Embodying the Principle of "Giving Back to Society"

Suntory was established in 1899, when founder Torii Shinjiro began selling western-style wine. From its founding, the company has been committed to giving back to society. This principle dictates that its profits not only be reinvested in the company, but also used to serve customers, business partners, and the wider community. Suntory Hall embodies this ideal. Suntory's second president, Saji Keizo, who led the company during Japan's high-growth years, believed that true wealth is a richness of the heart, and he wanted to enrich people and their lives both materially and spiritually. Aspiring to "establish classical music as a true part of Japanese lifestyle and culture," he opened Suntory Hall, Tokyo's first dedicated concert hall, in 1986.

The design concept for Suntory Hall was the pursuit of the world's most beautiful sound. It was the first to install "vineyard style" seating, meaning that all the seats are directed toward the stage, just as terraces of vines are oriented towards the sun. The sound resonates through every part of the tiered seating, much as the sun shines down on every part of a vineyard. Moreover, Saji was as sensitive to cultural awareness as to the Hall's physical properties, so he adopted a system of Receptionists (customer-service specialists) with an extensive knowledge of music, a cloakroom, bars serving alcoholic beverages. The Hall is a space where visitors can relax, talk about music, and enjoy socializing as part of the culture of music itself.

Fostering the culture of music for the next generation and building bridges to the future

Looking to our 40th anniversary in 2026, we have adopted the key concept, "Moments that Shape the Future." We host over 600 performances annually in the Main Hall and the Blue Rose (Small Hall). These performances bring musicians and audiences together, creating the great joy and inspiration of the music every day. We believe that these once-in-a-lifetime experiences will together build a bridge to the future.

We are also focused on nurturing the next generation. Our Opera Academy has been offering workshops for young professionals coached by the world's top musicians since 1993 and our Chamber Music Academy since 2010. Our alumni are now active musicians around the world. 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of our Subscription Concerts for Children - Japan's first concerts designed for young people. We hope these programs will develop in children the habit of attending concerts and incorporating classical music into their daily lives. To date, about 300 young musicians have performed with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra; a number of today's professional soloists and young orchestra musicians experienced performing as children alongside professional musicians in Suntory Hall. In Japan's aging society, the classical music world cannot ignore the declining number of musicians and potential audiences. Looking toward our 40th and 50th anniversaries, we believe that we must challenge ourselves to foster in the next generation a culture of enjoying music, among both performers and audiences.

This year, we commemorate our 40th anniversary with an extensive lineup, including our anniversary highlight, the Suntory Hall 40th Anniversary Gala Concert, as well as the annual Chamber Music Garden, one of Japan's largest chamber music festivals, and the Summer Festival, a contemporary music festival.

We have long enjoyed a strong partnership with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. We have at times even hosted performances by them and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra – the world's three major orchestras - within the same month! So, if you are in Tokyo, visit Suntory Hall to enjoy high-quality music from around the world. Musicians often tell us that Suntory Hall is itself a magnificent instrument, and like whisky or wine, it develops resonance with age. With streaming services and the like making it easy to enjoy music in our everyday life, I feel that there is greater value and depth of emotion than ever in experiencing the resonance of sound in person. We want to create the best possible space and continue to welcome everyone with the finest hospitality, so that Suntory Hall will continue to be loved by the world's top performers and above for years to come.

Suntory Hall supports young professionals embarking on their careers, with two academies: the Opera Academy (since 1993) and the Chamber Music Academy (since 2010). Many alumni are active internationally in music. © Koji Iida / SUNTORY HALL