Interview and text by Rei’ichirō Fukuno (Wikipedia)
From left to right: Chippi, Puchie, Milpy, Tara-cho, Ramirin, Co-ma-re, Kurara, Johnnybo
“The moment we started dancing and performing “Sing, Sing, Sing“, while spreading out left and right in the television area, my whole body was wrapped by incredible cheers that made me go “Uwahh”. Coming to U.S as the representatives of Asia, we wore our pride that is our orange uniforms, and while walking down the long and wide Californian avenue I thought to myself that we and the audience have become one. And after that I was so moved that the tears started overflowing. After that I continued performing in the parade while laughing and crying the whole time.”
A KT member reflects on participating in the 2018 Rose Parade
HIgh-fives with spectators at Disneyland (picture by GBA)
“I have nothing but gratitude for all the Americans who were there. I’m sincerely grateful for all the people who welcomed us and cheered for us at the top of their lungs.”
One KT member’s message to the people of the United States
This article was made possible by the understanding and support of Green Band Association (GBA) CEO Hisashi Hiramatsu. Seven alumnae of the Kyoto Tachibana S.H.S. Band from the 114th Class in the school’s history who participated in the GBA-planned 2018 Rose Parade trip and Japan-U.S. friendship activities, and who have been asked to perform in the 2020 Rose Parade as some of the 163 post-secondary students and workers who will form the Japan Honor Green Band, graciously sat down for this interview. The band members, along with their parents, teachers, and school staff, agreed to take part on the condition that, for the sake of friendship and goodwill between the people of Japan, the U.S., and every other country around the world, the interview is published in English only.
Photographs: Kizashi Ikeda (Kyoto), GBA photographs: Kazufumi Koike and Yuzuru Kumagai, Web edit: orangedevilsfan, Cooperation: Trueman Nishi, Interview and article: Rei’ichirō Fukuno.
この記事は日米グリーンバンド協会（GBA）の平松久司CEOおよび同協会のご理解とご協力により実現しました。京都市内で行ったインタビューに応じてくださったのは、京都橘高校吹奏楽部のメンバーとしてGBAが企画した2018年のローズパレード遠征および日米友好親善活動に参加し、さらに2020年ローズパレードにも163人の大学生／社会人で構成するJAPAN HONOR GREEN BANDの一員として参加を希望されている同窓生の中の114期生７名のみなさんです。アメリカおよび諸外国の方々と日本との友好親善を目的として英文のみでの掲載・公開を条件に、メンバーのみなさん、ご家族、先生方、関係者の方々にご承諾をいただきました。その趣旨をご理解いただき、インタビュー内容やニックネームなどの和訳転記や写真の転載などは何卒ご遠慮ください。
撮影：池田きざし（京都） web編集：orangedevilsfan 取材協力：西 真也 インタビューと原稿：福野礼一郎
About their nicknames:
In keeping with this website’s privacy-related conventions, the interviewees will be referred to by nicknames, with their permission. Each nickname has a story behind it (as question 2 of the interview will explore in greater depth), and the spelling of each nickname represents an attempt to stay as true as possible to the name’s origins. For example, “Puchie” ends with “-ie,” a spelling that has its origins in Puchie’s love of “One Direction“, while the “-py” ending of “Milpy” is a tribute to Snoopy. The pronunciations provided by a text-to-speech website (http://ttsdemo.com) were also used (language: English; voice: Ashley (US)) to get the spellings closer to the Japanese pronunciations. For instance, the spellings of “Taracho” and “Comare” don’t lend themselves to the right pronunciation, so “Tara-cho” and “Co-ma-re” were used instead. In Japanese, the band members would normally spell these nicknames with hiragana or katakana, which are the two types of basic phonograms that are used in Japanese. While none of the band members write their nicknames with kanji (the ideograms used in Japanese writing), the 114th Class did include a band member who writes her nickname entirely in the Roman alphabet: trombonist M, who held up the left side of the Tachibana banner at the 2018 Rose Parade. There are many who add emoji and other symbols to the end of their nicknames. In this article, those symbols are reproduced only in the headings.
114th Class Milpy🎀 (Color Guard/Stringbass):
Milpy
At the head of the 2018 Rose Parade was Drum Major. So which Unit was at the rear? On the right side of the last row of the color guard was Milpy. A young woman who gives off an energetic and wise impression, she is one pivotal person who led the 114th, 115th and 116th Classes of 2017 together with Drum Major. She also served as the leader of the Color Guard Unit in accordance with tradition. During the intense three day training program at the Angel Stadium, Milpy observed and guided the group’s marching and Color Guard teamwork from the back row. On the day of the Rose Parade, she waved her flags while watching the success of her team’s entire performance from the box seats. Milpy is also the representative for the 9 KT members of the 114th Class group who will be participating in the 2020 Rose Parade. She has kindly gathered some of the members here for us today.
Band at Anaheim Angel Stadium (picture by GBA)
Question ①：Current department
College student, Faculty of Kyoto Culture Department
Question ②：Origin of nickname
Mil- from Fujiya-milky, -py from Snoopy
Question ③：Where were you positioned during the 2018 Rose Parade?
The right-wing in the last line of the Color Guard
Question ④：What were your roles and duties in the KT?
– Music score staff (2nd and 3rd years): In charge of preparing the sit-down performance, the teacher’s podium, score, and conductor’s stick which were going to be used for contests and sitting performances.
– Marching composition team (3rd year): Planning the choreography and the program composition for marching and drills.
– Leader of the Color Guard Unit (3rd year): In charge of the Color Guard choreography and guiding the junior members.
Question ⑤：What performance left the greatest impression on you when you were in service?
The 3rd year’s Tachibanasai Water stage performance (2017, see video by mas woo below). Because there weren’t really many opportunities to show the results of our training and we were able to give a performance to our friends too.
Click picture to watch video
Question ⑥：What was the biggest wall you ran into during training when you were in service?
Remembering the Color Guard choreography when I was a 1st year. Color Guards must first memorize the basics of performing. That includes how to wave the flag of course, but it also includes your posture and face direction at any given time; these kinds of fine points are strictly determined traditionally. After completely mastering those things, you can finally begin to memorize the choreography for each song. In order to succeed in everything you first just need to practice again and again, and try your hardest. Every day I did nothing but practice.
Question ⑦：What do you think was the most moving moment for you that you will probably never forget during your time in the KT?
It would have to be at the All-Japan Marching Contest when I was a 1st year (2015). I will never forget the scene that I saw from the green floor of the National Finals that I practiced so hard for so that I could catch up with my senior band members. I was incredibly moved when the results were announced and it was called that “Kyoto Tachibana is GOLD”.
Milpy
– Thank you for gathering some of the members here today. Thanks to you we managed to get seven different people for this interview. So, right now you are a second year college student. What kind of studying do you do in the Kyoto Culture Department?
– Milpy: It’s a slightly different department. We study the culture of Japan and Kyoto, tourism, and other things.
– During your time in the band in 2018 Rose Parade, you were a member of the Marching composition team, a team made up of five representatives from the Drum Major, woodwind, brass, percussion, and Color Guard Units. What kind of work did you do in that team?
– Milpy: We decided the program and order for our marching and drill performances, and we would undergo consideration for the selection and choreography for any new songs.
– The Marching composition team comes up with the choreography right? Just how do you come up with it?
– Milpy: First, we listen to the recordings of us practicing the songs while sitting down, and then we try dancing to how we feel at the time, then the five of us decide on the basic choreography while adapting the patterns and such of the choreographies of the songs that we already have. We show it to out marching guidance teacher and if they say “OK” then we each take home our own parts and arrange them. It may look like we’re dancing in the same way each time, but the choreography changes quite a bit for each pattern.
