A graduate of Osaka College of Music (majoring in Clarinet), Mr. Kimura studied under Shinjiro Nakao, Yukio Ohashi, and Rudolf Jettel. He received conductor’s training from the late Takashi Asahina. After joining the Osaka Municipal Symphonic Band in April 1962, he was appointed concert master and vice conductor of the group, and later in April 1985, assumed the post of symphony master.
 
As symphony master and conductor of one of the few professional concert bands in Japan, he has greatly contributed to the development of wind music in Japan. During this period, in 1971, he attended the international seminar of Mozarteum University of Music and Dramatic Arts in Salzburg, Austria. He was eager in promoting original concert band works from overseas and organized many Japan Premieres. Additionally, he published many arrangements of orchestral music for concert band and has earned high recognition from leading authorities in the field. He received the Amagasaki Art Award as well as the 39th Osaka Honorary Citizen Awards for “Cultural Contribution.”
 
Mr. Kimura, the Former Symphony Master of the Osaka Municipal Symphonic Band, the Honorary Music Adviser of the Hiroshima Wind Orchestra, and the Honorary Musical Director of the Osakan Philharmonic Winds, passed away at age of 81 on February 24, 2021. As one of the few Japanese conductors well versed in band music, his passion and thorough  knowledge are still having great influence upon the band world in Japan and worldwide. 

Tomo Matsuo is Resident Conductor of the Osakan Philharmonic Winds since January 2018, after serving as Assistant Conductor for Mr. Yoshihiro Kimura for years.
Of Matsuo’s inaugural concert, the New York Philharmonic Principal Trombonist Joseph Alessi said, “This is a fantastic ensemble. They played with absolute precision and dedication and they sounded wonderful. Congratulations to Tomo on his conducting debut.” 
In December 2019, Matsuo conducted the OSAKAN and received standing ovation for an outstanding performance at the finale concert of the 73rd Midwest Clinic. After the big success, Matsuo was interviewed for a cover story in Band Journal, a major concert band magazine. “Viva Osakan!,” the recording he made with the band in March 2020 received awards and rave reviews by prominent Japanese musical magazines such as The Record Geijutsu and stereo. 
In addition to conducting the OSAKAN at numerous concerts and recordings, Matsuo is an active conductor and clinician. He has recently conducted Kyushu Wind Orchestra. His fun and knowledgeable talk during concert always gets favorable reputations. As a clinician, Matsuo has given clinics to many school bands and community bands both in Japan and internationally.
Matsuo graduated from the Soai University majoring in trumpet performance. He studied trumpet under Hiroshi Tsubaki, Hiromu Tanaka and Robert Sullivan, and conducting and music theory under Yoshihiro Kimura and Kiyoyuki Tsujii.