About Us

Top Message

Jun-ichi Nihei

“Where there are people, there need be dreams”
– We will continue to present the world’s most inspiring performing arts productions. –

Since our company’s founding in 1976, we at Japan Arts have been presenting the world’s most outstanding performing arts productions by artists from Japan and around the world, based on our belief that “experiencing true art gives people energy for living.”

The sustaining values of the arts and culture fulfills people with dreams, inspiration; and enriches the heart and mind over time. We are aware of how important and precious these gifts are, and we believe they will help bring about world peace.

In our rapidly changing world, people’s values are diverse. I believe the prefix “sym-” is the “key” to surviving these complex times; as in sympathy, synchronize, and of course, symphony. That is; we need to mutually sympathize and synchronize our feelings with friends and colleagues, and strive to coexist and resonate “symphonically” with those we do not yet know.

With this conviction, we will continue to devote our efforts to sharing the power of music and the performing arts with as many people as possible.

We will be grateful for your continued support.

Japan Arts Corporation
Jun-ichi Nihei, President & CEO

Corporate Profile

Company NameJapan Arts Corporation
OfficeKocho Building, 2-1-6 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8905,Japan
Capital30 million yen
FoundationOctober 1, 1976
Number of employees60
Executive OfficerPresident & CEO / Jun-ichi Nihei
Executive Advisory Director / Masayuki Sekita
Managing Direcotor & COO / Ryoko Yamada
Director / Yoshihiro Tatsumi
Corporate Auditor / Masahiko Tsuchida
Special Advisor / Kunihiko Ukifune
Affiliated OrganizationJapan Music Foundation JESC
Chairman / Shinichi Koizumi
General Director / Masahiro Tsutsumi

Japan Music Foundation JESC is a public interest incorporated foundation under the jurisdiction of the Cabinet Office of the Government of Japan. It is founded to nurture young musicians and promote international exchange. JESC organizes music festivals and academies; plans, programs, and produces projects for local music halls.

Business Activities

  • 1.Performance Presentation

    We invite to Japan leading international classical musicians and overseas groups such as opera and ballet companies, orchestras, and chamber ensembles; organize performances in the Tokyo area; and secure venues and carry out ticket sales.

  • 2.Project Arrangement

    We provide invited artists’ performance projects to presenters in the Tokyo area and other locations in Japan, as well as other countries in Asia.

  • 3.Management of Japanese Artists

    We plan and produce concerts by and support the activities of outstanding Japanese musicians, and represent them in overseas engagements.

  • 4.Sales of Rights to Original Audio and Video Recordings, TV Broadcasts, etc.

    We are engaged in coordination and production for CD and DVD recordings, mainly of stage and music performances by artists invited by our company.
    We also sell the acquired rights to original recordings and broadcasts.