– You were also the leader for the Color Guards right?
– Milpy: Traditionally, the leader of the Color Guards is also the member of the Marching composition team. Color Guard members use flags and other small props, and so we decide on the choreography while thinking about to create a sense of unity in the band, and how we can make our band performances even more spectacular.
– KT is made up of a gathering of individual teams for each part. Apart from the days when you are practicing as a whole group, you always practice your performances and choreography as individual teams.
– Milpy: That’s right.
– The Color Guard is always at the front when you are marching here in Japan, but at the Rose Parade you were at the back. How did that feel?
– Milpy: I didn’t really have any experience being at the back, but it was a lot of fun being able to see everyone dance in front of me while marching. After the West Colorado Boulevard television area there was a downhill part so I had a magnificent view where I could see our entire team. But it was a little bit harder than usual to hear the sounds, our group was so long that the sounds felt a little out of sync.
– Were you not concerned with the sound of the floats behind you? Did you feel a slow creeping pressure coming up from behind you?
– Milpy: Well yeah, I have always been able to hear the noise of the floats behind us, but at that time I could turn around and they would say “Hey” and wave to me. They were such friendly people and so it was quite fun.
Friendship between bands! (picture by GBA)
– Speaking of which, just in front of you was your 111th Class senpai who dropped out part way through the parade. Was that decided from the beginning?
– Milpy: It was. Our senpai’s legs were in pain, but we encouraged everyone by saying that since we are here we should all start and march together, even just for a little bit. And that’s how we all started marching together.
– What are your reasons for paying a lot of money and participating as a member of the Japan Honor Green Band again in 2020?
– Milpy: Of course I wanted to experience the Rose Parade once more, but it was only possible because the timing was good. When I was a 1st and 2nd year student I was pretty carefree and had a lot of free time to do part-time work and band practice. But once I became a 3rd year I became very busy with studying and so I didn’t have much free time anymore. This year was just the ideal time for me.
– Did you have a part-time job?
– Milpy: I was a member of the Kyoto City Fire Band Color Guard (see more of the band here) together with some people from the 114th Class. My teacher introduced me and several other classmates and together we enlisted in the Color Guard (known as Kyoto Fire Angels), and we practiced two times a week.
– So your part-time job was working as a “associate public servant” in the Kyoto Fire Angels?
– Milpy: That’s right.
– If you were to go to America again, are there any places you would like to see or anything you would like to do?
– Milpy: I’m still not really sure. The feeling of being a high school student still hasn’t left me yet.
Members Taking Part in the Interview:
Japan Honor Green Band poster
Set to represent Asia in the Rose Parade on January 1st, 2020, the Japan Honor Green Band (see more details of them here) has been put together just for the tour that coincides with the parade, and consists of post-secondary students and workers who have been invited by the Green Band Association to participate. The band’s 163 members are all alumni of school bands from across Japan. 15 are KT graduates, all of whom performed at the 2018 Rose Parade, and 9 of whom are from the 114th Class. In addition to the seven who responded to this interview, Kurara, who joined after the interview, and K (trumpet), one of the Marching composition team in 2017, will participate in the 2020 Rose Parade. The other six KT alumni are from prior classes.
As Milpy noted in the interview, the high participation rate of 114th Class alumni is likely due to the especially good memories they have of their previous experience, having played major roles on the Rose Parade trip as 3rd year students, as well as due to the relative ease with which they, as 2nd year students at university today, can make time for this trip. I suspect that the reason why no one from 115th Class (who were 2nd year students in 2018) is taking part in this trip might be that they wanted to hold back in favor of their senpai (a commonly-used term in Japan that usually refers to upperclassmen in school, but can also refer to longer-serving colleagues at work or in other organizations) who were a year ahead of them.
The interview took place near Kyoto Station on August 19, 2019, the first Monday after the 10-day Obon holiday. The questions were emailed to the participants in advance. I met up with the band members at 11:30 a.m., and we had a leisurely lunch together. After that, I interviewed and took pictures of them one at a time.
114th Class Johnnybo∞ (Clarinet):
Johnnybo
The first person to give us answers to our interview questions was Johnnybo∞. During the 2018 Rose Parade she spearheaded the right-wing of the clarinet Unit. A cheerful high school student with a short straight-cut fringe who, after a year and a half since they graduated, has now transformed into a gorgeous young lady. She, who is aiming to become an elementary school teacher, was the clarinet leader of the 114th, 115th and 116th groups in 2017, and was one out of the five Section leaders, selected and made up of one woodwind player, three brass players, and one percussion player, who checked the steps and tone quality of every member’s performance. She has pulled her team’s performance in 2017 and the driving force behind her incredible growth as a musician comes from the legendary 2015 All-Japan Marching Contest (which resulted in Tachibana winning National Gold).
The band after the Friendship Tree Planting Ceremony (picture by GBA)
Question ①：Current department
College student, The Department of Child Education
Question ②：Origin of nickname
Johnny- from Kanjani Eight (関ジャニ∞) (Kanjani=short of Kansai Johnny’s), -bo from snowboard
Question ③：Where were you positioned during the 2018 Rose Parade?
The front row and right-wing of the clarinet Unit
Question ④：What were your roles and duties in the KT?
– Point staff (2nd year): Marking the ground in advance for marching and drill practice as well as performances.
– Section leader team (3rd year): Deciding on the menu for our sitting practices, and adjusting the audio.
– Clarinet Unit leader (3rd year): Deciding the choreography and performance training methods for the first, second, and third year clarinet students.
Question ⑤：What performance left the greatest impression on you when you were in service?
The Kansai Marching Contest (=Kansai Qualification for the All-Japan Marching Contest) when I was a 3rd year (2017). We didn’t end up making it to the National Finals, but I have never before felt such a feeling of achievement after we had finished our performance. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that feeling.
Question ⑥：What was the biggest wall you ran into during training when you were in service?
Probably human relations. After becoming a 3rd year and turning into a leader, relationships between the other leaders and band members became very difficult.
Question ⑦：What do you think was the most moving moment for you that you will probably never forget during your time in the KT?
The 3rd years’ All-Japan Band Competition (2017). We tried our best, but we were just short of becoming the representatives for the Kansai Qualifications, but I was really happy when our teacher Tanaka-sensei praised me by saying “You did your best!”.
I probably also won’t be able to forget the All-Japan Marching Contest (2015 National Gold winning performance) back when I was a first year.
Johnnybo
– You wrote the most answers for our interview beforehand. What kind of work did the Section leaders’ team actually do when you were in it as a third year in 2017?
– Johnnybo: The members, who were made up of one woodwind player, three brass players, and one percussion player, were in charge of checking everyone’s performance intervals and timbre. The most important role that the Section leaders’ team had during the year was All-Japan Band Competition in August. The Section leaders would consult with each other and decide upon the training menus that the players would perform according to the situation at the time, such as what kind of training menu they would create, and when an ensemble would be played.
– And so that’s why the moment you will never forget during your time in the club was during the band contest when you were a 3rd year.
– Johnnybo: I picked up the clarinet during my 1st year of middle school, and so when I enrolled into KT and entered the coveted marching band I tried my absolute hardest along with everyone else. In the end however, I failed to pass the auditions for the All-Japan Marching Contest (2015) member selection in my first year. It was incredibly disappointing and painful, and so when the summer training for the contest came around I made sure to practice even harder so that I could perform in case I needed to substitute for a participating member. My efforts were recognized by both our teacher and the senpai members, and so I was admitted as a member. In other words, I made it even though my friends didn’t, so there were those kinds of feelings too, and when our performance ended I couldn’t stop crying.
