Follow: #RoseParade (general) and #RoseParade_KT (Kyoto Tachibana only)
Click picture to watch video
John F. Kennedy Shamrock Regiment who are hosting the band during their visit to the upcoming 129th Tournament of Roses Parade has published at their webpages inspirational story of the flutist band member “Kurara” who plays and dances with the band with prosthetic leg. Joining the band had been her middle-school dream and with determination and will-power she did just that and is now arriving to Pasadena to perform to American audience. Read her full story here!
Also the Japanese edition of Rafu Shimpō carried an article on “Kurara”, click here (in Japanese).
In the above video you can see her at the October 9, 2017 Joint Concert stage show session (video by st.taketo).
Ganbare “Kurara”!
Update after Rose Parade:
After the parade Golden Star Radio caught up with “Kurara” and she gave short speech (video by Golden Star Radio, translation in the comments):
Click picture to watch video
Back in Japan “Kurara” was featured in TV-program “ちちんぷいぷい” on January 23, 2018. Translation of that program in text-format by Trueman Nishi -san can be found here.
Update in 2020:
In 2019-2020 “Kurara” joined Japan Honor Green Band with other Tachibana alumnae and attended the events of the 131st Tournament of Roses Parade. Click here for the coverage of those events.
She has already done so much for the world. She will be a wonderful Kindergarten teacher. I am retired but if I had the ability, I would hire her for any job.
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To all of you, who in love with this young lady.
The video in the link below at 4:57 might put a smile on your lips instantly as it did to me.
Like DM – R said: “She won’t give up.”
From a small Vietnamese heart which has been lighted up by Orange Devils and Kurara-San day in and out.
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Kurara is now college student. She want to be kindergerden teacher. My English is very stuppyou from japan.id. But i want to send message for
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I have no doubt that she will accomplish this as she has accomplished many other obstacles in her life. For she is a very gifted and talented young woman. I wish her success and happiness in all that she does.
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Please note that I have deleted all references from this blog to the video where “Kurara” was interviewed in Japanese TV. Apparently that video was posted by “Kurara” father himself and some minutes ago he expressed wish that it would not be spread.
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Simply put, Hitomi/Kurara is the embodiment of iron will–this young lady refuses to let her disability stand in her way of succeeding, and has conquered it. Truly an inspiration to everyone.
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Americans have fallen in love with this young women. Her courage and determination are things that legends are made of. I have friends with artificial lower limbs, but I don’t think any of them could do the things this lovely young women can do. I also have a Grandson with Muscular Dystrophy who is confined to a wheelchair, but it he is happy, and very intelligent. He’s presently 12-years old. Hitomi, or Kurara, is an inspiration to all people with disabilities. However, she does not consider herself disabled….She is simply ABLE! God Bless her, and may she continue to have success in her future endeavor’s!
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When I first noticed Kurara in a You Tube video( how I follow Tachibana ), I thought she was wearing an ace bandage due to a possible injury or sprain, it wasn’t till Bandfest I learned of her prosthetic leg. Kurara is an incredible strong willed young lady, many of us can learn from her unstoppable attitude as well as fortitude towards life.
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I actually cried after reading the article about Kurara. You see, I was born too with a genetic knee problem. Every step I make there is pain. It has bothered me so much that I allowed life to pass me by out of fear. This also stopped me from pursuing my passion for Aikido (after 2nd dan, I no longer practice because of the pain).There are days when I would wallow in self-pity.
Never have I imagined that a young high school student from a distant land would inspire me so much and give me courage to face life again. At my age (48) I thought I already seen everything, but I was wrong. A young girl taught me how to live with courage.
Kurara-san, you will always be my inspiration and my source of strength. Orange Devils, I will always be your number one fan. Viva Kyoto Tachibana!
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Rick: I am 57 and I also learn from this brave girl a lot!
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She was also in the line-up of the pre-soccer-game parade, at right of the last row, with purple Nintendo t-shirt.
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In the JWBL video, I noticed her left knee shakes in the slow motion of the first song when the body has to supported only by left leg…tears in my eyes. Maybe that is not the messages the girls and boys are sending to us the fans, I will enjoy the music and dance of the Orange Devils like we used to have.
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Her personal name Hitomi
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Kurara was also one of tree flutist in the field show at Japan Woman’s Baseball League video some where else in this blog. Her family name Kanamaru should be written as 金丸, a very common surname in Japan, and her personal
name as 瞳, also a very common girl’s name in Japan which means eye or eyes.
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Since I had knee problems myself since the age of 20, I have noticed Kurara in the line-up of the Orange Devils but I thought it was some kind of knee support instead of prosthetic leg! I wish all the best to this determined girl, GANBARE Kurara!
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