Goto Shinpei Award

On receiving the 16th Goto Shinpei Award

The Japan Philharmonic Orchestra has been awarded the 16th Goto Shinpei Award. The award recognizes the orchestra's ongoing "Music for Disaster Areas" activities in the areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, with the following comments: "Their interactions with local youth are nurturing hope for the future among the younger generation," and "They are in line with Goto Shinpei's spirit of service and his lofty aspirations for developing human resources."

The Japan Philharmonic Orchestra's "Music for Disaster Areas" activity in disaster-stricken areas began in April 2011, when three members - a trombone, violin, and viola player - visited an evacuation center in Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, with the aim of delivering batteries entrusted to them by a Hong Kong company and, if possible, performing at the same time. Since then, as the needs of each region have changed over time, the orchestra has continued its activities, constantly asking itself, "What can we do as musicians?" In 2019, the orchestra launched the "Tohoku Dream Project," and in 2021, it has made its 300th visit.

All of us in the orchestra are extremely grateful that we have been able to be highlighted in this way, and we hope to share this joy with everyone who supports our activities and everyone who cooperated and participated on site.

Building on this award, the Japan Philharmonic will continue its efforts in the coastal areas of the Tohoku region. Furthermore, through the "Tohoku Dream Project," the orchestra hopes to support the future of children and the region by widely introducing the musical and cultural activities undertaken by children in local communities and schools throughout the Tohoku region.
We hope for your continued understanding and cooperation in the Japan Philharmonic's social contribution efforts.

日本フィルハーモニー交響楽団

16th Goto Shinpei Award Ceremony Report

The Japan Philharmonic Orchestra has been awarded the 16th Goto Shinpei Award.

The Japan Philharmonic Orchestra continues its "Music for Disaster Areas" project in the areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, and has been praised for its efforts to "foster hope for the future among the younger generation."

The award ceremony was held on Tuesday, July 5th at Za Koenji in Suginami Ward. On the day, six members of the selection committee, including Professor Emeritus Aoyama Tsuyoshi of Meiji University from the Goto Shinpei Society, took the stage, along with Chairman Hirai Toshikuni from the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra. They were presented with the Goto Shinpei Award, a commemorative plaque, and the stained glass "Symphony of Prayer."

In receiving the award, the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra was recognized for its ongoing "Music for Disaster Areas" activities in the areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, which "are in line with Goto Shinpei's spirit of service and his lofty aspirations for human resource development." In response to this, in his award speech, Chairman Hirai spoke about the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra's activities and philosophy in the disaster-stricken areas, introducing footage and photographs from that time, as well as words from the victims and musicians who performed there. Members who first visited the area in April 2011 after the earthquake also attended the event and shared the joy of receiving the award.

I am deeply grateful to receive this ambitious award, established in the footsteps of Goto Shinpei, and for highlighting the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra's long-standing support activities for the disaster-stricken areas. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the musicians who promoted these activities, everyone who supported us, the people I met in the affected areas, and those who are working hard to help with the reconstruction.

Building on this award, the Japan Philharmonic will continue its efforts in the coastal areas of the Tohoku region. Furthermore, through the "Tohoku Dream Project," the orchestra hopes to support the future of children and the region by widely introducing the musical and cultural activities undertaken by children in local communities and schools throughout the Tohoku region.

We hope for your continued understanding and cooperation in the Japan Philharmonic's social contribution efforts.

About the Goto Shinpei Award (from the award press release)

Goto Shinpei Award Official Website

■ Purpose

During Japan's modernization process, Goto Shinpei conceived large-scale policies on a time and space scale that looked ahead a hundred years, and contributed to the development of the region and the nation while nurturing people. 
This award is awarded annually to a contemporary individual, both in Japan and abroad, who, like Goto Shinpei, has contemplated the very nature of civilization and achieved achievements that have given it a new direction.

■Reason for winning the award

In the areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake that occurred in 2011, various forms of medical and welfare support have been extended from all over the country in an effort to rebuild. In response to this, the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra has been working on the "Music for the Disaster Areas" project since immediately after the disaster, aiming to support "spiritual recovery," and has continued to perform in the affected areas. In particular, the exchanges between orchestra members and local youth have fostered "hope for the future" among the younger generation. These performances, which have been held more than 300 times in 11 years and will continue into the future, are in line with Goto Shinpei's spirit of service and high aspirations for human resource development, and we therefore present this award to them.

Sponsored by Goto Shinpei Association Supported by Yomiuri Shimbun

Souvenir

■ Commemorative Award Plaque

■ Stained Glass "Symphony of Prayer"

"In order to commemorate the heartwarming and wide-ranging activities of the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, I wanted to express the "light" and "prayer" that music possesses in stained glass. Using a "cedar" tree, a large tree that grows in the northern land, as the base, I tried to express the diverse colors of music spreading throughout the world, enveloped in the sounds of the symphony spun by each performer."

Produced by: Tetsuya Kishi (stained glass artist) 
Art direction + pedestal production: Junichi Uchida (architect/designer)
Concept + Producer: Yoshio Fujiwara (Secretary General of the Goto Shinpei Association)
Photo provided by Goto Shinpei Association

■Goto Shinpei Award Commemorative Lecture (by Toshikuni Hirai, Chairman of the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra)

Lecture transcript (PDF)