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About Japan Choral Association

In 1927 Kosuke Komatsu, who had just returned to Japan after studying in France, founded the National Music Association for the purpose of having "all the nation's people sing." In that same year, on November 23, the group sponsored the 1st Choral Competition. That was the starting point of the choral movement throughout the country, of which the current Japan Choral Association is the mother organization. Due to World War II, the 2nd Choral was canceled, but after the war, Komatsu was active in re-starting the competition, and choral associations sprang up all over the country.
Between 1945 and 1947, choral associations were established in the western (Seibu), west central (Kansai), central Pacific (Tokai), and east central (Kanto) portions of Japan; and in 1948 these were amalgamated into the Japan Choral Association. At the same time, other associations in the central (Chubu/Chugoku) and northeastern (Tohoku) areas, as well as in Tokyo, Hokkaido, and Shikoku were born. Thus, under the name of the Japan Choral Association, amateur choruses throughout the land joined hands.
Together with the increasing popularity of choral music and the pace of the postwar period, the Japan Choral Association underwent a restructuring that led to the Asahi Shimbun newspaper's donating a full two-page spread to its activities for the first time. Even today, the Japan Choral Association receives the general co-sponsorship of Asahi Shimbun in its JCA National Choral Competition, JCA Choral Workshop, JCA Cantat for Mothers' Chorus, JCA Mothers' Chorus Festival, JCA Junior Chorus Festival, the public solicitation of songs for its national competition, choral festivals, and other activities. Indeed, without the cooperation of both parties, the scale of the choral competition would most likely never have attained its present scope.
In this manner, the Japan Choral Association, as its name implies, is the largest organization within Japan's choral world and the sole organization to have been granted the long-desired status of a legal corporation, which it was granted in 1970, and which allowed it to take another step forward. In 1979 the much awaited Japan Choral Music Centre was established in Ebisu(Tokyo), and in 1997 the JCA celebrated its fiftieth anniversary.
The Japan Choral Association now operates with a new vigor, and is endowed with a broader viewpoint. Based on the idea of "solidarity and exchange," and acting through the medium of choruses, it works to help foster development in musical culture as well as to bring about a fulfillment of the choral movement.

President

8. Keiichi Asai (2006- )

Past Presidents

1. Kosuke Komatsu
(1948-55)
3. Kosuke Komatsu
(1960-64)

Goals

Japan is one of the countries in which choruses are extremely popular. Including all the choruses in elementary schools, junior and senior high schools, colleges, companies, women's groups, and private groups of ordinary individuals, there are said to be between twenty and thirty thousand choruses in Japan today. All the people who belong to these choruses are becoming more familiar with music while enjoying themselves in chorus activities, which is certainly transforming Japan into a stage on which its singers are greatly improving the musical culture of the land.
As for goals, the JCA aims to popularize choral music and improve its level, the fostering and leading of choral groups, and the development of musical culture.

Organization and Members

Branches: 9
Regular members: Member organizations in 54 areas
Number of member choirs : 5,202 (as of January 1, 2007)

JCA National Choral Workshop
Under the slogan, "Immerse yourself in choral work during Golden Week," this study camp is held on a nationwide scale. It involves staying at a study camp for a few days, and the participants involve themselves in the fine details of choral work. Begun in 1990, it is offered every year at the beginning of May.

* The week of April 29 to May 5 contains four national holidays, and is known as Golden Week.

Japan Choral Music Centre & Library
The Centre and Library maintain a collection of scores, CDs, records, and tapes related to choral music. The Library is open to use by the public. Also, the Centre offers its own courses on choral music.

Publication of Songbooks
Every year a series of songbooks is published, and these songbooks contain the songs that are used in the JCA National Choral Competition.

International Exchange Activities
As a member of the International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM), JCA takes an active part in the World Symposium on Choral Music (WSCM) and the World Youth Choir (WYC).

Public Solicitation of Songs for the JCA National Choral Competition
Every year since 1971, JCA undertakes public solicitation of songs for its National Choral Competition. The winning songs are awarded the Asahi Composition Prize, used in the national competition, and also published.

Choral Festivals
This is an annual series of festivals that take place all over Japan, in which the members of the branch and local choral associations can get together and enjoy themselves through singing and just having a good time.

Other Activities
There are also activities that take place, such as training courses and choral festivals, that are independently planned and held by the branch and regional associations.