On January 17, 1995, the Hanshin and Awaji region, in which the city of Kobe (pop. 1.5 million) is located, was hit by a great earthquake. The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake claimed the lives of over 6,400 people and caused serious economic damage estimated at 9,926.8 billion yen. But even while experiencing difficulty accessing just the bare necessities, residents in the stricken region renewed their awareness of the special role that cultural and artistic events had played in their lives.
Now a decade later, the Hyogo Performing Arts Center has opened as a symbol of the psychological and cultural rebirth of the region. The Center will be a new hub of artistic and cultural activities, with its three state-of-the-art halls-the Grand Hall (2,001 seats), the Theater (800 seats), and the Recital Hall (417 seats)-capable of accommodating concerts, operas, ballets, plays and various other performing arts events. The internationally known conductor Yutaka Sado serve as the Artistic Director and the Artistic Advisor, respectively. Concurrently with the opening of the Center, the Hyogo Performing Arts Center Orchestra, an ensemble of young, brilliant professional musicians selected by Mr. Sado through competitive worldwide auditions, was established. His intent is to create an international orchestra with the “freshest” talents in the world.
By organizing various programs, offering its facilities to the public, and presenting a wide range of cultural activities, the Hyogo Performing Arts Center aspires to expand the network of artistic interactions and creative activities within Japan and throughout the world.