Date of establishment March 23, 1974 Assets 70,000,000 JPY Chairman Makoto Kobayashi Supervisory Government Department Arts and Culture Promotion Division, Agency for Cultural Affairs Music is deeply embedded in our daily lives. Music adds joy to celebrations and cures wounded hearts. Music consoles our minds and furnishes us with energy. Music cultures can be found worldwide, each unique to its own country and region. Music has come to be known as the universal language, bringing people together from all over the world. Nippon Music Foundation(NMF) was thus established in March 1974 to enhance music culture both domestically and internationally. Japan enjoys a great diversity of traditional music. Yet, in the early 20th century, western classical music was introduced and popularized throughout Japan. Many organizations have been established to promote varieties of music in Japan. NMF finds its role in supporting the activities carried out by such groups. NMF also intends to provide the general public with access to musical performances of the highest standard at reasonable cost. Since 1994, in addition to its ongoing activities, NMF has been focusing on "International Exchanges in Music". Historically, the classical music communities in Europe and America have nurtured and provided opportunities to many young musicians from Japan. Today, Japan has come to be recognized as one of the major economic powers of the world. As in other areas, Japan is now expected to share in these responsibilities and to make contributions which will further develop the global music community. NMF continues to strive to make universal contributions through music. All NMF activities are made possible by the full support from The Nippon Foundation. Loaning of Stringed Instruments Nippon Music Foundation is a custodian of the world's top-quality stringed instruments such as those made by Antonio Stradivari and Guarneri del Gesu. NMF's main objective is to loan the instruments in its collection free of charge to accomplished artists as well as to young promising musicians regardless of their nationalities. The Loan Committee, made up of internationally renowned music specialists, is responsible for the selection of musicians for the loan of NMF-owned instruments. As only small number of such masterpiece stringed instruments still exist in good condition, NMF is committed to preserve and maintain those instruments regarded as cultural assets of the world so that they can be handed down to future generations. In the past, many Japanese musicians have made their way to become international performers with the warm understanding and support of the classical music communities in Europe and the U.S. Now that Japan is expected to participate in making musical contributions to the world, NMF is proud to take part in such efforts. With the firm belief that music acts as the best tool for fostering friendship among different nations in the world, NMF strives to continue to expand its activities in the "Loaning of Stringed Instruments". Concerts Nippon Music Foundation organizes concerts worldwide with the musicians playing the instruments on loan from NMF. These concerts provide opportunities for international classical music lovers to fully enjoy the exquisite timbre of the superb stringed instruments. NMF supports concerts in Japan by worldclass Japanese as well as foreign orchestras, to provide opportunities for audiences to enjoy music of the highest quality at reasonable prices. NMF also supports seminars and workshops for students studying music to gain hands-on learning experience. NMF also supports overseas concert projects when they are in compliance with the NMF's objectives. Other Musical Activities Nippon Music Foundation provides grants-in-aid to musical projects including concerts, workshops and seminars. These projects aim to advance performance techniques, to enhance international cultural exchanges, to promote public interests in music and to foster charity activities through music International Music Network Through close communication with global institutions concerned with music as well as music conservatories, Nippon Music Foundation aims to further develop international networks of music. NMF hopes to utilize such networks to provide practice instruments for students, to support the making of new stringed instruments, to hold symposia, to promote technical exchanges for the repair and conservation of stringed instruments, and to support international music events and competitions. Surveys and Research Nippon Music Foundation conducts basic surveys and studies to foster public interest in music. NMF collects materials related to music, including books, printed matter, recordings for the future establishment of a music information library. Logo Data Download * GIF Data M (width 250pixel x height 67pixel) * GIF Data L (width 500pixel x height 134pixel) * PDF Data Chairman President Managing Director Makoto Kobayashi Kazuko Shiomi Etsuo Koseki Consultant, Japan Center for Regional Development     Trustees Bin Ebisawa Professor at Graduate School of SHOBI University Toshikiko Fukui Former Governor of Bank of Japan Kazutoshi Hasegawa Former Ambassador of Japan to Austria Hisako Hatakeyama Director, Hatakeyama Collection Shigeaki Hinohara Honorary President of St. Luke International Hospital Ryutaro lwabuchi Violinist Yukiharu Kodama Chairman of the Mechanical Social Systems Foundation Yasuo Matsuki Honorary Director of Shin Akasaka Clinic Isamu Nitta Former Director of Toshiba Corporation Kunihiko Saito Former Ambassador of Japan to America Toshihiko Saji Former Director of The Mainichi Newspapers Co., LTD Banjiro Uemura Founder of Tohoku Shinsha Film Corporation Auditors Takashi Kakimi Attorney at Law Yoshiaki Yamauchi Certified Public Accountant Counselors Naoki Aikawa Chairman of International Medical Information Center Koichiro Aramaki Executive Adviser to Kirin Holdings Company, Limited Katsuji Ebisawa Vice-president of the Waseda University affiliated Waseda Saga Junior High School and High School Mitsu Kimata President, Society for Women's Education and Leadership Takehiko Kiyohara Chairman of SANKEI SHINBUN Co., LTD Michio Kobayashi Pianist and Harpsichordist Kazuo Maye Advisor to Tokyo College of Music Hisaya Nara Senior Advisor to Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc. Hisayoshi Suma Supervisor of the Cardiovascular Institute Hospital Cardiac Surgeon Makoto Tanji Former Executive Director for the Bank of Japan Fumikazu Yano Auditor of Japan Center for Local Autonomy As of June 2010 (Listed in alphabetical order) Copyright 2010 by Nippon Music Foundation. All rights reserved.