– Your group even managed to win National Gold (2015), so there would have been a lot of excitement and emotion. And all of the efforts you made during your 3rd year not only as just a Section leader, but also as a clarinet Unit leader too. Amazing. Milpy did mention that it was traditional for the Color Guard Unit leader to also be in the Marching composition team. Is it a different story for clarinet players?
– Johnnybo: There isn’t really any kind of tradition like that for clarinet players. It really was quite difficult being a Section leader and a Unit leader though. I had to constantly look at the entire team, and look after the junior members too. But I was able to somehow fulfill both roles thanks to the support given to me by the other clarinet members.
– So, you practiced and performed the All-Japan Band Competition as a Section and Unit leader then.
– Johnnybo: I did. We practiced and worked hard before attending, but we were unable to make it to the Kansai Qualifications. From what I heard we got all A’s from the judges, and we were just one vote away from being able to enter as representatives for the Kansai Qualifications. When I heard that we lost I broke down crying and couldn’t stand, the other members and my mother supported me however. But, I was truly overjoyed when our teacher, Tanaka-sensei, who doesn’t really give much praise during training actually told me “You did really well!”
– Then, after that in September, at the Kansai Marching Contest you said that you had never experienced such a feeling of achievement before.
– Johnnybo: It felt to me that I was performing and marching better then at practice, the moment it ended there was a feeling of “Wow” as blood rushed across my whole body, and I was really able to think to myself that I was glad I joined the KT. I will never be able to forget that feeling.
– It must have been quite frustrating not becoming the representative though.
– Johnnybo: It was. I really wasn’t able to get back on my feet and spent days crying.
Tired but happy after the Parade (picture by GBA)
– Please tell us about your memories of the Rose Parade.
– Johnnybo: Do you know about the Nagaokakyō Parade?
– The “Garasha (Gracia) Festival” right? I’ve seen it on YouTube (see video by st.taketo below).
– Johnnybo: That was really long and tiring.
– It looked like it, looking at it on YouTube everyone looked exhausted and covered in sweat during the second half.
– Johnnybo: It was the most difficult marching performance I’ve ever done. The Rose Parade was longer both in distance and time compared to Garasha, but thinking back on it now I never remember feeling “exhausted” during the Rose Parade. The cheering was absolutely incredible, and I was so happy when the Americans on the sidewalk would call out to us and say “Thank you” in Japanese, and so because of those things I never felt tired. It was so much fun high fiving with all of the people who showed up to watch.
Click picture to watch video
– And so with that you decided to go again in 2020.
– Johnnybo: If I’m being honest I was actually very hesitant. Saving up the money to go would be really difficult, and I wouldn’t be able to wear the orange uniform. And so I was very hesitant and worried it there was even any point in going right up until the deadline. But I can’t forget the thrilling feeling of hearing the cheering Americans during the Rose Parade, and so the feeling of wanting to be there once more, wanting to perform there once more won in the end, and so I made my choice.
– You are very good at expressing your own feelings. You have really conveyed your emotions and feelings well. I’m sure you will be able to become a wonderful elementary school teacher.
– Johnnybo: Thank you! well, the truth is I just want to go to Disneyland once more. Hahaha.
– But didn’t you go five times every night in 2017?
– Johnnybo: Nope! I won’t be satisfied with just five times.
– This year they are opening their special Star Wars Tour.
– Johnnybo: I know! I’m really looking forward to that (Haha).
Free time at Disneyland (picture by GBA)
About the Green Band Association and Kumagai-san:
Kyoto Tachibana High School Green Band at Angel Stadium (picture by GBA)
The Green Band Association (GBA) (website) is a non-profit organization founded by Yuzuru Kumagai (熊谷讓) -san. Funding for the GBA activities comes from the profits of Kumagai-san’s for-profit businesses, as well as from his personal funds. Kumagai-san was a band member in his own middle school and high school days. After completing graduate school, he took a job that saw him doing work involving international exchanges. He also worked at a college in the U.S.
Beginning in 1998, Kumagai-san channeled that experience into a new international exchange program that took current members and alumni of Japanese high school bands on trips to perform in the U.S., and he gave those bands the name “Green Band”. In 2003, Hisashi Hiramatsu -sensei (1935-2021), vice-chairman (then chairman) of the All-Japan Band Association (AJBA) and former adviser to the KT, was brought in to serve as CEO of the GBA. Beginning that year, the Green Band’s U.S. tours would see them perform in Disney parades, for which bands that pass the audition are required to pay a fee in order to perform. The GBA also began holding charity concerts, the proceeds from which were donated to causes such as reforestation efforts and the protection of endangered species.
In 2008, with the arrival of Marching Band Director Hirofumi Yokoyama -sensei, who had also instructed the KT on marching, the Green Band made its first appearance at the Rose Parade. Over the 12 years since, the GBA has run a U.S. tour program that has combined its Disney parade, Rose Parade, and Benefit Concert activities. The participation fee is around $3,800 per student. That fee covers all of the costs, some of which are: round-trip airfare, the cost of 8–9 nights at hotels (which can cost nearly $450 a night during the holiday season), the fees for the Disney parade and Disney workshop (a program that allows students to try their hand at recording a soundtrack for an animated film in post), 5 days of admission to Disneyland, bus travel costs, and the cost of transporting musical instruments. All things considered, the $3,800 fee is a bargain for the participants. Consequently, every trip results in a deficit of thousands of dollars for the GBA, which Kumagai-san has always paid for out of his own pocket.
Tachibana at Kansai International Airport leaving for 2018 Rose Parade (picture by GBA)
For the last 12 years, all of the marching instruction for all of the schools that have gone on the trip has been provided by Yokoyama-sensei. Meanwhile, having KT alumni who have just graduated that year provide the Green Band’s marching choreography for the Rose Parade has been a tradition of the GBA’s U.S. tour program. Akashi-kita HS Green Band in 2008, Kansai Honor Green Band in 2010, North Japan Honor Green Band in 2011, All-Izumo Honor Green Band in 2013, Nagoya Minami High School Green Band in 2014, Koriyama Honor Green Band in 2015, Toho High School Green Band in 2016, Gifu Shōgyō High School Green Band in 2017, and All-Izumo Honor Green Band in 2019; all have had their marching choreography for the Rose Parade created by KT alumni, and all have been coached on presentation by Yokoyama-sensei. Of course, some adaptations are also made for the sake of the touring band members, as doing choreography created with KT in mind would be a lot to ask, like asking speed skaters to do ice dancing on short notice and expecting them to be good at it. The KT alumni who have done the choreography have themselves not performed at the Rose Parade, with the exception of those who helped the Kansai Honor Green Band in 2010 and those who choreographed KT’s own Rose Parade performances in 2012 and 2018.
As for the marching choreography for this year’s Rose Parade performance by the Japan Honor Green Band, the choreography for the song that will be performed in the section where the TV cameras will be has been done by alumni of KT Class 115 (none of whom will be taking part in this U.S. tour), while the choreography that will go with the well-known Michael Jackson song “Thriller” is courtesy of the Class 114 alumni who are taking part in this interview.
114th Class Chippi (Percussion):
Chippi
”Tippi”, the jewel of KT. Her real nickname, which has become incredibly popular on the Unofficial Fan Blog, is Chippi. “It’s the “Chip” from potato chip. Please don’t get it wrong.” After hearing her plea, people may just stop calling her Tippi from now on. The impression I had of the true Chippi when I first met her on stage and marching still hasn’t changed. She is by no means a person of many words, but her smile would never waver throughout our interview, and after our interview she actively presented new ideas to improve her group’s training and led everyone with an air of leadership around her.
