The Tokyo Symphony Orchestra faced a setback this year after Muza Kawasaki Symphony Hall was severely damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, effectively leaving the musicians homeless.
When Muza's ceiling caved in, most of the acoustics-enhancing materials, lighting and air conditioning came crashing to the ground. The cost of repairs is currently estimated to be around ¥1.8 billion. An investigation is also under way to determine why the inside of the hall could not withstand the magnitude-9 quake, which had a shindo (seismic intensity) of upper 5 in Kawasaki.
At a recent press conference to announce TSO's lineup for the 2012-2013 season, managing director Junji Ohno and music director Hubert Soudant expressed gratitude for the financial support they have received from donors both within and outside Japan since the disaster. However, the orchestra wasn't a stranger to the problem of having no base.