After the conclusion of World War II, Japan made gradual strides toward economic recovery, which led to a resurgence of cultural activities in various regions of the country. This resurgence also gave rise to the formation of amateur orchestras, each organizing and hosting its own concerts. At that time, these orchestras operated independently, with little to no interaction among them, necessitating independent efforts to address operational concerns and challenges. To address these challenges, the Federation of Japan Amateur Orchestras (JAO) was founded 52 years ago, in June 1972, by 23 founding member organizations, proclaiming the following as its core activity policies: • Facilitating the enhancement of performance skills and regional development, • Fostering the sound development of youth, • Promoting music activities targeted at an active aging society, • Supporting community-based social contribution activities, • Fostering exchanges with amateur orchestras abroad.
In June 1995, JAO and BDLO established a »Friendship Program« focused on exchanging informational materials and personnel between the two federations. The following year, ten musicians from each organization participated in orchestral festivals held in their respective countries. Thus, the mutual exchange between Japan and Germany commenced earnestly and continues to flourish to this day. I would like to mention that next year marks the 30th anniversary of our professional relationship. There are currently 131 JAO member amateur orchestras, each actively engaged in all 47 prefectures in Japan, from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south. Several of these orchestras demonstrate performance levels on par with professional ensembles. Moreover, many orchestras play a significant role in the lives of citizens by staging performances, casually offering music to family and friends, and fostering a rich musical culture in their respective cities and towns. Numerous individuals who started their musical journey in amateur orchestras have grown to become accomplished professional musicians. For Japan, Germany holds a distinguished status as the birthplace of classical music and a revered destination. I earnestly hope that BDLO will continue to thrive for many more years to come and that the vibrant exchanges with JAO will endure.