About Tokyo Opera City Cultural Foundation

Tokyo Opera City is one of the greatest theatre cities in the world and boasts two museums and six theatres/halls. It includes a concert hall with a wooden interior and one of the world's best acoustic systems as well as the New National Theatre, where operas, plays, modern dances, dramas and other contemporary performing arts are performed for the public.

Housing approximately 60 company offices and roughly 60 restaurants and shops, the complex combines business and entertainment by offering extensive dining options, shopping and cultural experiences, making it one of the nation's most highly ranked theatre cities.

Established through the sponsorship of six private companies in December 1995, the Tokyo Opera City Cultural Foundation plans and organizes the musical performances and art exhibitions that take place in the Concert Hall (1632 seats), the Recital Hall (265 seats) and the Art Gallery. The Foundation is also responsible for the facilities' upkeep and other administrative tasks.

Since its opening in September 1997, over 250 musical performances have been held each year in the Concert Hall and over 300 musical performances, including rehearsals, have been held each year in the Recital Hall since its opening in April of the same year. Furthermore, after opening its doors in September 1999, the Art Gallery has hosted art exhibitions approximately four times per year. The Cabinet Office officially authorized the Foundation as a Public Interest Incorporated Foundation in April 2010.

In September 1997, conductor Seiji Ozawa celebrated the opening of the Concert Hall through a performance of J.S. Bach's "St. Matthew's Passion" by the Saito Kinen Orchestra. Since then, the foundation has organized the recitals of many domestic and international orchestras, chamber musicians, choirs, vocalists and organists/pianists. Supporting the themes of "Prayer, Hope and Peace" and the idea of "A Window to the Future" as envisioned by the late artistic director Toru Takemitsu, Kent Nagano took over as musical director shortly after Mr. Takemitsu's death. Since then, Shinichiro Ikebe has taken over the role and currently offers his advice and leadership.

In order to inspire younger generations all over the world to contribute to the creation of new musical compositions and to commemorate the Foundation's first artistic director, Toru Takemitsu, the Foundation established the "Toru Takemitsu Composition Award", which focuses on discovering and publicly recognizing excellent compositions. Each year, one judge reviews and chooses 4-5 of the submitted musical compositions to be performed in the Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall,where the judge will announce the recipients of the award during the "Composium" festival."Composium", which takes place in May each year. focuses on the contemporary music and features musical performances of works by the current year's judge.

Held 10 times per year in Tokyo and twice per year in other cities, the "B to C Series" - from Bach to Contemporary - musical recital program was established to give promising young musicians a chance to perform a wide range of music pieces.

The Foundation is entrusted with and responsible for the Concert Hall, Recital Hall and various rehearsal rooms, all of which are used for public performances and loaned out to organizations such as musical groups and agencies. A wide range of performers including both Japanese and international orchestras and chamber musicians also use the Concert and Recital Hall for performances. The Foundation regularly performs maintenance on the halls that are rented out, checking the rooms' lights, acoustics and other facilities and servicing the pianos and other instruments. All of the halls' managers and receptionists are highly trained and all tasks are completed with utmost care in order to ensure the users' satisfaction.

An art museum located on the third and fourth floors of the building overlooking Sankun Garden, the Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery boasts an area of approximately 1000 square meters. Special exhibitions introducing a variety of unique art activities are held here four times per year. Designed to attract young connoisseurs of art, these exhibitions showcase a variety on media such as paintings, sculptures, photographs, videos, design and architecture but primarily focus on modern and contemporary works completed during and after the 20th century. Donated by Kotaro Terada, the Terada Collection includes paintings, prints and sculptures by some of Japan's leading artists of today, such as Masayoshi Aigasa, Lee Ufan, Kimio Kawaguchi, Kyosuke Chinai and Tatsuoki Nambata and his son Fumio, who have been regarded as two of Japan's most influential abstract painters.

Founded on the bequest of the late Tatsuoki Nambata's will," project N" is a series designed to introduce and exhibit the work of young Japanese artists. The works chosen by the Foundation's selection committee are displayed along the corridor of the fourth floor of the gallery.

Members are entitled to various benefits such as priority reservations and discounted tickets for foundation-sponsored concerts and free Art Gallery admission.

These individuals and corporations both support the art and cultural activities of the foundation and provide financial backing to the foundation. Along with being informed about the foundation's activities, supporting members are also publicly announced and recognized.

13 December , 1995

1 April, 2010

the Government of Japan Cabinet Office

500 million yen