Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra was established in 1960 under the aegis of the Japan-based Buddhist organization Rissho Kosei-kai. Originally known as the Tokyo Kosei Symphonic Band, it was renamed in 1973 to reflect its growing professionalism and scale of activities. TOKWO is now internationally recognized as one of the world's most accomplished orchestras.

TOKWO's activities in Japan include concert series in Tokyo, regional tours, benefit concerts, educational concerts at schools nationwide, band clinics, and recording sessions. In 1989 TOKWO made its first European tour, performing to acclaim in Austria, Britain, France, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, and in 1993 it made a nine-concert tour of Switzerland.

Douglas Bostock was born in England in 1955. One of the outstanding British conductors of his generation, he is a former pupil of Sir Adrian Boult in London and Francis Travis in Freiburg.

Bostock's rich experience includes appointments in Germany as Musikdirektor in Konstanz (1979--93) and regular guest conductor of the Southwest German Philharmonic (1980--90); numerous guest appearances with prominent orchestras in Europe, the United States, and Japan; and, in 1996--99, tours in Japan with the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra. In 1991 he was appointed Principal Conductor and Music Director of the Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad) Symphony Orchestra, until 1998, and Honorary Guest Conductor of the Chamber Philharmonic of Bohemia, both in the Czech Republic. He still holds the latter position. He also has been Permanent Guest Conductor of the Munich Symphony Orchestra in Germany since 1998.

Bostock is particularly noted for his interpretation of Czech music and the works of twentieth-century French and British composers, but his rich repertoire covers an extraordinary range of genres and styles. Numerous CD recordings document his versatile artistic personality.

While Musikdirektor in Konstanz he worked actively with symphonic wind orchestras. His broad knowledge of this repertoire includes many first performances: Gordon Jacob's last major composition, Concerto for Timpani and Band, was written at Bostock's request. He has premiered many Japanese compositions in Europe with the Ulm Symphonic Wind Orchestra in Germany.

Bostock has been appointed Principal Conductor of the Tokyo Wind Orchestra (TOKWO) from January 1, 2000, as successor to Frederick Fennell, who will continue as Conductor Emeritus. Bostock first conducted the orchestra in 1996 and has appeared with them as a guest conductor regularly ever since in concerts throughout Japan. Although his background and much of his professional experience is with the full symphony orchestra, he has also wide practical knowledge of the wind orchestra field. Bostock continues to work with other orchestras in Japan and maintains strong links with the Conducting Department of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music in Tokyo.

Frederick Fennell, Conductor Laureate of the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra, was TOKWO's principal conductor from 1984 to 1996. Educated at the Eastman School of Music, he is the founder of the renowned Eastman Wind Ensemble. Maestro Fennell, known as the world's most distinguished conductor of wind ensembles, has conducted many of North America's leading orchestras and has received numerous musical honors in the United States. In 1991 he and TOKWO received the first Bandmasters Academic Society of Japan Award for outstanding performances. He was honored with the prestigious Theodore Thomas Award of the Conductors' Guild in 1994.