The Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra (広島交響楽団, Hiroshima Kōkyō Gakudan) is an orchestra based in Hiroshima, Japan, founded in 1963. It is the only professional orchestra in Japan's Chūgoku region.

Music Directors

• Akeo Watanabe (1984–86)
• Ken Takaseki (1986–90)
• Yoshikazu Tanaka (1990–94)
• Naohiro Totsuka (1994–98)
• Norichika Iimori, Hiroyuki Odano, Kazumasa Watanabe (1995–2002)
• Hong-Jae Kim (2002–04)
• Kazuyoshi Akiyama (1998–present)
• Tatsuya Shimono (Designate– Starting April 2017)

History

• Founded as the "Hiroshima Civic Orchestra" in 1963.
• Renamed the "Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra" in 1969.
• Became a professional orchestra in 1972.
• Akeo Watanabe inaugurated as the music director and the permanent conductor in 1984.
• Held UN peace concerts in Vienna and Prague in 1991.
• Held concerts at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre in Tokyo and The Symphony Hall in Osaka in 1993.
• Performed for the opening events of the 12th Asian Games in Hiroshima in 1994.
• In the 149th regular concert, performed Krzysztof Penderecki's "Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima" in 1994.
• Performed Toshio Hosokawa's "Hiroshima Requiem" and Ikuma Dan's "Symphony No.6 'Hiroshima' to support world peace in 1995.
• Started their forum to develop the ideal picture of the local symphony for the 21st century in 1997.
• Started the RCC TV program "Hiroshima symphony" in 1997.
• Performed Beethoven's Symphony No.5 and other works for the October in Normandy (the events with classical and modern music) in Normandy in 1997.
• Performed Toshio Hosokawa's "Memory of the Sea" in 1998.
• Kazuyoshi Akiyama was inaugurated as the first conductor in 1998.
• Held the international music festival "August in Hiroshima '99" and performed Mahler's "Symphony No.2" in 1999.
• Performed in the 3rd orchestra festival for local cities in Japan at Sumida Triphony Hall in 2000.
• Held the 200th regular concert and performed Ottorino Respighi's "The Roman trilogy (Fontane di Roma, Pini di Roma, Feste Romane)" in 2000.
• Performed Eduard Tubin's "Symphony No.3 in D minor 'Heroic'" in 2002.
• Performed in the orchestra festival for local cities in Japan in 2003.
• Performed at the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Large Hall to celebrate the 300th Anniversary of Saint Petersburg and receiving a medal from UNESCO in 2003.
• Performed in Seoul, Busan, and Daegu to celebrate Korea-Japan Friendship Year in 2005.
• Founded the Hiroshima United with Hiroshima Toyo Carp and Sanfrecce Hiroshima in 2007.