INFORMATION PORTAL OF THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE OF THE KUJAWSKO-POMORSKIE Region IN TORUŃ

For 15 years, the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region has been cooperating with the distinguished Japanese conductor Mitsuyoshi Oikawa—an informal ambassador of Polish music in Japan, a collaborator of the Polish Institute in Tokyo, and an organizer of concerts featuring the most talented musicians from our region in the Land of the Rising Sun. In recognition of his contributions to Polish-Japanese cultural exchange and cooperation with our region, Mitsuyoshi Oikawa received, on Friday (April 10), from Vice-Marshal Zbigniew Ostrowski, the Marshal’s Medal of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship Unitas Durat Palatinatus Cuiaviano-Pomeraniensis.

“Mitsuyoshi Oikawa is a long-time friend of our region and an ambassador of culture on the international stage. He is an outstanding conductor who has been working for years to support Polish-Japanese cultural exchange. Thanks to his dedication, the most talented musicians from our voivodeship have the opportunity to perform for Japanese audiences,” emphasized Marshal Piotr Całbecki.

The Self-Government of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region has been cooperating with Mitsuyoshi Oikawa since 2010. The Polish Institute in Tokyo has also been involved in organizing the cultural exchange, providing logistical and financial support to our artists for many years. So far, eighteen artists have had the opportunity to present their skills in Japan as part of this exchange.

The conductor’s visit to the region was marked by two special events.

On Friday (April 10), Mitsuyoshi Oikawa conducted a concert at the Pomeranian Philharmonic. The event, celebrating the 15th anniversary of Polish-Japanese cultural and musical cooperation, featured a performance with the symphony orchestra and violin virtuoso Vadim Brodski. The musicians performed works by Camille Saint-Saëns and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The concert was preceded by the presentation of the Marshal’s Medal Unitas Durat to Mitsuyoshi Oikawa.

Earlier (April 8), during a concert at the Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz dedicated to Maestro Mitsuyoshi Oikawa, compositions by Franz Schubert, Johannes Brahms, Ignacy Jan Paderewski, and Frédéric Chopin were performed. On Thursday (April 9), students of the Academy’s conducting class took part in workshops led by the maestro.

Beata Krzemińska
Press spokesperson for the Marshal’s Office

April 9, 2026

Last updated: April 13, 2026