NHK Symphony Orchestra

The in Tokyo, Japan began as the New Symphony Orchestra on October 5, 1926 and was the country's first professional symphony orchestra. Later, it changed its name to Japan Symphony Orchestra and in 1951, after receiving financial support from NHK, it took its current name. It is considered to be the leading orchestra in Japan.

Vladimir Ashkenazy is the radio orchestra's music director and Charles Dutoit is music director emeritus. Wolfgang Sawallisch serves as honorary conductor laureate.

In December 1962 the orchestra was a center of controversy when certain players, unhappy with the style and personality of conductor Seiji Ozawa, refused to play under him. Ozawa went on to conduct the rival Japan Philharmonic Orchestra instead.

Permanent Conductors and Music Directors

• Hidemaro Konoye (January 1926–February 1935)
• Josef König (April 1927–April 1929)
• Nicolai Schifferblatt (July 1929–July 1936)
• Joseph Rosenstock (August 1936–September 1946 full-time conductor; March 1956–March 1957 Principal Conductor)
• Hisatada Otaka (April 1942–February 1951† full-time conductor)
• Kazuo Yamada (April 1942–July 1951 full-time conductor)
• Shin'ichi Takata (April 1944–May 1951 full-time conductor)
• Kurt Wöss (September 1951–August 1954 Principal Conductor)
• Niklaus Aeschbacher (August 1954–March 1956 Principal Conductor)
• Wilhelm Loibner (March......
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