Born in 1941, Kazuyoshi Akiyama studied conducting under Hideo Saito at the Toho Gakuen School of Music.
Akiyama has held prestigious posts such as Music Director of the American Symphony Orchestra (1973-1978) and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (1972-1985). During this time, Akiyama’s reputation spread to Europe and throughout North America, where he has been invited to conduct the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the NDR Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and many others. He is the recipient of numerous highly prestigious honors in Japan including the Person of Cultural Merit (2014) for his outstanding cultural contributions.
Akiyama has held numerous distinguished positions, including Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Chubu Philharmonic Orchestra, Music Advisor of the Japan Century Symphony Orchestra and the Okayama Philharmonic Orchestra, Conductor Laureate of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra and the Kyushu Symphony Orchestra, Permanent Honorary Conductor Laureate for Life of the Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra, and Artistic Advisor of the Osaka Shion Wind Orchestra. In addition, he has served as Artistic Director and Special Professor at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music, and as Visiting Professor at Kyoto City University of Arts.
Effective October 1, 2025, he will assume the title of Permanent Honorary Music Director of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra.