Japan continues to be a focus of Intermusica activity with 3 orchestral tours and 8 artists visiting there in the coming months. After a successful tour with the London Mozart Players two years ago, Guenter Pichler conducted an 8-concert tour in October with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie from Bremen, including a concert at Suntory Hall in Tokyo. In the Spring, Heinrich Schiff conducts the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra on a tour that includes two concerts in Tokyo, Michael Collins performs with the NHK Symphony, and the Academy of Ancient Music under Christopher Hogwood also give 10 concerts nationwide. Pianist Andreas Haefliger recently completed a hugely successful debut tour of Japan that included several concerts with the NHK Symphony Orchestra, two concerts with the Kioi Chamber Orchestra and recitals. An immediate re-invitation has been confirmed. Gilbert Varga, already a success with the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, conducts them again this Autumn and the overwhelming response to Stanislaw Skrowaczewski's first visit to the NHK Symphony Orchestra bring about a return visit in February when he conducts 7 subscription concerts at NHK Hall and Suntory Hall. Veteran violinist Ruggiero Ricci also comes back to Japan for concerts with the Japan Philharmonic and recitals. Richard Hickox returns to the New Japan Philharmonic next Spring for his third re-invitation.