The 60-year Kyushu Symphony Orchestra is struggling to rebuild. Founded in 1953, it has been supported with generous donations from Kyushu Electric Power Company ever since, and its top two executives are seconded Kyuden employees. In FY2012, the Symphony’s total revenues were ¥850 million, but at ¥350 million, tickets sales accounted for less than half of the total. The Cultural Affairs Agency, Fukuoka Prefecture, Fukuoka City and Kitakyushu City kicked in ¥400 million in subsidies, with the remainder coming from individual donations. After going in the red and being forced to cut expenses in line with rate hikes, Kyuden has cut its support for the Orchestra. Its budget for 2013 remains unbalanced, and the fate of the seconded employees is also unclear. Dispatched from Kyuden to run the orchestra in 2011, executive director Makoto Suetsugu said, “I only have two years left until I retire from Kyuden, so I am pouring my heart and soul into rebuilding the orchestra.” Source: Nishinippon Shimbun, May 28
