TMSO was established by Tokyo Metropolitan Government in 1965 as a part of a cultural promotion project to mark the Tokyo Olympic Games. TMSO has grown to become one of Japanʼs foremost professional orchestras under the Music Directors such as T.Mori, A.Watanabe, H. Wakasugi, and G.Bertini. Currently Kazushi Ono serves as Music Director (Artistic Advisor from the 2026 season and Conductor Laureate from the 2028season), Alan Gilbert as Principal Guest Conductor (Permanent Guest Conductor/Music Partner from the 2026 season), Kazuhiro Koizumi as Honorary Conductor for Life and Eliahu Inbal as Conductor Laureate. Pekka Kuusisto will serve as Artist in Residence (conductor and violinist) from the 2026 season, Principal Conductor from the 2028 season.Daniele Rustioni will serve as Principal Guest Conductor from the 2026 season..
In addition to a variety of subscription concerts and special concerts, TMSO is also actively engaged in efforts to support Tokyo residents, by giving concerts for schools, for welfare institutions and for physically challenged persons, by visiting islands as well as by being involved in outreach activities.
Awards: the Kyoto Music Award (1991), the Japanʼs Record Academy Award for Best Symphony Album (2012), the Music Pen Club Japan Award for Best Recorded Work Award and Best Concert Performance Award (2012), the Japanʼs Record Academy Award for Special Award (2015), and Mitsubishi UFJ Trust Music Award Encouragement prize (2024).
TMSO has received much international acclaim as the “Music Ambassador of Capital Tokyo” through overseas performances in Europe, North America and Asia. In November 2015, TMSO brought a tour in Europe under the baton of Kazushi Ono, which was highly acclaimed. At the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games held in July 2021, TMSO performed“Olympic Hymn” (pre-recorded sound source conducted by Kazushi Ono).