The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) and Birmingham Contemporary Music Group (BCMG), two of Birmingham’s leading arts organisations, are performing a landmark series of concerts together across Japan this summer. The collaboration embodies Birmingham’s commitment to artistic excellence and the city’s position as an artistic leader on the world stage. 

The CBSO’s tour runs from June 28 – July 6th, 2025, with eight concerts scheduled in key cities including Ngoya, Hyogo, Tokyo, Fukuoka, Kyoto and Yokohama. Under the direction of Kazuki Yamada, CBSO’s Music Director, the orchestra will perform at prestigious venues such as Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall and Suntory Hall. The concerts feature distinguished soloists including cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, and pianists Yunchan Lim and Hisako Kawamura.

On 30 June, as part of the Japan tour, CBSO was joined by BCMG for a special concert titled Awakening at the Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall. This unique performance presented contemporary classical music inspired by Japanese sounds, including the Japanese premiere of a brand-new BCMG commissioned concerto for Shō (traditional Japanese mouth organ) composed by one of Japan’s leading contemporary voices, Dai Fujikura.
 
Kazuki Yamada’s role as CBSO Music Director underscores a unique cultural connection between Birmingham and Japan – and demonstrates how classical and contemporary music can work together and to push creative boundaries. Together, the CBSO and BCMG illustrate how Birmingham’s arts organisations connect global audiences and share ideas through music.
 

CBSO Japan Tour Dates

·   June 28: Nagoya, Aichi Prefectural Arts Theatre
·   June 29: Hyogo Performing Arts Center
·   June 30: Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall
·   July 1 & 2: Suntory Hall, Tokyo
·   July 4: Symphony Hall, Fukuoka
·   July 5: ROHM Theatre Kyoto
·   July 6: Minato Mirai Hall, Yokohama
 

BCMG “Awakening” Concert

·       June 30, 6pm, Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall

Kazuki Yamada, Music Director, CBSO, said: “I am so thrilled to once again be in Japan with the CBSO. Bringing the orchestra to my home country is always so special for me, and for these concerts we are joined by particularly wonderful soloists – audiences will have a fantastic time. It is brilliant also to be collaborating with the BCMG to play my friend Dai Fujikura’s Sho Concerto, a new piece that draws on inspiration from ancient Japanese traditions, fused with contemporary classical music. I am so proud, through these concerts, to be representing Birmingham’s brilliant music making to the world.” 

Emma Stenning, CBSO Chief Executive comments: “Our tour to Japan this month is a proud moment for the CBSO. We are delighted to have the opportunity to share our city’s exceptional musical and cultural talent on an international stage. Performing alongside BCMG and under Kazuki’s leadership is a unique opportunity to celebrate artistic collaboration and bring new music as a universal language to new audiences across Japan.”

Stephan Meier, Artistic Director of BCMG, adds: “This commission by BCMG continues our recent theme of developing works that encourage music in dialogue – new music that combines instruments from different traditions of the world. We are excited to be working with the CBSO, Kazuki Yamada and our composer Dai Fujikura – all outstanding figures – to bring the sound of the ancient Japanese instrument, the Shō, to a new audience.”

Full details of the concert schedule can be found here: Kazuki Yamada Conducts City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra | Japan ArtsJapan Arts

Awakening: BCMG in Tokyo | Birmingham Contemporary Music Group