City of Boston honors Seiji Ozawa with the naming of “Seiji Ozawa Square”
On November 6, 2025, the City of Boston and Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) jointly dedicated “Seiji Ozawa Square,” to the OMF Eternal Music Director Seiji Ozawa. The unveiling ceremony for the new signage, accompanied by brief remarks, occurred outside of Symphony Hall, near the corner of St. Stephen St. and Massachusetts Ave. Among the speakers were Kenny Mascary, Interim Director of the Arts and Culture, City of Boston; BSO President and CEO Chad Smith; and Seira Ozawa, SKO Representative and daughter of Seiji Ozawa.
©Winslow Townson
©Winslow Townson
From the speech of Chad Smith
“Seiji left a legacy of passionate music-making, innovation, and mentorship that continues to inspire musicians and audiences worldwide. The Square is a symbol of how his contributions continue to resonate: the extraordinary players he hired, the audiences he inspired, and the shared memories that connect us across generations.”
From the speech of Seira Ozawa
“Dad believed in connecting with people, through music that came from his heart. He believed that we can go beyond nationalities, races, genders, or age, over any occupation, politics, or religion. He believed in the goodness of human beings.”
©Winslow Townson
The ceremony coincides with BSO performances November 6 - 8, featuring artists and repertoire strongly associated with Seiji Ozawa. The OMF Principle Guest Conductor Nodoka Okisawa makes her BSO and U.S. debuts with violin soloist Midori, in Dvořák’s Seventh Symphony and Violin Concerto—works Ozawa especially loved. The program also includes Tōru Takemitsu’s Requiem for Strings, which the BSO has performed only once before, with Ozawa conducting it at Tanglewood in 1967.
Maestra Okisawa and Midori were among the attendees at the ceremony, which also included BSO musicians and staff, BSO Board Chair Barbara Hostetter, Consul General of Japan Seiichiro Takahashi, and Ms. Chieko Yoshida, the Consul for Cultural Affairs at the Consulate General of Japan in Boston.
©Winslow Townson
Photos copyrighted by Boston Symphony Orchestra