Website: http://www.nmf.or.jp/english/
Address: The Nippon Zaidan Bldg., 5F, 1-2-2 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052, Japan
Year Founded: 1974

Outline of Activities

Nippon Music Foundation was established in 1974 with the objective to “enhance music culture” in Japan. In 1994, the Foundation started the “Instrument Loan Project” through which the Foundation has strived to make international contributions by loaning the top-quality string instruments acquired by the Foundation.

The Foundation now owns 21 string instruments (15 Stradivarius violins, 1 viola, 3 cellos and 2 Guarneri del Gesù violins), and as the custodian of these world cultural assets, maintains them for future generations and loans them gratis to young promising musicians and internationally active musicians regardless of their nationalities. Recipients of the Foundation’s instruments are determined every year based on the selection of the Instrument Loan Committee composed of members representing Europe, the United States and Asia.

The Foundation organizes numerous concerts worldwide to provide opportunities for many people to fully enjoy the timbre of the superb instruments. One of the Foundation’s symbolic concert series “Encounter with Stradivari” features more than 10 Stradivarius instruments and their players.

The Foundation also provides grants to musical projects with a public interest purpose to enhance musical culture. These projects are determined based on the selection of the Grant Project Committee consisting of experts in this field.