Tokyo Shounen

Tokyo Shounen, also known as NHK Tokyo Children's Choir and NHK Tokyo Children's Chorus, is a Japanese children's choir attached to the Tokyo Broadcasting Station (JOAK) of NHK, the Japan Broadcasting Corporation. Its history is tied to Otowa Yurikago Kai, founded in 1933, which NHK used as its children's choir from 1943 until it began organizing its own ensemble in 1951. Through broadcasting and recording, Tokyo Shounen helped popularize Japanese and overseas children's songs in Japan and brought children's choral music to a wider audience. The group also toured extensively around the world and earned major awards, including second place in the children's category of the BBC World Amateur Chorus Competition, first place in the children's category of the Centennial of Zoltán Kodály's Birth Competition, and first place in the children's category of the EBU World Chorus Competition. These achievements made it one of the best-known Japanese children's ensembles associated with radio, television, and choral performance.