About Mandolin Music Library

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Japan has developed one of the world’s most active mandolin music cultures.

Mandolin music in Japan is generally believed to have been introduced and promoted in the early twentieth century by Kenpachi Hiruma, who was then an instructor at the Tokyo Academy of Music. In 1915, Morishige Takei founded the Sinfonia Mandolini Orchestra and devoted himself not only to performance, but also to the publication of research journals, the organization of composition competitions, and other activities that contributed greatly to the spread of mandolin music.

Around the same period, mandolin clubs were established at universities throughout Japan. These student ensembles became one of the principal forces supporting the growth and development of mandolin music in the country.

Although these activities declined temporarily during and immediately after the Second World War, university mandolin clubs began to flourish again from around the 1960s. In 1968, the Japan Mandolin Union was established and has since contributed to the promotion of mandolin music through solo competitions, composition competitions, and other initiatives.

During the 1970s, orchestral works by Italian composers were increasingly arranged for mandolin orchestra, while Japanese composers created many new original works for the medium. This period marked one of the high points of mandolin music in Japan.

Although membership in some student ensembles has since declined, numerous amateur orchestras and ensembles have been formed by university graduates and other enthusiasts. These groups continue to sustain a wide range of mandolin activities across Japan today.