Opening Soon! <The 52nd Japan Philharmonic Summer Vacation Concert 2026> Featuring Tchaikovsky's Ballet "The Nutcracker" and More - Enjoy Orchestra and Ballet Together! Debut from Age 4♪

The Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra (Suginami Ward, Tokyo; Chairman: Kunio Ishizuka) will hold the 52nd Japan Philharmonic Summer Vacation Concert 2026 from July 18 to August 3, 2026, in the Tokyo metropolitan area and Kyoto.

The Summer Vacation Concert began in 1975 with the wish to "allow children listening to classical music for the first time to experience a real orchestra with their families." It has been loved by many for its authentic programs and engaging presentations, and has now become a "three-generation concert" where those who were children then now attend with their own children and parents.

For the 2026 performances, celebrating the orchestra's 70th anniversary, Junichi Hirokami [Friend of JPO (Artistic Advisor)] and Ryuichiro Sonoda, a familiar face at the Summer Vacation Concerts, will conduct. Yoko Ehara will provide narration and songs, and the Star Dancers Ballet Company will perform the ballet in the second part.

PR Movie

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Conductor: Junichi Hirokami [Friend of JPO (Artistic Advisor)] (July 18-26) Conductor: Ryuichiro Sonoda (July 29-August 3)

Narration and Songs: Yoko Ehara Ballet: Star Dancers Ballet Company

Japan Philharmonic's 70th Anniversary! Welcome to the Birthday Party!

Part 1: Welcome to the Ball!

The Japan Philharmonic's 70th birthday party is a ball! We will deliver a moment as if you are at a ball, with music from various dances.

First, "Polonaise" from the opera "Eugene Onegin" by Russian composer Tchaikovsky. The Polonaise is a Polish dance in triple time, with a stately walking rhythm. It begins with a brilliant fanfare from the trumpets, as if a king is making an appearance. "Air on the G String" by German composer Bach, known as the "Father of Music," is a gentle piece, like a short break during the ball. And finally, the quintessential ball music: "The Beautiful Blue Danube" waltz by Viennese composer J. Strauss II. Let's dance together!

Part 2:

Tchaikovsky Ballet "The Nutcracker" (Japan Philharmonic Summer Vacation Concert 2026 Version)

The popular program of the Summer Vacation Concert, Tchaikovsky's ballet "The Nutcracker." This masterpiece, which takes nearly two hours to perform in its entirety at the theater, will be presented in a highlight version that is easy for children attending the ballet for the first time to understand. Enjoy the beautiful dancing of the Star Dancers Ballet Company and the dreamlike world, accompanied by live orchestral performance.

Part 3: Let's Sing Together!

"Let's Sing Together!" puts the audience center stage! Let's share the joy of music together, with the stage and audience united.

This year, we have chosen popular songs like "Everyone Has a Birthday" and "Courage 100%," as well as "Niji" (Rainbow), a gentle song that is fun for children and deeply touching for adults. We hope the memories of singing and dancing with the orchestra in the hall will remain with you forever.

[Metropolitan Area Performance Overview]

Click here for the special feature page

[Date and Time/Venue]

July 18 (Sat) 2:00 PM Chiba Prefectural Culture Hall

July 19 (Sun) 2:00 PM Fuchu Forest Arts Theater

July 20 (Mon, Hol) 11:00 PM / 25:00 Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre *Limited seats remaining for the 1:00 PM performance

July 24 (Fri) 112:00 / 11:30 PM Suntory Hall

July 25 (Sat) 2:00 PM Sonic City (Omiya)

July 26 (Sun) 112:00 / 11:30 PM Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall

August 1 (Sat) 112:00 / 11:30 PM Suntory Hall

August 2 (Sun) 11:00 PM / 25:00 Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre

August 3 (Mon) 112:00 / 11:30 PM Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall

Click here for the performance list

[Performers]

Conductor: Junichi Hirokami [Friend of JPO (Artistic Advisor)] (July 18-26) Ryuichiro Sonoda (August 1-3) Narration and Songs: Yoko Ehara Ballet: Star Dancers Ballet Company Ballet Choreography and Direction: Minoru Suzuki