HISTORY OF JAPAN ARTS

YearEvents
1976
  • Japan Arts Corporation is founded on October 1.
  • Czechoslovakia Music Festival is held.
    Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Smetana String Quartet, and other Czech artists are introduced widely.
1977
  • Japan Arts begins management of overseas performances of Japanese orchestras.
1978
  • First visit of Krystian Zimerman, winner of the International Chopin Competition 1975.
  • Winners of the competition are invited to Japan ever since.
1979
  • “Hungary Music Festival” is held.
1980
  • “1st German Democratic Republic Music Festival” is held.
  • Performances of the Leningrad State Maly Theater Ballet are held.
    Japan Arts’ first invitation of a ballet company.
1983
  • “Toshiba Aurex Concert”
    Japan Arts’ first management of concert presented by corporation.
  • “1st Russia-Soviet Arts Festival” is held.
    Japan Arts’ first invitation of Bolshoi Ballet.
1984
  • Japan Arts is involved in foundation of JESC in December.
    JESC succeeds to the management of Kirishima International Music Festival and Master Class.
  • First invitation of Maestro Sviatoslav Richter.
1985
  • “German Democratic Republic Music Festival to celebrate the 300th anniversary of J.S. Bach’s birth” is held.
1986
  • Arts Publication Ltd. is founded in April.
    Arts Publication begins to publish music scores of Paderewski edition of complete Chopin works and Dvorak works.
  • Compania Antonio Gades (Flamenco Ballet) is invited.
    Followed by Milva, Paco de Lucia, and others in new fields.
1987
  • Japan Arts succeeds to the management of Bumpodo, shop of painting materials and stationeries in business for 100 years.
    Japan Arts aims to create new culture on contact point of music and fine arts.
1988
  • 1st invitation of Metropolitan Opera.
    James Levine and Prácido Domingo
1989
  • “Russia-Soviet Art Festival ’89” is held.
    1st invitation of Boshoi Opera.
  • 1st invitation of Leningrad State Maly Dama Theater.
    Japan Arts aims to develop drama field.
1991
  • Arts Core Ltd. is founded in April.
    Arts Core begins production of CD, LD, and video.
1992
  • Bayerische Staatsoper is invited.
    World premiere of En-nosuke’s new production of Die Frau ohne Schatten.
1993
  • 2nd invitation of Metropolitan Opera.
    Prácido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti are among the invited artists.
  • 1st Japan tour of Kirov Opera.
    The Fiery Angel becomes popular topic of conversation.
1995
  • Moscow Theater Opera is invited.
    Japan Arts presents charity performances to assist rebuilding of their new theater.
1996
  • First invitation of Coro della Cappella Sistina from Vaticam.
  • Japan Arts realizes the first Japan tour of the rarely touring choir.
1997
  • 3rd invitation of Metropolitan Opera.
  • Japan Arts participated in the music division of “Royal Norwegian Art Festival”.
1998
  • “Shostakovich Festival” is held.
    Program is based on the notes Shostakovich left Rostropovich.
1999
  • “Czech Republic Art Festival to celebrate the 10th anniversary from Velvet Revolution” is held.
    Operas Rusalka and Jenůfa are presented.
2001
  • 4th invitation of Metropolitan Opera.
  • Ken Nishikiori produces opera Cosi Fan Tutte Japan Arts’ first production of opera. The project is held every few years ever since.
2002
  • First Japan tour of Washington National Opera.
    Prácido Domingo and José Carreras are among the invited artists.
2003
  • “Russia Art Festival to celebrate the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg’s founding” is held.
    Kirov (Mariinsky) Opera’s grand-scaled opera War and Piece which opened the White Nights Festival is presented.
2004
  • First invitation of Vienna Boys Choir. The choir is invited every year ever since.
  • Japan Arts enters into an alliance with Pia Corporation in November.
    Japan Arts Pia division conducts tickets sales of Japan Arts performances in bulk.
2005
  • Mariinsky Opera with Valery Gergiev is invited.
    Wanger’s Ring cycle is presented.
2006
  • 5th invitation of Metropolitan Opera.
  • Compania Antonio Gades is invited.
    Japan Arts assists the company’s re-formation after the death of Antonio Gades and makes the Japan tour a success.
2007
  • Japan Arts participates in “Russian Culture Festival”
    Joint performances of Bolshoi Ballet and Mariinsky Ballet are held for the first time in the world.
2011
  • International Chopin Competition Winners’ Gala Concerts are held.
    Winners of the 16th International Chopin Piano Competition are invited.
  • 6th invitation of Metropolitan Opera.
2012
  • The 14th Tchaikovsky International Competition Gala Concerts are held.
  • Concerts by the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Mariss Jansons, are presented. (The complete Beethoven symphonies are performed.)
2013
  • 2nd invitation of Teatro Regio Torino.
  • The opera “Yuzuru” is performed throughout Japan, starting in Tokyo (Shinobu Sato performs the role of Tsu for the first time.)
2014
  • The Bolshoi Ballet is invited.
  • The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra with conductor Mariss Jansons is invited.
2015
  • Tours of the Mariinsky Ballet, the Sofia National Opera, the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Jiri Belohlavek, and others
2016
  • Special Concert and All-Star Ballet Gala celebrating Japan Arts’ 40th anniversary
  • Black Dyke Band’s first Japan tour in 26 years
2017
  • Bolshoi Ballet Japan Tour (60th anniversary of Bolshoi Ballet’s first visit to Japan)
2018
  • Tours of the Sofia National Opera, Mariinsky Ballet, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Zubin Mehta, others
  • Russia Year, Russian Cultural Festival
2019
  • Performances of the opera “Yuzuru” (concert version) in Vladivostok and St. Petersburg Year of Japan in Russia
  • Poland Arts Festival in Japan
2020
  • Launch of Artist Support Project
  • Commission and world premiere of a new work by Toshio Hosokawa for the Philharmonic Octet Berlin, in conjunction with the Berliner Philharmoniker Foundation
  • International Music Festival NIPPON2020 (Akiko Suwanai, Artistic Director)
2021
  • Evgeny Kissin 50th Anniversary project
  • 18th CHOPIN COMPETITION WARSAW Winner’s Recital Bruce Liu Piano Recial
2022
  • Participate in Tokyo Metropolitan Government “The Children’s Smile Movement”
  • First tour in Japan by Gürzenich Orchester Köln, conducted by François-Xavier Roth (Gürzenich-Kapellmeister/General Music Director)
2023
  • Commission and premiere of four new orchestral works in the New Classic Project
  • First Vienna Boys Choir Japan tour in four years; performance attended by the family of the Emperor of Japan

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