According to the October 3 Yomiuri Shimbun, Joe Hisaishi, 72, a composer known for his music for Studio Ghibli films, will become the music director of the Century Orchestra of Japan, a professional orchestra based in Toyonaka City, Osaka Prefecture. This is the first time that Mr. Hisaishi will become music director of a permanent orchestra, and he is scheduled to take office in April 2025.
In recent years, Mr. Hisaishi has been active as a conductor in addition to composing music, and was appointed principal guest conductor of the orchestra in April 2009. After assuming the position of music director, he will be involved in the orchestra’s annual program and the formulation of mid- to long-term musical strategies, and will also increase the number of appearances at concerts. Mr. Hisaishi said, “I wanted to work deeply involved with the orchestra at least once. I will strive to maintain a high level of musicality”. Hiroshi Sakurai, chairman of Asahi Shuzo (Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture), the brewer of the Japanese sake Ottersai, serves as chairman of the orchestra’s top management. The orchestra aims to strengthen its international strategy by appointing Mr. Hisaishi, who is internationally well-known, as the head of the music department and to actively engage in overseas performances.