No end of High-fives for Chippi! (picture by GBA)
Question ①：Current department or occupation
College student, Department of Modern Business
Question ②：Origin of nickname
Chip- from potato chip, -it- from Stitch of “Lilo&Stitch“, -pi from pink
Question ③：Where were you positioned during the 2018 Rose Parade?
Right side of the snare row in the percussion group (playing xylophone)
Question ④：What were your roles and duties in the KT?
Photography staff (3rd year)
Question ⑤：What performance left the greatest impression on you when you were in service?
Brass Band of 3000
Question ⑥：What was the biggest wall you ran into during training when you were in service?
Carrying the instruments (1st year)
Question ⑦：What do you think was the most moving moment for you that you will probably never forget during your time in the KT?
The Kansai Marching Contest when I was a 3rd year (2017)
Chippi
– Good day! I think that all of our overseas fans will be thrilled that you have taken part in this interview. I think that a lot of people who saw you in high spirits on stage during your group’s “Sing, Sing, Sing” drill and hitting your three tom drums became fans of KT. That goes for people in Japan, but I also get the feeling that your performances are very popular with people overseas in particular.
– Chippi: (With a very surprised look) Really?
– Have you ever looked at the Unofficial Fan Blog website which this interview will be posted on?
– Chippi: I have not.
– It seems like no one from KT looks at this website. Everyone will be a bit disappointed to hear that I imagine. Your style of energetically hitting the drums while dancing has been passed onto the 115th and 116th Classes, but just how did you become so energetic?
– Chippi: I’m not really too conscious of it myself, but from when I was a first year, I aimed to “Enjoy performing more than anyone else!”. And so after that perhaps I just naturally got into it.
– You really do look like you are enjoying it much more than anyone else.
– Chippi: Hahaha.
See video by ADRIAN ASENCIO below when Chippi goes wild during encore at Benefit Concert of the 2018 Rose Parade:
Click picture to watch video
– Are you still continuing to pursue music now that you have graduated? There was a video uploaded onto YouTube of you participating in Mita-san’s concert.
– Chippi: I am involved with Mita-san’s band, but I also have my own band.
– Is that so? You play the drums in your own band, right?
– Chippi: That’s right.
– So that means you will continue to engage in music then?
– Chippi: I would like to, yes.
– The event that left an impression on you when you were in high school was the Brass Band of 3000. Which one was this?
– Chippi: All three. Wearing the orange uniform for the first time when I was a 1st year left quite the impression, and I was overjoyed to play “Sing, Sing, Sing” using the three tom drums for the first time. And finally because during my 3rd year we performed “Moonlight Densetsu” from “Sailor Moon” (see video by st.taketo below). I’ve loved “Sailor Moon” ever since I was in elementary school, and so I always wondered whether we would play it or not, and so I was very happy when we did. I was also in charge of the cymbals for the entrance marches during those three years and that has still left quite an impression on me. And so Brass Band of 3000 has been in my memories across all three years.
Click picture to watch video
– You said that the biggest hurdle you faced during training when you were in active service was carrying the instruments. Previously on Japanese television, they showed the 109th, 110th, and 111th Classes practicing, and there was a scene of a 1st year percussion player quickly carrying their drum set after the practice had finished.
– Chippi: Yes. One job that percussion players have is to load the trucks with their instruments when we have to move heavy instruments to another location, and usually the first years are in charge of it. They were very heavy and it was very hard, when I was a 1st year I remember meeting with the three other 1st years and discussing how to efficiently move the instruments while we all cried. Thinking back on it now, I think that it was probably the hardest part of it all.
– So you’re saying that the performances were always fun, and so they were never hard.
– Chippi: I have never thought that training for performances was ever hard.
– The moment that moved you the most was during your 3rd year at the Kansai Marching Contest (2017).
– Chippi: Just before “Tachibana tension”, which was just before the main performance, Yokoyama-sensei said something nice to me, and it moved me so much that I started crying. And so I ran out onto the floor and started playing while crying the whole time.
– Something nice? What did Yokoyama-sensei say?
– Chippi: I’ve forgotten.
– Hahaha. Well it sounds like you were told something very touching.
– Chippi: I was told something very touching.
– It was so touching that you forgot it. There is no video of the Kansai Marching Contest on YouTube, so unfortunately we cannot check to see what Yokoyama-sensei said or you playing while crying.
– Have you made preparations to go to the 2020 Rose Parade?
– Chippi: I am. I work part-time at a cheesecake shop in the sales section.
– So you are going to cover the costs of going to the Rose Parade yourself then.
– Chippi: My mother is going to pay for it, but after the Parade I’m going to travel to Paris as part of my studies, and that trip I will pay for myself.
– You are currently studying business at college right?
– Chippi: When I went to the 2018 Rose Parade I thought to myself, “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity” and so I made sure to enjoy myself to the fullest. But now that I have another ideal chance to go again I can’t let it slip by me.
– Of the 15 of your schoolmates in KT who are taking part in the upcoming Rose Parade, 9 of them are from the 114th Class. Did you all get together and agree on this?
– Chippi: I didn’t see anyone. I came to this decision by myself.
– Everyone at KT carries their own instruments, do you practice on electronic drums or something at home?
– Chippi: That’s right. I’m currently in a band and so I practice by playing on my electronic drum set every day.
– Do you have anything to say to your fans overseas?
– Chippi: I love making people smile. So if you saw any of my performances when I was in service and it made you smile, well, that just makes me truly happy to know that. Thank you very much.
114th Class Co-ma-re (Percussion):
Co-ma-re
She enters the stage and sits in front on the drum set, then she takes off her shoes and steps on the matching pedals. As the performance starts she stretches her upper body and relaxes into a good posture, with her never-ending smile she accurately takes the rhythm with her arms and legs and pulls the performance of her entire band. During the two year period of 2016 and 2017, the figure of Co-ma-re during KT’s drill and marching performances left, in a way different to that of the happily dancing Chippi, a fantastic impression. Co-ma-re, who slowly tells us that “I didn’t have any confidence in my performances when I was in service” and “I’ve never thought that I have ever stood out” is a young lady who carries an air of ease that wouldn’t make you think that she is only 19 years old.
Band at Disneyland Park (picture by GBA)
Question ①：Current department or occupation
College student, Art and Child Studies Department
Question ②：Origin of nickname
Co- from chocolate, -ma- from tamagoyaki (=fried egg), -re from hare（=sunny day)
Question ③：Where were you positioned during the 2018 Rose Parade?
Third from the left in the snare drum row
Question ④：What were your roles and duties in the KT?
– General affairs staff (2nd and 3rd years): managing attendance
– Section leader team (3rd year)
Question ⑤：What performance left the greatest impression on you when you were in service?
The 3rd year Kansai Marching Contest (2017). We didn’t make it to National Finals, but we overcame so much, and it was a contest where everyone gave it their all.
Question ⑥：What was the biggest wall you ran into during training when you were in service?
The skills for drum section performances. I was really depressed in the difference between my own skill and that of my drumming senpai who retired. The responsibility and pressure weighed heavy on me and it was really difficult.
Question ⑦：What do you think was the most moving moment for you that you will probably never forget during your time in the KT?
The All-Japan Marching Contest (Gold-winning performance in 2015). Looking at images of it now still reminds me of how emotional it all was.
Co-ma-re
– Hello Co-me-re-san. It is an honor to meet you. You have just as many fans as Chippi on our overseas fan website and so your nickname is pretty famous too. The “Co-” from Co-ma-re comes from chocolate. So when you write it in English you have to make sure it starts with C because it has been written as Komare a lot up until this point.
– Co-ma-re: Hahaha.
– It is quite the unique nickname, who gave it to you?
– Co-ma-re: It was one of my senpai from the 112th Class. During the new entry trial period I was asked from my senpai what things I liked, after that they showed me a list of nickname choices. I picked out the one that I liked.
