The Sapporo Symphony Orchestra (Sakkyo) was founded in 1961. With the nickname "Sakkyo," it is the only professional orchestra in Hokkaido, gaining high popularity and a clear and powerful expression that suits the vast island. The orchestra worked with Honorary Founding Conductor Masao Araya, Peter Schwarz, Hiroyuki Iwasa, Kazuyoshi Akiyama, Max Pommer, Radmil Eliska, and Matthias Bamert, and now the orchestra holds Honorary Music Director Tadaaki Otaka; Friendship Conductor Junichi Hirokami; Principal Guest Conductor Tatsuya Shimono; Resident Conductor Kentaro Kawase; and newly inaugurated Chief Conductor Elias Grandy (from April 2025). The orchestra holds 74 members including concertmasters as of January 2025, and its concerts count to 120 annually within and outside Hokkaido. As for oversea tours, the orchestra made the 50th anniversary Europe Tour in 2011, and visited 5 cities in Taiwan in 2015. Sapporo The Symphony Orchestra aims to become the orchestra loved by the people of Hokkaido and will continue to express its musicianship towards the globe.