1-1 Purpose

2026 will mark the 24th edition of the Tokyo Music Competition. Initially, this was known as the “Emerging Musician Debut Audition,” which started in 1965 and was expanded as the “Tokyo Music Competition” in 2003.
The competition is to discover, foster, and support, young gifted artists. It is presented by the four organizations: the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture, the Yomiuri Shimbun, the Kao Corporation, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
During the finals, contestants will perform with an orchestra and the audience will vote for the best performance. The contestants with the most votes will receive the Audience Award. Most of the jury members consist of those who are currently active as professional musicians. The Tokyo Bunka Kaikan will offer the winners special support by providing opportunities to perform on stage and helping the winners organize their own recitals.

1-2 Sections

• Piano Section
• String Section (Violin, Viola, Cello, Double bass)
• Brass Section (Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba)

1-3 Schedule

Application period: Tuesday, February 10, 12:00 noon‒Tuesday, February 17, 2026 18:00 (online only)
Please note the following:
- All dates hereafter are in Japan Standard Time (UTC+9).
- There is a limit to the number of participants.
- Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

(A) Piano Section

First Round: Monday, May 11–Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Second Round: Saturday, August 22
Final Round & Awards Ceremony: Saturday, August 29
YAMASHITA Kazufumi, conductor
Tokyo Symphony Orchestra

(B) String Section

First Round: Wednesday, April 29–Friday, May 1, 2026
Second Round: Thursday, August 20
Final Round & Awards Ceremony: Tuesday, August 25
TSUNODA Kosuke, conductor
New Japan Philharmonic

(C) Brass Section

First Round: Thursday, May 7–Saturday, May 9, 2026
Second Round: Friday, August 21
Final Round & Awards Ceremony: Thursday, August 27
SUZUKI Orie, conductor
Japan Philharmonic Orchestra

1-4 Entry Fee

JPY 30,800 (tax included / First, Second, and Final Round included)
* Only for the accepted applicants

1-5 Venue

First Round: Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Recital Hall
Second Round: Sumida Triphony Hall Recital Hall
Final Round: Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre Concert Hall

1-6 Jury *Chairperson of the section

Piano Section

• AZUMA Seizo*
• ARIMORI Hiroshi
• OKADA Hiromi
• HAGIWARA Mami
• WAKABAYASHI Akira
• Grigory GRUZMAN (Professor of Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar)
• SHIN Soo-Jung (Former Dean of the Seoul National University College of Music)

String Section

• AOKI Atsuko, Va
• KATO Yuta, Db
• KAMIO Mayuko, Vn*
• KAMIMURA Ayano, Vc
• KAWAKUBO Tamaki, Vn
• SANO Nakako, Db
• TAKIMOTO Maiko, Va
• YOKOSAKA Gen, Vc
• Michael VAIMAN, Vn (Former Professor of Cologne University of Music and Dance)

Brass Section

• ISOHATA Tsutomu, Hr
• OKAZAKI Kouji, Tp
• KURITA Masakatsu, Tb
• KUWATA Akira, Tb
• SATO Kazuhiko, Tu
• SATO Kiyoshi, Tu
• HOTOKEZAKA Sachio, Tp*
• MORI Hirofumi, Hr
• Jouko HARJANNE, Tp (Former Principal Trumpet of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra)

General Jury

• SUGIYAMA Yoichi (Conductor)

Advisor

• HORI Masafumi (Honorary Concertmaster; NHK Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo)
• Philippe MANOURY (Composer)

General Chairperson

• NODAIRA Ichiro (Music Director of Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

2-1 Prizes

For each competition section, the first, second, and third place will be stated as a prizewinner, and they will receive the following prizes according to their rank. Other finalists will be awarded diploma as well. Also, the finalist who obtained the largest number of votes from the audience at the final round will receive the Audience Award.

• First Prize: JPY 1,000,000 and Diploma
• Second Prize: JPY 600,000 and Diploma
• Third Prize: JPY 400,000 and Diploma

In case of a tie between prizewinners, the total amount of prize money for the winner’s position and the immediately next winning position shall be divided equally among the tied winners.

2-2 Support for the Winners

(1) Engagements for the performances organized by the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan

① The first prizewinners or the top prizewinners will perform at the winners concert with the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra conducted by TAKASEKI Ken on Monday (national holiday), January 11, 2027 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre Concert Hall (presented by the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan and the others). The rehearsal will take place on Sunday, January 10, 2027.
② The winners will become candidates to perform at the various concerts and operas presented or co-presented by the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan.
③ We will recommend the winners to the concerned organizations for performing with orchestras based in Tokyo at the “Classical Concerts with Emerging Artists” held by the Tokyo municipalities.

(2) Recital Support

If a winner holds a recital during the next 5 years (excluding the period during our building closure for major renovations) from the competition, the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan will co-present the recital once per winner, providing the Recital Hall at half the cost (excluding adjoining facilities fee, piano tuning, and such) and supporting through public relations and advertisement.
(Note that once a winner applies for the recital at the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, there will be a screening process, examining the winner’s career after the competition. Only a qualified winner can obtain support from the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan.)

(3) Promoting the Winners

① The Tokyo Bunka Kaikan will distribute the Tokyo Music Competition Report, which contains prizewinners’ detailed profiles, to the organization involved such as music management offices and the press.
② The winners’ profiles and other information will be posted on the Tokyo Music Competition-List of Winners of the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan website.

(4) Introducing the Winners as a performer to the related events

The winners will be recommended as a performer of various events including concerts organized by other institutes of the Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture.

Organizers

Tokyo Bunka Kaikan operated by Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture / The Yomiuri Shimbun / Kao Corporation / Tokyo Metropolitan Government

Production Assistance

Japan Music Foundation JESC

Cooperation

New Japan Philharmonic / Tokyo Symphony Orchestra / Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra / Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra / Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra / Japan Philharmonic Orchestra / Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra / Tokyo Orchestra Business Cooperative