Nippon Cultural Broadcasting
The is a Japanese symphony orchestra based in Tokyo, with administrative offices in Suginami. It was established on June 22, 1956, as the exclusive subsidiary orchestra under the Nippon Cultural Broadcasting. Akeo Watanabe served the first chief conductor of the orchestra, from 1950 to 1968, with the titles of music director, permanent conductor, and executive director. Watanabe recorded the symphonies of Jean Sibelius with the orchestra twice, first in the 1960s for Nippon Columbia Company, and second for Denon, in 1981. In 1958, the orchestra gave the first Japanese performance of Debussy's "Pelleas and Melisande", conducted by Jean Fournet.