Maestro Paavo Järvi, Honorary Conductor of the NHK Symphony Orchestra, Awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon

On April 29, the Government of Japan announced the recipients of the Spring 2026 Decorations. Maestro Paavo Järvi, Honorary Conductor of the NHK Symphony Orchestra, was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon. The Embassy of Japan in Estonia extends its heartfelt congratulations to Maestro Järvi. 

 

Maestro Järvi's contributions to musical exchange between Japan and Estonia, as well as to the elevation and development of music culture in Japan, are numerous. The following are among his most notable achievements:

 

（1） Maestro Järvi served as the first Chief Conductor of the NHK Symphony Orchestra (hereinafter "NHKSO") from September 2015 to August 2022. Under his outstanding leadership, the NHKSO released numerous significant recordings and earned high acclaim both in Japan and abroad. By actively incorporating Nordic music, works by Estonian composers, and 20th-century music into the repertoire, he significantly enhanced the musical quality of the NHKSO during his seven-year tenure.

 

（2） Maestro Järvi made it his mission to establish the NHKSO as one of the world's top orchestras. He led two successful European tours in 2017 and 2020, dramatically increasing the NHKSO's global recognition. As a result, the NHKSO received extremely high international praise, including being the first Japanese orchestra to be nominated by public vote for the "Orchestra of the Year" category at the Gramophone Classical Music Awards 2020, organized by the British classical music magazine Gramophone.

 

（3） As a conductor from Estonia, he played an extremely important role in promoting cultural exchange between Japan and Estonia, such as performing in Estonia during the 2020 European tour. Furthermore, in April 2019, he led his own Estonian Festival Orchestra on a tour of Japan, providing many Japanese citizens with a new musical experience through performances that included Estonian pieces and offering an opportunity to feel a closer connection to Estonia.

 

（4） Even after stepping down as Chief Conductor in September 2022, Maestro Järvi continues to contribute to the Japanese music scene as Honorary Conductor, performing regularly with the NHKSO and frequently conducting concerts in Japan with renowned overseas orchestras.