[Program]

<Part 1> Welcome to the Ball! Tchaikovsky: "Polonaise" from the opera "Eugene Onegin" J.S. Bach: Air on the G String J. Strauss II: The Beautiful Blue Danube

<Part 2> Tchaikovsky: Ballet "The Nutcracker" (Japan Philharmonic Summer Vacation Concert 2026 Version)

<Part 3> Let's Sing Together Everyone Has a Birthday "Niji" (Lyrics by Toshihiko Shinzawa, Music by Hirotaka Nakagawa) Courage 100%

★Performance time is approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes, including intermission. ★Welcome event will be held at the venue opening. ★Except for the first performance of double-showings, there will be a reception with performers and orchestra members in the lobby after the performance.

[Tickets]

Metropolitan Area Performances

S: Child ¥3,800 / Adult ¥5,800

A: Child ¥2,800 / Adult ¥4,800

B: Child ¥2,000 / Adult ¥3,800

*Child = Ages 4 to High School Student *One ticket required per person. *Children under 4 years old are not permitted. Please use the childcare service. *All seats are reserved.

[Kyoto Performance Overview]

[Date and Time/Venue]

July 29 (Wed) 2:00 PM ROHM Theatre Kyoto

[Performers]

Conductor: Ryuichiro Sonoda Narration and Songs: Yoko Ehara Ballet: Star Dancers Ballet Company Ballet Choreography and Direction: Minoru Suzuki

[Tickets]

A: Child ¥3,200 / Adult ¥4,200

B: Child ¥1,800 / Adult ¥2,500

*Kyoto performances only offer A and B seats.

*Child = Ages 4 to High School Student *One ticket required per person. *Children under 4 years old are not permitted. Please use the childcare service. *All seats are reserved.

[Ticket Purchase]

Japan Philharmonic Service Center TEL: 03-5378-5911 (Weekdays 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM) Japan Philharmonic e-ticket ♪ *You can choose your desired area. https://eticket.japanphil.or.jp

Changes or cancellations after application cannot be accepted. For wheelchair seating, please apply to the Service Center.

= Other Ticket Outlets = ● Ticket Pia https://w.pia.jp/t/japanphil/ ● e+ (eplus) https://eplus.jp/ ● Lawson Ticket https://l-tike.com/

Also available at each venue.

The first part showcases the charm of the orchestra, and the third part features the audience as the stars!

The welcome event at the venue opening allows for close-up views, and the post-performance reception will answer various questions! (Excluding the first performance of double-showings) Autograph sessions will also be held (Excluding the first performance of double-showings).

Photo: Atsushi Yamaguchi

[Performer Profiles]

Conductor: Junichi Hirokami

Studied piano and composition under Jun'ichi Odaka, learning music and how to make music. Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts, Conducting Department. Won the Kirill Kondrashin International Young Conductors Competition at age 26. Held numerous positions with orchestras in Europe and America, including the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra and Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Also made guest appearances with the Concertgebouw Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra, and St. Petersburg Philharmonic. In Japan, he served as Principal Conductor of the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra for 14 years until 2022, building a golden era. Currently, he is the Artistic Leader of Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa, Music Director of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Friend of JPO (Artistic Advisor) of the Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, Honorary Conductor of the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra, and [name omitted]. He is also passionate about education as a professor in the Conducting Department at Tokyo University of the Arts. Winner of the 2024 (75th) Geijutsu Sensho Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award.

Conductor: Ryuichiro Sonoda

Debuted in 2006 conducting "Tosca" at the Chigiana Summer Musicale in Siena. The following year, he made his Japanese debut conducting "La Bohème" for the Fujiwara Opera Company. That summer, he conducted "Voyage to Reims" at the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro, as well as concerts with the Orchestra della Toscana in Florence and the Orchestra del Teatro Bellini di Catania. Since then, he has continued to perform in operas and collaborate with orchestras both domestically and internationally. He studied under Masako Endo, Kōtarō Satō, James Lockhart, Gianluigi Gelmetti, and Alberto Zedda. Awards include the 16th Goto Memorial Cultural Prize for New Opera Artist in 2005, the 16th Hideo Saito Memorial Fund Award in FY2017, and the 73rd Geijutsu Sensho Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology New Artist Award in Reiwa 4 (2022). Conductor of Pacific Philharmonic Orchestra Tokyo. Artistic Director of Fujisawa City Opera.