– I see, that’s a KT tradition right? There are some American regulars on the overseas website who have been involved with the Drum Corps International, and so naturally they have a tendency to focus on the percussionists during the marching performances. The fact that you take your shoes off during stage drills and such has become quite the topic of interest.
– Co-ma-re: Hahaha. I practice using an electronic drum set at home, and so of course I wear socks when I do that (in Japan you take off your shoes when you are in a house). So there’s that, and when I’m wearing shoes it can be hard to pick up on minute sensations. But I can’t enter and leave the area wearing just my socks, so I take off my shoes once I’m inside. I actually hoped nobody would notice. Haha. I don’t really like standing out. I actually just wanted to quietly play and have it quietly end. That’s why I was really surprised when you asked to interview me today.
– Everyone knows who you are though.
– Co-ma-re: Saying that kind of thing makes me quite happy honestly.
– You said that the hardest part for you when you were in service was the drum skills.
– Co-ma-re: Usually the person in charge of the drums is decided through auditions held at the end of year for 2nd year students. But there was no lead percussionist for the 113th after the first term, and so it was decided that auditions would be held at the end of our 1st year and so I ended up being chosen for drums. When playing I was really saddened by the huge difference in skill between my senpai and myself.
– But you overcame it with intensive practice.
– Co-ma-re: Usually a person is only in charge of the drums for a year, but I did it for two whole years.
– That’s true. I had the feeling I have listened to you play the drums for quite some time now. Then, during your 3rd year, overseas fans may have raved over how great your skills and abilities were, but whatever the case may be it was the results of all of your hard efforts. You also became a Section leader during your 3rd year along with Johnnybo.
– Co-ma-re: Yup. I assigned songs, separated the woodwind, brass, and percussion ensembles and guided them with their training so that we could imagine the set pieces when we were playing for the sitting concert contests.
– Were there a lot of roles that needed to be filled out?
– Co-ma-re: Almost everyone was assigned a position of some kind. So there was an almost uncountable number of people and duties.
– Please tell us about some of the memories you have of your U.S. campaign.
– Co-ma-re: It was a super, if very fleeting, fun 10 days. My dreams of wanting to learn English, and studying abroad have gotten even bigger from this experience. I also won’t be able to forget the taste of the hamburger that I ate after the Rose Parade.
– Are you also a fan of In-N-Out Burger?
– Co-ma-re: I ate some for the first time just before Bandfest, then I was handed and ate two hamburgers that I was given when I was woken up at three on the morning of the Rose Parade, and then after the Rose Parade I was given my friend’s share and ate three all at once.
Queueing for In-N-Out burgers (picture by GBA)
– It looks like you have taken quite the liking to U.S..
– Co-ma-re: In 2018 I thought that this was an opportunity that I was never going to have again, so I went to U.S. and fully enjoyed my experience there. However, when it came to the performance (Mita-san and the other important senpais were also there together and so she was quite reserved) it really didn’t go the way I wanted. It finished without me coming to grips with it and so I have some regrets. That’s why I jumped at the opportunity to go again. It will feel refreshing playing with students from different schools, and I want to give it my all when I perform again.
– Do you have anything to say to all of your fans?
– Co-ma-re: I really didn’t have any confidence in my performances when I was in service, but I’m really happy for being praised on my performance skills. Thank you very much. I’ll make sure to do my best in the 2020 Rose Parade.
The Lunch:
Interviewees at Kyoto Tony Roma’s
The KT members were reportedly all big eaters back in their band days, a claim corroborated by a classmate of theirs, who writes, “The people in the band were always eating something”. I’d say that’s bound to be the case for people who move around as much as they do. Listen to them talk about it, though, and you’ll get the impression that half of their diet is made up of desserts. The band members say they would eat their mothers’ homemade bento box lunches in their entirety during breaks in the morning, and end up competing for sweets someone else had brought at lunchtime. (Apparently, they had to take special care to stay out of Ramirin’s sight while eating sweets – haha).
They mention that they had a training camp in the middle of summer to prepare for the All-Japan Marching Contest, and that there were band members who would constantly get up to load their plates with more fruit to eat at buffet-style meals. Even when it comes to their memories of the U.S., the subject often turns to food. “I had this great hot cocoa with an intense chocolate flavor at a cafe someone in my host family took me to.” “The hot dogs at Costco are huge, way beyond anything you see in Japan, and they were great, with a lot of flavor.” These were some of the impressions they shared. This is why I decided to do the interviews at a restaurant (LOL). During the 2018 Rose Parade trip, the hotel where the band members spent the first five nights (or six nights, in the case of the graduates) was near Disneyland, and was also within walking distance of the Anaheim location of the Tony Roma’s restaurant chain. On the advice of the GBA Kumagai-san, some of the parents and KT teachers ate there several times, but the students never went, as their free time at night during the first half of the trip could be spent at Disneyland only, and everyone had their choice of where to eat at Disneyland. So, on this occasion, we met at the Kyoto location of Tony Roma’s, which happens to be conveniently located near Kyoto Station. We had initially ordered fried shrimp, calamari salad, and BBQ back ribs, but the kitchen sent out a Cobb salad by accident, and when I notified the server of the mistake, we were sent a separate plate of calamari. That meant that we ended up with quite a bit more food than we had initially ordered, and most of the members couldn’t even get to the ribs, which were the main dish, so those ended up being doggie bagged. However, there was one reliable alumna who downed everything, including the ribs (see the interview below for details).
114th Class Puchie (Trombone):
Puchie
Puchie is a quiet Kyoto-style young lady who didn’t talk too much during our interview, however, after tagging along and seeing her and Milpy actively lead the members of the 114th Class during their (private) training session for the 2020 Rose Parade I knew fully well that she has fantastic leadership. In fact, Puchie may have been the one dictating the rhythm and speed when they were getting excited and when they were taking breaks. I wonder if the 2020 Rose Parade will see her leadership in action too. She is also studying child education at college.
Band playing at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center (picture by GBA)
Question ①：Current department or occupation
College student, Department of Child Education, Infant Course
Question ②：Origin of nickname
Pu- from toy poodle, -chi- from ichigo (=strawberry), -ie from “One Direction”
Question ③：Where were you positioned during the 2018 Rose Parade?
Left side of the first trombone row
Question ④：What were your roles and duties in the KT?
Point staff (2nd year): I always thought about just how accurately and quickly I could do the marking.
Question ⑤：What performance left the greatest impression on you when you were in service?
The 3rd year’s Tachibanasai Water stage performance (2017, see video under the interview of Milpy above). Many of my friends from different clubs came to see us, they called my name and shouted along and so it was a lot of fun.
Question ⑥：What was the biggest wall you ran into during training when you were in service?
The injury I had when I was a 1st year. Just before our first real performance as first years, I got shin splints that occur just before stress fractures.
Question ⑦：What do you think was the most moving moment for you that you will probably never forget during your time in the KT?
The cheers that we received during the 2018 Rose Parade. The moment that we entered the television area and “Sing, Sing, Sing” started playing and we started dancing I could hear loud shouts of joy. I immediately got goose bumps and all of the pain and exhaustion was blown away.
Puchie
– Hello Puchie-san. I see that you were in the front row for the 2018 Rose Parade! When did you start playing the trombone?
– Puchie: From my sixth year at elementary school.
– But of course now you own your own trombone right?
– Puchie: Yup. I saved up the money myself and bought one when I joined the KT in my 1st year of high school.
– It’s pretty amazing that you bought one yourself. But you ended up getting shin splints just before your first real performance after you joined the club. Was your first real performance going to be the Brass Band of 3000 (2015)?
