which his conducting is especially praised include the “Overture to an Alvamar” (Alvamar Overture), “Fūmon (Wind Patterns),” and theme music from NHK’s Taiga dramas.
These pieces are frequently performed at wind ensemble concerts and competitions and serve as excellent models for performers.
Watanabe’s music is notable for its clarity and cohesion, resonating deeply with listeners.
His recordings and performances are recommended not only for wind ensemble fans but also for anyone interested in Japanese musical culture.
Hero’s MazurkaMisawa Kei
This is Kei Misawa, a trumpeter, composer/arranger, and a versatile artist who is also involved in education and conducting.
His composition, Mazurka of the Brave, was selected as a set piece for the 2013 All-Japan Band Competition.
It remains a beloved set piece that is still frequently performed in concerts today.
Incidentally, Misawa is an avid fan of the Saitama Seibu Lions.
Intermezzo from Cavalleria RusticanaYoshida Hiroshi
Hiroshi Yoshida is a conductor who serves as a specially appointed associate professor at Toho College of Music and as a lecturer in its graduate school.
In Japan he has worked with countless orchestras, including the Tokyo Philharmonic and the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, and has been active with numerous orchestras overseas as well.
In 2007, he conducted Pagliacci and Romeo and Juliet at the Caracalla Summer Festival of the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, drawing worldwide attention with reports that “Hiroshi Yoshida became the first Japanese conductor to take the podium for a production presented by one of Italy’s most prestigious opera houses.”