Narration and Songs: Yoko Ehara

Graduated from the Department of Vocal Music, Tokyo University of the Arts. Began studying piano at the Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Solfege School at age 4, where she learned the fundamentals of music including solfege, composition, and chamber music. Studied vocal music under Masanori Nishihara and Hisako Goto. For four years during university, she regularly appeared on NHK's "Utatte Go" as "Uta no Oneesan" (Song Sister). Since 1991, she has appeared in the Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra's "Summer Vacation Concert" as a singer and host. She is also active as a classical concert navigator, hosting music appreciation classes and concerts for orchestras such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra, and Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra. She is dedicated to welfare concerts aimed at creating a society of normalization where music is accessible to everyone at all times, and actively organizes concerts to preserve "beautiful Japanese songs." She also focuses on reading aloud concerts with the theme "Singing for Parent-Child Bonding," and is involved in nurturing the next generation by instructing choirs and providing vocal guidance for Yamaha Music Foundation materials and instructors. Professor at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music, Lecturer at the Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Solfege School.

Ballet: Star Dancers Ballet Company

Founded in 1965 with Ruriko Tachikawa as its representative. In 1981, it became the first ballet company in Japan to be incorporated as a foundation. Since its founding, its core activity has been the creation of national ballet, producing numerous original works by Japanese choreographers while also focusing on introducing excellent works by foreign choreographers. It maintains a world-class repertoire, from classical to contemporary works, including Japanese premieres. In addition to domestic performances, it has an extensive record of overseas performances in countries such as Germany, China, and South Korea. In 2019, it performed "Ballet Dragon Quest" at Japan Expo in Paris to great acclaim. It also provides a wide range of opportunities for children to experience ballet through school touring performances and workshops, and actively engages in social activities such as relaxed performances for easy viewing by people with disabilities and dance programs for Parkinson's patients. It celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2025.

Orchestra: Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra

Founded in June 1956. Akeo Watanabe, who was central to the orchestra's establishment, served as its first permanent conductor.

From its inception, with its wide repertoire and innovative performance style, it brought a fresh breeze to the music scene of the time, which was centered on German and Austrian music, creating a major sensation.

This ambitious spirit has been passed down through generations. Under the leadership of Principal Conductor Kah Chun Wong since September 2023, the orchestra has garnered attention for its musicality backed by originality and sincerity. Its recent high performance standards and proactive programming have been praised as "clearly indicating the direction for Japanese orchestras in the 21st century," earning it the Music Pen Club Music Award. Led by a roster of conductors including Honorary Conductor Kenichiro Kobayashi, Conductor Laureate and Artistic Advisor Alexander Lazarev, and Friend of JPO (Artistic Advisor) Junichi Hirokami, the orchestra performs approximately 150 concerts annually.

The "Music for Disaster-Stricken Areas" project, which began in April 2011 immediately after the Great East Japan Earthquake, has surpassed 360 performances and received the Shinpei Goto Award in 2016.

Based at Suginami Kokaido, the orchestra aims to utilize the diverse power of music for society by valuing a foundation of "warmth" and "empathy" while pursuing both artistry and social contribution, reaching all people, generations, regions, and the world.

Official Website: https://japanphil.or.jp

X (formerly Twitter): @Japanphil Instagram: @japanphil.official

Organizer: Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra

Sponsorship: Agency for Cultural Affairs, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Chiba Prefecture, etc.

Corporate Sponsorship: Nisshin Seifun Group Inc. (Metropolitan Area)

Grant: The Ryoichi Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship Fund (Kyoto)