Famous Conductors from Japan

Reference
Updated June 15, 201933 items

List of notable or famous conductors from Japan, with bios and photos, including the top conductors born in Japan and even some popular conductors who immigrated to Japan. If you're trying to find out the names of famous Japanese conductors then this list is the perfect resource for you. These conductors are among the most prominent in their field, and information about each well-known conductor from Japan is included when available.

People include everything from Yoko Kanno to Joe Hisaishi.

This historic conductors from Japan list can help answer the questions "Who are some Japanese conductors of note?" and "Who are the most famous conductors from Japan?" These prominent conductors of Japan may or may not be currently alive, but what they all have in common is that they're all respected Japanese conductors.

Use this list of renowned Japanese conductors to discover some new conductors that you aren't familiar with. Don't forget to share this list by clicking one of the social media icons at the top or bottom of the page. {#nodes}
Photo: Freebase / Public domain

  • Akira Endo

    Akira Endo (遠藤 明, Endō Akira) (16 November 1938 – 3 April 2014) was a Japanese-American conductor and music educator. He studied violin and conducting at the University of Southern California, where he earned a bachelor's and master's degree. Maestro Endo held conducting posts with the American Ballet Theatre, Westside Orchestra, Long Beach Symphony Orchestra, Louisville Orchestra, Austin Symphony Orchestra, San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony, and the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He appeared as guest conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Louisiana Philharmonic, the ...more
    • Age: Dec. at 76 (1938-2014)

  • Chiaki Murakawa

    Chiaki Murakawa is an orchestra conductor.
    • Birthplace: Yamagata, Japan

  • Chosei Komatsu

    Chosei Komatsu (小松 長生, Komatsu Chōsei, born March 1, 1958) is a Japanese conductor who, from 2003-2010, was Artistic Director of Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Costa Rica. Also, after five years as Music Director of Japan’s Central Aichi Symphony Orchestra, he assumed the title of Conductor Laureate.
    • Age: 65

  • Eiji Oue

    Eiji Oue (大植 英次, Ōue Eiji, born October 3, 1956 in Hiroshima, Japan) is a Japanese conductor.
    • Age: 65
    • Birthplace: Hiroshima, Japan

  • Hattori Katsuhisa

    Katsuhisa Hattori (服部 克久, Hattori Katsuhisa, born November 1, 1936) is a Japanese classical composer who also writes music for anime movies, TV series and OVAs. Hattori is a respected composer in Japan; his style is classical, although he is experienced and respected in many other genres, such as New Age, Jazz, etc. He is the son of Ryoichi Hattori and father of Takayuki Hattori, who both are musical composers as well. Besides being a composer, he has been a producer and music supervisor for many years, and now has his own publishing company, Hattori Music Publishing. He is also pianist, judge and a chairman for the Tokyo music festivals.
    • Age: 86
    • Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan

  • Heiichiro Ohyama

    Heiichiro Ohyama (大山　平一郎, Ōyama Heiichirō, born 1947 in Kyoto, Japan) is a Japanese conductor and violist.
    • Age: 76
    • Birthplace: Kyoto, Keihanshin, Japan