Takasaki has also taken bold steps to develop in the field of arts and culture. The Takasaki Citizens Orchestra that later became the Gunma Symphony Orchestra, was founded in November 1945 in the aftermath of the Second World War. The music the orchestra played calmed the hearts of the people and enriched their lives. The movie “Koko ni Izumi Ari” shot in 1952 is the story of the early years of the orchestra. Director Masashi Imai engaged Japanese sweetheart Keiko Kishi in the leading role as a pianist, and shot the film on location in Takasaki and around Gunma Prefecture. The film went on to move the hearts of more than 3 million cinema-goers around the country after its 1955 release.
The Gunma Symphony Orchestra has held regular subscription concerts since 1946, and celebrated its 500th such concert in July 2014. The orchestra’s visits to schools have continued ever since its foundation, introducing live, classical music to more than 6 million school children. The orchestra received invitations to perform abroad in 1994, playing at the Prague Spring International Music Competition and at the Vienna Arts Week.