OSAKA -- Takashi Asahina, known as the world's oldest active conductor, died of old age at a Kobe hospital Saturday night, his family said Sunday. He was 93.

Asahina was loved by music fans for his strong and dignified style of conducting. He specialized in the works of Beethoven, Brahms and Bruckner.

He won the government's Medal with Purple Ribbon in 1969, Person of Cultural Merit in 1989 and Order of Culture in 1994. He was also honored with the Japan Academy of Arts Award in 1976.

A Tokyo native, Asahina graduated from the Department of Law at Kyoto University and worked at railway company Hankyu Corp. for two years before launching his career as a conductor in 1936, despite having no formal education for the job. He used to boast to friends that he was probably the only conductor in the world who has operated a train.

During wartime, Asahina held a series of performance tours in various parts of China controlled by Japanese forces.

Immediately after returning to Japan in 1946, Asahina helped found the Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra, which became the Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra in 1947, and served as its executive conductor and music director up to his death.

Asahina remained active throughout his life and was invited twice to perform with the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra in 1996.

His energetic performances gained popularity especially among younger generations in his final years.

He complained of ill health after performing at Nagoya on Oct. 24 and was hospitalized at a Kobe hospital. Subsequent performances were canceled.

He died on the very night of the Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra's annual yearend performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, which he conducted more than 250 times during his career. On Sunday night, conductor Hiroshi Wakasugi took Asahina's place for the orchestra's performance.