Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra: 36th Kure Concert, July 26

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A Top Pick from the Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra! The music of Space Battleship Yamato comes to life in Kure, the spiritual home of the battleship Yamato

Published at Ebravo. See the original post here

Three Highlights!

① A gathering of magnificent soloists for an extraordinary collaboration

A rare opportunity to see leading Japanese talents, Ayaka Oki, Ryoma Takagi, and Fumiaki Miura, perform together on one stage. Each is a leading artist active both in Japan and abroad, and opportunities to experience their music together on the same stage are rare. It is a truly magnificent collaboration where diverse styles of expression and unique personalities intersect.

② Experiencing the World of Space Battleship Yamato in Kure, Birthplace of the Battleship Yamato

Hearing the music of Space Battleship Yamato in Kure, the battleship’s hometown and home to Yamato Museum, holds a truly special significance. Kentaro Haneda’s magnificent orchestration vividly captures the epic scale and romantic spirit of the story. Whether you are a longtime fan or a newcomer, we invite you to experience an immersive atmosphere found nowhere else.

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③ Tatsuya Shimono × Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra: A Powerful Partnership Forged in Trust

The bond between Tatsuya Shimono, the Laureate Conductor who has long led the Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra, and the orchestra itself is rooted in deep mutual trust. The music born of their seamless rapport combines meticulous precision with passionate intensity. We present a compelling sound that could only be realized through their shared journey together.

Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra: 36th Kure Subscription Concert
July 26, 2026 (Sun) 14:30 | Kure Shinkin Bank Hall (Kure City Cultural Hall)

Performers
Conductor: Tatsuya Shimono
Piano: Ryoma Takagi
Vocalise: Ayaka Oki
Violin: Fumiaki Miura
Orchestra: Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra

Program
Mozart: Symphony No. 41 in C Major, K. 551 Jupiter
Kentaro Haneda (Theme Motif: Hiroshi Miyagawa): Space Battleship Yamato Grand Symphony

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Reactions by superfan S. Meijin

Posted on Twitter here

Hearing Yamato in Kure is something truly special! I’m so glad I made the trip from Tokyo!

Today, I listened from the very front row, center, of the second-floor balcony. It was different from my usual spot (front left on the main floor); I could clearly hear instruments like the piano, harp, and bass that I hadn’t really noticed before. The second-floor seating projects outward and is close to the stage, so the acoustics were fantastic!

What makes Conductor Tatsuya Shimono so wonderful is his ability to create captivating moments while fully understanding the orchestra’s capabilities and unique characteristics. Today, the way he presented and shaped the slower, lyrical passages was particularly excellent. I’m already looking forward to the next time!!

3rd Movement: Ayaka Oki hadn’t appeared yet, even though the scat section was about to begin. “Huh?” I wondered, and then, to my surprise, I heard her voice coming from the stage-right side of the same second-floor balcony! The scat section always features a surprise element, and today, I was totally caught off guard.

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The timpani in Nagoya was amazing, but today’s timpani performance was even funkier!! When playing the same note three times, the standard approach is usually something like “right-left-right,” but today I was surprised, and thought it was incredibly cool, to see it played with a single hand, striking hard three times in a row.

Parts that personally stood out to me today: horn, trombone, flute, viola, bass, and percussion.

Double Concerto
Ryoma Takagi’s piano playing is amazing; every time I hear him, he surpasses his previous best! His chemistry with Fumiaki Miura is perfect, they truly make an outstanding duo. I don’t know when the next time will be, but I’m already looking forward to it…

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As for Fumiaki Miura’s violin performance, perhaps because I had previously heard the Grand Symphony at the Miyazaki International Music Festival, the way he played reminded me so much of Tsugio Tokunaga that I was moved to tears. I felt a new, powerful intensity in his playing.

The encore was our “national anthem,” Space Battleship Yamato. When Fumiaki Miura stepped up to the conductor’s podium, I wondered what was about to happen. Then Tatsuya Shimono, Ryoma Takagi, and Oki grabbed microphones and sang for us. Accompanied by the audience clapping in unison, Shimono’s singing voice was absolutely magnificent. Singing Space Battleship Yamato here in Kure, the very birthplace of Yamato, is a memory I will cherish forever.

Photo posted on Twitter by hirokyo_info