Paavo Järvi has been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, one of Japan’s highest honours, conferred by the Cabinet Office of Japan as part of the Spring 2026 Imperial Decorations.

The decoration recognises Järvi’s outstanding contributions to music and his role in strengthening cultural ties between Japan and the international community. The conferral ceremony will take place in Estonia later this year, with further details to be announced in due course.

Previous international artists to receive the same or similar distinction include Wolfgang Sawallisch (1986), Herbert von Karajan (1989), Mstislav Rostropovich (2001), Jean Fournet (2006), Riccardo Muti (2016) and Herbert Blomstedt (2018).

Järvi served as Chief Conductor of the NHK Symphony Orchestra from 2015 to 2022, significantly raising its international profile through acclaimed recordings and overseas tours. He led European tours in 2017 and 2020, contributing to the NHKSO’s nomination by public vote as the first Japanese orchestra for Orchestra of the Year at the 2020 Gramophone Awards.

Fostering ties between Estonia and Japan, Järvi also led the Estonian Festival Orchestra on its debut tour of Japan in April 2019, introducing Japanese audiences to Estonian music and culture, and brought the NHKSO to Tallinn the following year.

Since stepping down as NHKSO Chief Conductor in 2022, Järvi has remained active as Honorary Conductor and continues to tour Japan regularly with various orchestras. He returns next month for his second tour with the Tonhalle‑Orchester Zürich, with concerts in Yokohama (17 May), Tokyo Suntory Hall (18 & 19 May), Sumida Triphony Hall (21 May), Nagoya (22 May) and Osaka (23 May).