Established in 1945, Gunma Symphony Orchestra has the second longest history in Japan. The prefecture has produced a succession of famous writers, including Sakutaro Hagiwara, to name but one. Recently, with Gunma's production of the film 'Sleeping Man', interest in the arts has increased.


Gunma Symphony Orchestra
Gunma Symphony Orchestra was born out of 'Takasaki Community Orchestra', an amateur organization, established in 1945. In 1955 a film based on Gunma Symphony Orchestra's story, 'There's a fountain here' (Koko ni izumi ari), attracted national attention and in 1956 Gunma Prefecture was appointed as the first 'Model Musical Prefecture.'

In May 1994, upon being invited to perform at the Prague Spring Festival and Wienner Festwochen, the orchestra gave performances in four European countries under the musical direction of Ken Takaseki, and subsequently received high acclaim while in each country. To mark its 50th anniversary in 1995, the orchestra enthusiastically undertook several activities which included giving performances of Beethoven in both Tokyo and Gunma Prefecture. It also holds musical workshops aimed at elementary, junior high and high school students.


Film 'The Sleeping Man'
The film 'Sleeping Man' (Nemuru Otoko) was made in 1995 to commemorate the prefecture's population having reached two million. The film is noteworthy for a number of reasons. It was the first movie to be produced by a local government body, and was also the latest work of Kohei Oguri, a director from Maebashi City. The cast, overcoming boundaries between several Asian countries, included Ahn Sung-ki representing the Korean film industry, Indonesia's top actress, Christine Hakim, as well as Japanese actor Koji Yakusho. The film has also been screened abroad, and was awarded the 'Special Grand Prix of the Jury' at the Montreal World Film Festival.


Literati in Gunma
Gunma Prefecture has produced a succession of superb poets and writers. Sakutaro Hagiwara made his mark on the poetry world with his sharp yet sensitive style of expression, and Bunmei Tsuchiya whose work has come to represent the world of Showa poetry, are but two examples of the long list of literati from Gunma who have left their impression upon the world of literature.

Gunma Astronomical Observatory
Gunma Astronomical Observatory features telescopes that visitors can get hands-on experience with and is home to a 150cm Reflecting Telescope. The general public can come in contact with researchers and see into the depths of space with their own eyes, resulting in a deep and 'real' experience.