Culture and Sports
Cultural activities
Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra
Established in 1962, the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra promotes the joys of classical music. Over the course of its more than 50-year history, it has welcomed numerous globally famous conductors like Leopold Stokowski, Sergiu Celibidache, Kurt Masur and Gennady Rozhdestvensky. Considered one of Japan's leading orchestras, the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra earned accolades for its 2015 performances in Europe. The Yomiuri Shimbun is the only newspaper company in the world with its own professional orchestra.
Forum with Nobel prize winners
We invite Nobel Prize winners from around the world to forums discussing issues faced by humanity today. These valuable opportunities allow young people in Japan today to receive keen insights for the future.
Calligraphy, go and shogi
We also put significant effort into fostering Japanese traditional arts and pastimes like calligraphy, go and shogi (Japanese chess). The Yomiuri Shoho-kai (calligraphy association), founded in 1984, solicits pieces from across the country and hosts exhibits of the work. Over 20,000 pieces are submitted each year. The Kiseisen (go) and Ryuosen (shogi) are Japan's foremost public competitions for professional players. The Yomiuri Shimbun hosts these events in partnership with organizations from the go and shogi industries.
Art exhibits
Each year, we host exhibits that offer the public a chance to enjoy fine art. Of particular note was our 1994 presentation of pieces from the Barnes Collection. Eighty pieces from the Barnes Foundation, which maintains one of the finest collections of early modern art in the world, were shown outside of the foundation's galleries for the first time, drawing in 1.07 million visitors.
We have also established the Japan Association of Art Museums, comprising more than 140 museums across Japan. The association supports exhibits at public museums and the training of curators.
Promotion of sporting activities
Through the Yomiuri Giants, The Yomiuri Shimbun's popular baseball team, we contribute to Japanese professional baseball. We have also hosted top-level competitive sporting events like the Tokyo Marathon and the Tokyo-Hakone Round-Trip College Ekiden Race, sharing the joys of sports with a wide community. The Ekiden race is held every January, starting at the Yomiuri Shimbun Building in Otemachi, Tokyo, and ending in Hakone, a resort area in neighboring Kanazawa Prefecture. The race takes place over two days and spans 217 kilometers.
This long-distance relay-style race evolved from a separate race that The Yomiuri Shimbun created in 1917. In addition, we are also involved in hosting sporting events for young people, including swim meets and soccer and volleyball events.
Tokyo 2020 Official Newspaper Partner
The Yomiuri Shimbun is pleased to announce that as part of the Tokyo 2020 Sponsorship Program the company has signed a Tokyo 2020 Official Partner (newspapers category) agreement with the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
As a Tokyo 2020 Official Partner and official partner of Japan's national Olympic and Paralympic teams at the Rio 2016 Games, the PyeongChang 2018 Games, and the Tokyo 2020 Games, The Yomiuri Shimbun will provide powerful support.
The Yomiuri Shimbun has continued to fulfill its mission as a media organization and earn the trust of its readers and society as a whole through impartial reporting. The Yomiuri Shimbun will steadfastly maintain this stance while utilizing all its achievements and experience towards the successful delivery of the Tokyo 2020 Games. The company will support athletes aiming to participate in the Games and devote even greater efforts to promoting sports for persons with an impairment.
Culture and sports awards
We recognize significant achievements in Japanese culture and sporting activities. The Yomiuri Bungaku-sho (prize for literature) honors excellence in literature, playwriting and screenwriting; the Yomiuri Engeki-sho (theater award) recognize performances and actors; the Yomiuri Yoshino Sakuzo Prize is awarded to authors and academic papers; and the Sawamura Prize recognizes talented professional baseball players. All these awards are considered prestigious Japanese commendations.