Japan Philharmonic Orchestra

The Japan Philharmonic Orchestra (日本フィルハーモニー交響楽団, Nihon Firuhāmonī　Kōkyō Gakudan^?) is an orchestra based in Tokyo, Japan.

The Japan Philharmonic Orchestra was founded on June 22, 1956, as the exclusive subsidiary orchestra under the Nippon Cultural Broadcasting. Akeo Watanabe served the first Chief (Resident) conductor of the orchestra. In 1958, Jean Fournet conducted "Pelléas et Mélisande" of Debussy, it was the premiere performance in Japan.

Japan Philharmonic made a subsidiary contract with Fuji Television in 1959. Between 1961 and 1989, regular concerts were held in Tokyo Bunka Kaikan hall, in Tokyo. Akeo Watanabe completed his recordings of Jean Sibelius symphonies in 1962, which were released from Nippon Columbia Company (now Columbia Music Entertainment). Charles Munch conducted the symphony No. 9 of Ludwig Van Beethoven in 1962. Japan Philharmonic undertook its first overseas tour of the United States and Canada in 1963. Since then the orchestra has toured Europe several times and Hawaii.

In March 1972, Nippon Cultural Broadcasting and Fuji Television subsidiary contracts broke away, the orchestra foundation was dissolved. Seiji Ozawa was the principal conductor and the music adviser at the time. One-third of those original members left, then formed the New Japan Philharmonic in 1972 led by Seiji Ozawa and Naozumi Yamamoto (conductor and secretary-general).

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