ABOUT USKAJIMOTO History

1951

May 1 : Naoyasu Kajimoto founded his music office in Osaka, Sonezaki Started artist management, plan work, concert management.

1952

Open the second office in Tokyo, Ginza.
Start international exchange of artists.

1967

First invitation of accomplished French pianist Samson Francois.

1968

First invitation of celebrated French Chamber Orchestra in Japan : Orchestre de Chambre de Jean-Francoes Paillard.

1970

Performing of all work & advertisement business for the international exposition, EXPO 70 in Osaka

First invitation of one of the best pianists of the present age Martha Argerich in Japan.

1973

Invitation of extremely talented French Trumpeter Maurice Andre for the first time in Japan.

First invitation of the pioneer of the Percussion instrument ensemble Percussions de Strasbourg.

1975

First invitaion of foreign symphony orchestra : San Francisco Symphony Orchestra conducted by Seiji Ozawa.

1979

First tour in China with Japanese opera "Yuuzuru" of Ikuma Dan.

1980

Naoyasu Kajimoto received the Chavalier of the National order of merit by the French government.
Realizing of return concert of "God of guitar" Andreas Segovia after 21 years of absence. Reinvited in 1982 with nearly 90 years old.

1981

Kickoff in Japan to start the world concert tour of 100 year-anniversary of Boston Symphony Orcheatra with Seiji Ozawa.

1983

First appearance of "Legendary pianist" Vladimir Horowitz in Japan. Reinvited in 1986.

1984

Invitation of Herbert von Karajan and Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.Reinvited in 1988.

Series of concerts in memory of Professor Emeritus Hideo Saito(founder of the Toho Gakuen School of Music) marking the birth of the prestigious Saito Kinen Orchestra.

1985

First invitation to Jessye Norman, the "Diva of Century"

1986

First invitation to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Georg Solti and Daniel Barenboim. They were re-invited in 1990.

First invitation to the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam, with Eugen Jochum and Vladimir Ashkenazy.

Three concerts by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra with Seiji Ozawa at the inauguration of Suntory Hall.

Invitation to the Munich Philharmonic, conducted by Sergiu Celibidache.

1987

Kajimoto presents American soprano Kathleen Battle - whose voice was made famous by a television advertisement to the Japanese public for the first time.
First invitation to the Cleveland Orchestra with Christoph von Dohnanyi.
Organization of the first European tour by the Saito Kinen Orchestra.

1990

Invitation to one of the current stars of the piano world Helene Grimaud.

1991

Tour of Japan by the European Chamber Orchestra with Claudio Abbado.

1992

Masahide Kajimoto succeeds his father as company President.
Naoyasu Kajimoto remains active as Chairman.
The legendary pianist Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli makes first appearance after 12 years of absence with the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra and Sergiu Celibidache.

First invitation to another giant of the piano Alfred Brendel.

1994

Invitation to the world famous New York Philharmonic.
Invitation to Orchestre National de Lyon conducted by Emmanuel Krivine.

1995

Pierre Boulez Festival in Tokyo : 13 performances celebrating the Maestro's 70th birthday.

1996

First invitation of London Symphony Orchestra with Myung Whung Chung.

1997

First invitation in Japan of Orchestra and chorus of Opera de Lyon with Kent Nagano for inauguration of Tokyo Opera City and concert version of "Carmen" with Anne-Sophie von Otter.

1998

Organization of the musical program for the Nagano Winter Olympics and Paralympics.
Organization of the North American tour by the NHK Symphony Orchestra with Charles Dutoit.

1999

First invitation to the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra with Herbert Blomstedt.

2000

Launch of the Kajimoto Musikreise, organized in partnership with the great European Festivals.

2001

The French government makes Masahide Kajimoto an Officier des Arts et Lettres.
Establishment of the on-line ticketing office "Kajimoto E-plus"
Establishment of the Paris Liaison Office.

2002

Tour by the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and Wynton Marsalis in Tokyo.
Presentation of the "Pollini Project 2002 in Tokyo" a series of 9 concerts conceived by the great pianist, encompassing our musical heritage, from the Renaissance to today.

2004

First production of the Chatelet Project in Tokyo with the great soprano Jessye Norman.
Tour by Orchestre National de France and Kurt Masur.
Tour by Ensemble Orchestral de Paris and John Nelson.

2005

Second production of the Chatelet Project, produced in collaboration with the Theatre du Chatelet and the Staatsoper Berlin: My Way of Life - creation in hommage to the Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu.

First edition of La Folle journee au Japon in collaboration with Rene Martin, creator of La Folle journee de Nantes and Tokyo International Forum.

Establishment of the Shanghai Representative Office.

Three days with Bruno Monsaingeon, the director of films documenting the great musicians of our time explains his work through discussions, films and concerts.

Three representations of Mozart's Don Giovanni by the prestigious Theatre de la Monnaie de Bruxelles and its music director Kazushi Ono