[Obituary] The passing of Director Seiji Ozawa
Seiji Ozawa, founder and Director of the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival, passed away on February 6, 2024, at the age of 88.
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude and deep condolences for his remarkable contribution to the music world, not only in Japan but also around the world.
The Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto was founded in 1992 by Seiji Ozawa who named the festival after his mentor Hideo Saito. The grand dream was to deliver Western music “From the land of Japan as a Japanese person'' to the world. Later renamed the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival (OMF) in 2015 the international music festival has been successfully delivering performances by the world’s best musicians from here in Matsumoto for more than 30 years. Seiji also poured his passion into educational activities, inviting numerous elementary and junior high school students to live performances and continuing educational programs for young musicians.
Director Seiji Ozawa has been envisioning the future of OMF for some time.
The Saito Kinen Orchestra Foundation was established in 2021 to establish a firm ground for the core of the festival – the orchestra. The next generation leadership has also been looking towards the future of the festival under the vision of Seiji and the 2024OMF program is soon to be announced.
More than 30 years have passed since Director Seiji Ozawa discovered Matsumoto, which he described as being smiled upon by the goddess of fate. Inheriting the spirit of the Director, the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival will continue into the future.
Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival Executive Committee
Message from Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival Executive Committee Chairman, Yoshinao Gaun
I am deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Seiji Ozawa, Director of the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival and honorary citizen of Matsumoto City.
Director Ozawa had a vision of “Delivering western music from Japan to its homeland in Western Europe,'' and with his strong desire, he chose Matsumoto out of all the cities in Japan as the home for an international music festival.
As the Director of the festival, Seiji loved Matsumoto and its citizens over the past 30 years. I cannot thank him enough for his accomplishments in developing Matsumoto as Gakuto-Music city.
Last summer, I was moved by Seiji’s appearance and reunion with the world-famous composer John Williams. I am very disappointed as I was hoping to see Seiji again. The passing of Director Seiji Ozawa, a great maestro who was loved by music fans around the world, is an immeasurable loss for the citizens of Matsumoto, and we cannot bear the pain.
We would like to express our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, and pray for Seiji’s soul to rest in peace.
February 9, 2024
Matsumoto Mayor Yoshinao Gaun
(Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival Executive Committee, Executive Committee Chairman)
Condolence Books and Flower Offering Tables Available at Multiple Locations
Condolence books to sign and leave messages, and flower offering tables are available from February 10, 2024 at multiple concert venues of the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival, including Kissei Bunka Hall (Nagano Prefecture Matsumoto Bunka Kaikan), Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre, and The Harmony Hall. Please find details here (Japanese Only).