– Puchie: That’s right. While I was training I lost the strength in my left leg and so I wasn’t able to perform the steps properly. After going to the doctors they told me it was shin splints. I went to the hospital three times and was introduced to a famous plastic surgeon and they treated me. I still went to the Brass Band of 3000, but just as a supporter, after the performance I continued to receive treatment from the surgeon while still training.
– How long did it take to heal?
– Puchie: It took about two weeks.
– It took just two weeks for the shin splints to heal? Youth certainly is amazing.
– Puchie: Haha.
– You were a part of the point staff during your 2nd year. This involves making marks on the ground for marching and drills. Do you use tape for stages and chalk for training grounds?
– Puchie: For concrete and other similar surfaces we used chalk, but the ground for our sports grounds was made from dirt and so we used round plates and stamped them in with nails.
– You mentioned that the moment that left the greatest impression on you was when you were performing on the Water stage for the Tachibanasai during your 3rd year. Milpy also said the same thing. As expected, was it because your classmates and friends got to see your performance?
– Puchie: Yup. Everyone knew that we practiced every single day, but there weren’t many chances for them to actually see us do an actual performance.
– And then there was the 2018 Rose Parade. You got goose bumps from the large cheering voices.
– Puchie: I did. It’s something I will never be able to forget.
– And so that made you want to go once more.
– Puchie: And, as expected, it made me want to go to U.S. again.
– Was U.S. fun?
– Puchie: It was super duper fun. Everyone was so nice and wonderful, even when we performed they would overreact, and the people I was home staying with were really good people too. One of the relatives of the host family I was with was Japanese, and so they made a Japanese buffet and held a party for us. On New Year’s Day, the night of the Rose Parade, they hand-made a big cake and we all had a New Year’s Day party.
– Watching reports on Japanese TV can make one think that U.S. is not a great place, but actually going can change your impression of the place.
Puchie Yeah. My impression of it before I went has totally changed.
– How was the food there?
– Puchie: Everything was big and delicious. Burgers, ice-cream, the passion fruit drink from Starbucks, hot chocolate, omelets, pizza, Disneyland hot dogs, all of it was so yummy.
– Have you continued to play the trombone now that you have retired?
– Puchie: No, I stopped playing. Which is why after I made the decision to go to the 2020 Rose Parade I started practicing again.
– And part-time work?
– Puchie: Yeah, I worked three to begin with and saved ¥500,000.
– Wow. Sounds like you have some leeway when it comes to expenses.
– Puchie: Sure do.
– You are also studying child education right? That is incredible. I wish you the best of luck.
Puchie playing trombone at 2018 Rose Parade (picture by GBA)
A Moment of Magic: KT’s Choreography:
Last practice before Bandfest (picture by GBA)
Unrelated to this interview, I’ve been lucky enough to have once had the opportunity to be on hand to observe as the KT members devised the choreography routine for a new song. Present were the five members of the Marching composition team. When working on their choreography, the members sit in the classroom and listen on their smartphones to a recording of a song they’ve performed together. Everyone tries to come up with their own dance, letting their mental image grow. Then, they form a circle and watch one another’s dances, deciding on the choreography along the way. KT’s traditional moves all have their own names, like “kick,” “side,” “kinoko” (=”mushroom”), and “turn”, allowing the discussion to flow as the participants listen to the song. “We should put a kick here”, “After we turn around here, we should do a side”.
The atmosphere is fun and full of laughter, with no particular leader, and no one person making the decisions. At one point, one person’s moves will be spontaneously adopted without a word. The next moment, everyone is instantly united in doing another person’s dance. It’s as if those five people are communicating telepathically. The group of marching organizers is made up of representatives of the woodwind, brass, and percussion sections, and one from the Color Guard. While they dance, they’re also thinking about their own separate parts of the choreography.
After the group has been dancing in a circle for about an hour, three people move to the front and spread out from side to side, and the other two sit across from them and watch as they dance to the song. The two doing the watching also offer views like “At this spot, we should do this”, and the choreography is revised through this process. That the three are standing side-by-side at this time is because at the most basic level, marching bands are organized in three lines, or “files”: the right file, the center file, and the left file. In KT’s choreography, the timing of the moves is often deliberately staggered between the files at the sides and the center file to add dynamics to the movement. Even at this stage, the three who are lined up to test the new choreography already have this in mind as they work it out.
This time, when they arrived at a certain part, one of the three called out “Whoo!” without warning, raised her hand, and moved to the front. It was a spontaneous move that had never been suggested during any of the discussions that had preceded it. Upon seeing it, one of the people who were sitting and watching from the other side nodded approvingly, imitating the “whoo”. Thus, it was decided that a “whoo” would happen at that point.
It was then that the filming began. The member of the Color Guard films the three as they dance to the entire song. Then, the three turn around to go through the routine once more, so that they can be filmed from the back. The band members tell me that these front- and back-view videos are sent to Yokoyama-sensei, who then reviews the choreography.
When speaking with us adults, the band members are articulate and well-spoken, using standard Japanese. However, when working amongst themselves on choreography, the conversation takes place in the Kyoto dialect, and the words come out at an extremely high rate of speed, making it difficult for anyone else to pick up much of what’s being said. Nevertheless, these young women are able to communicate complex ideas to one another in an instant, with little more than a word or two. I’m sure that conversations between high schoolers are like that everywhere in the world, but I would also think that if a high schooler from Tokyo, for instance, were to be added to this group, the conversation might be slowed down significantly. In Japanese, the unspoken understanding of thoughts between colleagues united by a strong shared consciousness is known as “aun’no kokyū” (“a-un breathing”) (expression based on the first and last letters of the Sanskrit alphabet). The secret of KT’s choreography was the marshalled powers of five people who were blessed with talent, diligent in their preparation, and experienced in performance. KT’s choreography really was devised and done by the students themselves. No professional so much as set foot in the room. That is truly an amazing thing.
“Sing, Sing, Sing” at Disneyland Park (picture by GBA)
114th Class Tara-cho🍎 (Clarinet):
Tara-cho
All of the members answered our questions in clear and standard Japanese. Of course the same goes for Tara-cho as well, except in her case when she expresses her feelings of a certain time she interweaves her Kyoto dialect into it. This is impossible to translate and difficult to explain, but when she says “これでいけてへんかったらもう一生ゴールドなんてとれへんと思った” I thought that means “If we don’t get the Gold here then we probably won’t ever be able to” in her Kyoto dialect, her calm look and carefree farsightedness was conveyed very well. It was cute to think that these were the feelings of a 16 year old girl.
Led by five Drum Majors band at Colorado Boulevard (picture by GBA)
Question ①：Current department or occupation
College student, Occupational Therapy Department
Question ②：Origin of nickname
Tara- from yakitarako (grilled caviar), -cho from Puccho (name of sweets)
Question ③：Where were you positioned during the 2018 Rose Parade?
Left side of the front row clarinet unit
Question ④：What were your roles and duties in the KT?
I didn’t really have any
Question ⑤：What performance left the greatest impression on you when you were in service?
The 3rd year’s Tachibanasai Water stage performance (2017, see video under the interview of Milpy above).
Question ⑥：What was the biggest wall you ran into during training when you were in service?
My ankle bone fracture during my 2nd year
Question ⑦：What do you think was the most moving moment for you that you will probably never forget during your time in the KT?
Six minutes during The All-Japan Marching Contest.
Tara-cho
– (Looking at the bones on the plate) Uwah, did, did you eat all of the ribs?
– Tara-cho: I ate all of them.
– Incredible. Everyone except Kumagai-san was full and so nobody was able to eat them.
– Tara-cho: They were delicious.
– I have heard that everyone who was in KT were big eaters during their days of service, do you have any sort of large eating episodes to tell us?
