Yasunshi Akutagawa Memorial Orchestra Nipponica

Japanese composers who faced the political, economic, and social events of the 20th century, sometimes questioning and defying history and tradition, engaged in artistic creation with their very existence at stake. These practices are reflected in their works, especially those produced in the 1990s.
The orchestral works they composed with an "eye toward society" still have a clear message that appeals to contemporary society.
Shinichiro Ikebe's "Forest of Sadness" (1998) expresses "the composer's feelings about the situation in which the forest is gasping due to global environmental destruction. Takashi Yoshimatsu's "Sinfonia for Young Birds" (2009), written in the 21st century, is "an anthem for the 'young birds' who will flap freely through the vast forest of music. The figure of the solo cello, overshadowed by the loudness of the orchestra, is reminiscent of the figure of Tsunenaga Shikura, the hero of the opera "Distant Sails" (1999), who was made to be a stone thrown away by the ambitions of the powers that be. The figure of the solo cello, covered by the loud sound, is reminiscent of the hero, Tsunenaga Shikura, who was made a stone thrown away by the ambitions of the powerful in Akira Miyoshi's opera "Distant Sail" (1999). Symphony No. 3 "The Sun at Noon in August..." by Hayashi Hikaru is a symphony with vocal accompaniment that focuses on the young people who were oppressed in the wake of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, which the composer called the "Beijing Spring.
The music of the four composers is harsh, beautiful, and powerful, with a message for us at a time when we do not always have a bright outlook on the future. It is our duty in this day and age to listen with our ears and hearts to the past works created by each of the composers and to accept them with reason and sensitivity.
The orchestra will be conducted by Ichiro Nohira, one of Japan's leading contemporary composers; Gen Yokosaka, an up-and-coming cellist who is also highly regarded for his performances of contemporary music; and Rinko Taketa, a soprano who won first prize in the vocal music category (opera arias) at the 82nd Japan Music Competition and has been active in Italian opera houses and is also active in Japan. The Orchestra Nipponica welcomes a new generation of performers, including soprano Rinko Taketa, who has been active in the Italian opera world and has been attracting attention in Japan.