Takashi Asahina

Takashi Asahina studied at Kyoto University. The recorded working language is Japanese. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are classical music. Distinctions recorded are Order of the Rising Sun, 3rd class, Order of Culture, Medal with Purple Ribbon and Person of Cultural Merit.

• Name — Asahina Takashi • Born — 9 July 1908 • Birthplace — Tokyo, Empire of Japan • Died — 29 December 2001 • Place of death — Higashinada-ku, Kobe, Japan • Occupation — conductor Asahina Takashi was a Japanese conductor.

Asahina was born in Tokyo as an illegitimate child of Kaichi Watanabe. He founded the Kansai Symphonic Orchestra (today the Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra) in 1947 and remained its chief conductor until his death in Kobe. Inspired by a meeting with Wilhelm Furtwängler in the 1950s, he began a lifelong attachment to the music of Anton Bruckner, recording the complete Bruckner symphonies several times. For many years, he was associated with the North German Radio Orchestra in Hamburg. In May and October 1996, he appeared with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Recognition and collections. Asahina received Order of the Rising Sun, 3rd class, Order of Culture, Medal with Purple Ribbon, Person of Cultural Merit and Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.