– Tara-cho: My KT friend and I were exhausted after training one day, so on our way home we stopped at an all you can eat kushikatsu place, and in the time limit we ate 120 pieces between the two of us.
– 60 pieces per person?
– Tara-cho: Yeah. Haha.
– Just like Milpy and Puchie, your lasting memory has been of the 3rd year Water stage. By the way, this has been something I have long thought about, but why do you call your school’s courtyard stage the “Water stage”? There is no water anywhere near it.
– Tara-cho: I don’t know why. All of the students just called it the Water stage. I’ve never thought about it.
– During your second year you fractured your ankle.
– Tara-cho: Around spring of my 2nd year at KT, after training on the concrete barefoot I could feel my foot get more and more painful until I couldn’t move it. After going to the doctor they told me it was a fracture.
– Was it wrapped in a cast?
– Tara-cho: It happened just before the Brass Band of 3000 (2016) and so if I had a cast I wouldn’t be able to perform, so instead I got a supporter and played with that.
– Puchie said something similar. As expected, accidents happen during the step training. Well, if I am to be honest, I do not think that those shoes were very good either. They are originally just the same shoes you wear inside the school right?
– Tara-cho: But everyone was already used to practicing like that.
– The one moment you will not be able to forget is the “six minutes during the All-Japan Marching Contest”. Was this during your 1st year when you won National Gold? (2015)
– Tara-cho: That’s the one! The competition that we had always dreamed and trained for, just being there was truly moving.
– You were a 1st year back then, but did you ever feel that “Yes, I can get Gold with this” while you were performing?
– Tara-cho: I practiced until I could perform unconsciously and without thinking about what I was doing, so if I did something slightly wrong I would know and think “Ah, something feels off”. But I didn’t think that at the time. So I think that maybe I did feel like “Maybe we can make it”. Before the awards ceremony I thought to myself that “If we don’t get the gold here then we probably won’t ever be able to”.
– This is a little difficult to ask, but on the other side, you did not make it to National Finals during your 2nd and 3rd years. Do you have any points you reflect on?
– Tara-cho: I only really know about the clarinet team, but during my 2nd year there was only one 3rd year senpai, and so everyone had to rely on them which caused the pressure to exhaust them mentally; that’s one thing I think about and reflect on. Then, during my 3rd year, there were six of us and so the balance was a bit more even, but I do think about on not being able to give proper guidance to our juniors at the time.
– Why do you plan on going to the Rose Parade again?
– Tara-cho: Of course it’s because all of the cheers and reactions from the crowds made me super happy and the 9km course was over in an instant, so I want to experience that excitement again.
– You were on the left side of your row right? So on the opposite side of the main stand, and so you were close to the people sitting down then.
– Tara-cho: I was able to directly hear and feel the cheers from the crowds, and I could even perform high fives with them, it was so much fun.
Band progressing at Colorado Boulevard (picture by GBA)
– Do you have a part-time job to help pay for the Rose Parade trip?
– Tara-cho: I’m working so much. My mother said she would pay for half of the expenses so I’m working part-time to pay for the other half.
– This time the KT won’t be there and you will not be able to wear orange either, will this be okay?
– Tara-cho: Since we are forming a completely new band there are going to be new people to meet, and I can’t wait to see what kind of music we will be able to create, so there’s a lot to look forward to.
– You are studying at university to become an Occupational Therapist right?
– Tara-cho: That’s right. Under the guidance of a physician, I am studying to obtain a national qualification in order to become a healthcare professional who works to do things like rehabilitation and nursing.
– That is incredible. Good luck.
Tachibana Tension! at the Rose Parade:
Tachibana tension! (picture by GBA)
On January 1, 2018, they woke up at 3:30 a.m., put on their orange uniforms, and gathered in the hotel lobby. They received two In-N-Out burgers each, got on buses, and were escorted by 8 motorcycles of the California Highway Patrol to Pasadena Central Park where they got off the bus at the roadside.
In the midwinter predawn freezing cold the members waited shaking in their miniskirt uniforms. After seeing the first sunrise of the year on West Del Mar Boulevard, the current students and alumni formed circles by instrument team and let out a battle cry. Then all of them formed several circles and at the shout of the Drum Major began to play “Tachibana tension”.
The U.S. high school students lined up in front of them turned around in surprise. The crowd that was waiting for the parade to start, newspaper reporters, and photographer all heard it and gathered to where KT was. As if he was waiting for this to happened, Yokoyama-sensei gave the command and all the members turned their formation toward the center and began playing “Sing, Sing, Sing“. The Drum Major and banner front team, and everyone all the way to the Color Guard at the tail turned toward the students of other schools and began their dancing steps. When Yokoyama-sensei’s whistle ended the performance, there was a burst of great cheering and applause. The unity and performance of KT with everyone coming together had created an overwhelming atmosphere like superstars even before the parade had started.
It is the Stealth Bomber! (=Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit) (picture by GBA)
114th Class Ramirin☀️ (Color Guard/Stringbass):
Ramirin
With over 16 million recorded views on YouTube, this video by Keijirō Maeda of parade at the Fushimi Ōtesuji Shopping Street right next to the school taken just before the Rose Parade on November 23, 2017 continues to gather more and more views every day (see the video below). Anyone who has seen the video might remember the charming young girl at the front of the Color Guard. Her smile and charm is still just as bright as it was then. Ramirin of the 114th Class Color Guard spoke about her moving experiences at the 2018 Rose Parade.
Click picture to watch video
Question ①：Current department or occupation
College student, Faculty of Arts
Question ②：Origin of nickname
Ra- from okra, -mi- from midori（=green), -ri- from Jagariko, -n from Komasan of “Yo-kai Watch”
Question ③：Where were you positioned during the 2018 Rose Parade?
Right-wing, front row of the Color Guard
Question ④：What were your roles and duties in the KT?
Uniform staff (3rd year): Management of the orange, blue, and other uniforms, and deciding on which outfits to wear for our real performances.
Question ⑤：What performance left the greatest impression on you when you were in service?
The third year Kansai Marching Contest (2017). I was overwhelmed the moment when we performed “Tachibana tension” and ran out onto the stage and I saw just how many people there were and how large the hall was. But once our performance had finished and feeling like “We did it” along with seeing everyone’s smiling faces made for some wonderful memories.
Question ⑥：What was the biggest wall you ran into during training when you were in service?
The injury on my right knee during my 2nd year.
Question ⑦：What do you think was the most moving moment for you that you will probably never forget during your time in the KT?
The 2018 Rose Parade.
Ramirin
– Any KT fan will surely remember who you are Ramirin. But why did you choose the Color Guard in the first place?
– Ramirin: During the sitting performances both Milpy and I played the stringbass. My big sister learned the stringbass so that influenced me to start playing it from elementary school, even in middle school I joined the marching band club and was in charge of the stringbass. Then during spring of my 1st year at middle school I performed at an event called Brass Expo, and there I felt a huge shock when I saw for the first time KT perform on the plaza’s guest stage (see below the video by Kirschwasser 759 on the field show part of the Brass Expo 2012). That’s when I thought “This kind of marching band exists?” and from then on I set my heart on entering KT and marching with them and studied for three years at my middle school in order to achieve this.
– What year was that Brass Expo?
– Ramirin: It was when the students in the 111th Class were 1st years.
– OK, that means 109th Class were 3rd years. That was the Brass Expo 2012 was broadcasted on the second season of “Waratte Koraete!“. There was an episode where a 1st years members suddenly took charge of percussion in the performance and failed a little.
– Ramirin: Yeah, it might have been.
Click picture to watch video
– You said that after the shock at Brass Expo you wanted to enter KT, but stringbass aren’t used in marching, are they?
