Ambassador NAKAMURA Confers the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon upon Maestro Paavo Järvi, Honorary Conductor of the NHK Symphony Orchestra
2026/7/17
On July 17 in Pärnu, Ambassador NAKAMURA Koichiro, on behalf of the Government of Japan, held a conferral ceremony of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, upon Maestro Paavo Järvi, Honorary Conductor of the NHK Symphony Orchestra, who was awarded the decoration under the 2026 Spring Conferral of Decorations on Foreign Nationals.
The conferral ceremony took place at the Pärnu Concert Hall, the venue of the Pärnu Music Festival, which Maestro Paavo Järvi and his family host every summer. In the presence of H.E. Ms. Heidy Purga, Minister of Culture, the ceremony was held prior to the start of the festival's final concert performed by Maestro Paavo Järvi and the Estonian Festival Orchestra, as the audience looked on. The ceremony was also broadcast online worldwide along with the concert.
At the ceremony, Ambassador NAKAMURA delivered a congratulatory speech and presented the decoration and patent of decoration to Maestro, who then delivered his remarks. Following the ceremony, a reception was held to celebrate his conferral, where Japanese cuisine prepared by the Embassy’s chef, Mr. KAWANO Kodai, as well as Japanese sake, were served.
Maestro Paavo Järvi has made significant contributions to the development of the Japanese musical world, notably as the first Chief Conductor of the NHK Symphony Orchestra (2015–2022). He continues to serve as its Honorary Conductor and has dedicated himself to serving as a bridge for cultural exchange between Japan and Estonia, as well as between Japan and the world, by frequently touring Japan with the Estonian Festival Orchestra and other renowned international orchestras.
The Embassy wishes to express its heartfelt congratulations once again to Maestro Paavo Järvi on this decoration.
You can watch a video of the conferral ceremony on the Pärnu Music Festival website below:
https://parnumusicfestival.tv/.../bc/6N4D5tk8A_/OxpwxRl9zIf
Photo: Kaupo Kikkas Photo: Pärnu Music Festival TV
Photos: Kaupo Kikkas
Photo: Taavi Kull
The conferral ceremony took place at the Pärnu Concert Hall, the venue of the Pärnu Music Festival, which Maestro Paavo Järvi and his family host every summer. In the presence of H.E. Ms. Heidy Purga, Minister of Culture, the ceremony was held prior to the start of the festival's final concert performed by Maestro Paavo Järvi and the Estonian Festival Orchestra, as the audience looked on. The ceremony was also broadcast online worldwide along with the concert.
At the ceremony, Ambassador NAKAMURA delivered a congratulatory speech and presented the decoration and patent of decoration to Maestro, who then delivered his remarks. Following the ceremony, a reception was held to celebrate his conferral, where Japanese cuisine prepared by the Embassy’s chef, Mr. KAWANO Kodai, as well as Japanese sake, were served.
Maestro Paavo Järvi has made significant contributions to the development of the Japanese musical world, notably as the first Chief Conductor of the NHK Symphony Orchestra (2015–2022). He continues to serve as its Honorary Conductor and has dedicated himself to serving as a bridge for cultural exchange between Japan and Estonia, as well as between Japan and the world, by frequently touring Japan with the Estonian Festival Orchestra and other renowned international orchestras.
The Embassy wishes to express its heartfelt congratulations once again to Maestro Paavo Järvi on this decoration.
You can watch a video of the conferral ceremony on the Pärnu Music Festival website below:
https://parnumusicfestival.tv/.../bc/6N4D5tk8A_/OxpwxRl9zIf
Photo: Kaupo Kikkas Photo: Pärnu Music Festival TV
Photos: Kaupo Kikkas
Photo: Taavi Kull