– Ramirin: Well yeah. Haha. During my entry period into the club I was asked by one of my senpai whether I wanted to be in the percussion group or Color Guard. I don’t have any skill when it comes to percussion instruments and there was another senpai who played the stringbass who was in the Color Guard so that’s what I went with. But even though I aspired to enter KT and spent three years watching their performances on YouTube and such, I was never even aware of the Color Guard.
– So even from when you saw them at the Brass Expo you did not notice the Color Guard?
– Ramirin: I didn’t notice them at all. Hahaha.
– You are quite the interesting one. What did you think about it? Milpy said that the hardest part during her three years was memorizing the choreography for the Color Guard.
– Ramirin: Well yes, of course it was difficult, but it was also a lot of fun so it never really felt too bad.
– Sounds like it suited you quite well. You had a talent for it. Previously when I went to the school to see the color guard train, Yokoyama-sensei said “They practice and repeat the same drills over and over again, and not just 100 or 1000 times. Without exaggerating, they can practice up to 10,000 times”.
– Ramirin: (calmly) Yup. At the very least it wasn’t 2,000 or 3,000 times.
– You also spent three years in the uniform group. You decided the uniforms like, “We’re wearing blue for Garasha!” and “We’re going to wear Happi coats for the Tachibanasai!”.
– Ramirin: I also performed size checks. When students first enter the club we take their measurements and borrow a uniform that matches their size, but as the years go on their bodies grow bigger as well and so the length of their skirts and sleeves slowly get shorter. We usually check for things like that and if they get too short then we replace it with another uniform that we are managing and looking after.
– And what about your right leg injury during your 2nd year?
– Ramirin: Around spring during my second year I injured my right leg’s meniscus during practice. I thought “It will soon heal” and so I just wrapped some tape around it and used a supporter without going to the doctors. Then around June when we started training for the Brass Band of 3000 (2016, see video by I LOVE BRASS below) the pain got worse, when I went to the hospital I was told by the doctor that I would need a procedure done. But if had the procedure then I wouldn’t be able to partake in the Brass Band of 3000 and so I somehow managed to convince everybody that I would be fine to perform using just a supporter, and then once that was over I quickly had the procedure.
– Tara-cho had a similar experience. For some reason it seems that everyone struggled with the Brass Band of 3000. Did everyone support you with your procedure?
– Ramirin: They did! Before the procedure everyone made and sent me a video message saying “Good luck with the procedure”. I watched it over and over again and it gave me courage. The procedure and the rehab after was really hard, but I was able to overcome it with the support of all of my friends.
Click picture to watch video
– Please tell us your memories of the Rose Parade.
– Ramirin: We woke up at 3:30 in the morning and arrived at the still-dark grounds by bus, while shivering in our orange uniforms we watched the first sunrise of the New Year. We played “Tachibana tension” and energetically performed “Sing, Sing, Sing” before the Parade finally started. We successfully performed the “Mario Turn” (the hardest part of the course which involves a 110 degree turn from Orange Grove Boulevard into West Colorado Boulevard, see video of that here), which we had practiced however many tens of times at the Angel Stadium. Then the moment we started dancing and performing “Sing, Sing Sing“, while spreading out left and right in the television area, my whole body was wrapped by incredible cheers that made me go “Uwahh”. Coming to U.S as the representatives of Asia, we wore our pride that is our orange uniforms, and while walking down the long and wide Californian avenue I thought to myself that we and the audience have become one. And after that I was so moved that the tears started overflowing.
– …………
– Ramirin: After that I continued performing in the parade while laughing and crying the whole time. The people on the sidewalks must have been thinking “Why is that girl crying?”.
– I have always wanted to ask about that. Yokoyama-sensei said the following “The energy from the crowd is fantastic in the United States. They give us back in two-fold. So we can play better and more. That is the essence of entertainment”.
Ramirin: Oh yes. I really thought that too.
First sunrise of 2018 just before the start of the Rose Parade (picture by GBA)
114th Class Kie-ka⭐️ (Trumpet):
This photo has been released with the consent of the person (picture by GBA)
(This interview took place after the 2020 Rose Parade)
Question ①：Current department
Department of Early Childhood Education
Question ②：Origin of nickname
Kie- from ki-iro (=yellow), -ka is a part of her given name.
Her given name is very beautiful – both the meaning of the kanji as well as how it sounds. Her parents probably big love of the music.
Question ③：Where were you positioned during the 2018 Rose Parade?
Same position in both 2018 and 2020 = right column, third row from the front, first row in the trumpet team.
Question ④：What were your roles and duties in the KT?
Marching composition team (3rd year): Planning the choreography and the program composition for marching and drills.
Point staff (2nd year): Marking the ground in advance for marching and drill practice as well as performances.
Question ⑤：What performance left the greatest impression on you when you were in service?
2018 Rose Parade: Unlike in Japan, the parade was full of cheers, which made it truly amazing. In addition, the sense of unity I felt with our senpai by taking part in the same performance was truly wonderful.
Question ⑥：What was the biggest wall you ran into during training when you were in service?
As a member of the marching team, I was in a position to provide guidance to the entire 1st, 2nd and 3rd year classes. But I suffered from disagreeing voices, especially from my classmates. It was still a wonderful experience to bring everyone together at the end after many discussions.
Question ⑦：What do you think was the most moving moment for you that you will probably never forget during your time in the KT?
Rose Parade debriefing after returning from the United States: This day was our last performance, but many people came to see it. We had many visitors, whose tremendous cheer was enough to rival that of the American audience. It felt like a condensed moment of accomplishment after practicing hard for three years at KT.
This photo has been released with the consent of the person (picture by GBA)
Question ⑧: I’d like to ask about this trip to the US. It was the first drill and marching in two years. How did you perform as an individual?
I was worried because I had a hiatus and didn’t have enough time to practice as much as I did during my active career. To address this, we had KT-graduates gather to do practice sessions, etc. This helped me regain my self-confidence, and allowed me to maintain a good mentality to perform well.
Question⑨: Did you have a role in this band?
Yokoyama-sensei gave us, the KT alumni, the important task to devise the choreography of drills and parades (9 members of 114th class and marching members of 115th class who did not participate in the expedition were assigned to each music), and to teach them to all the other schools’ graduates in the wind music band. Although there were many people who were marching for the first time while dancing, everyone was able to improve very quickly, and the performance turned out to be fantastic!
Question ⑩: This time, you wore a green band uniform. How did you feel during the Rose Parade compared to two years ago?
This time I felt much more relaxed. Since I was able to relax, I could actually look around and enjoy the parade for the two-hour duration. Two years ago, the two hours flew by instantly, but that was because I felt nervous all the time. This time, I could clearly read the expressions of the spectators. I felt very happy when I saw that everyone was having a great time!
Question ⑪: Some people were raising the Japanese flag on the roadside. How did you feel when you saw that?
I felt seriously moved when I realized that they were waiting for us! In addition, there were people who raised boards with “JAPAN” written on them, as well as people who shouted in Japanese. I was very happy. Thank you!
Click picture to watch video
Question⑫: You were a high school student two years ago, but this time you were a college student. Did you enjoy your second homestay in the US more? Do you want to go to the U.S. again?
When we were in 2nd year, we had a homestay in Hawaii, but the last Rose Parade expedition made us particularly nervous because all the members were our senpai (95 out of 200 participants from KT were alumni). In that respect, I was very relaxed this time. And yes, I want to go back to the U.S., but I’d first like to lose some weight before I do. Haha.
Question ⑬: The most popular food last time was In-N-Out burgers. What was the best this time?
No matter how many times I eat, In-N-Out burgers were the best. Everyone said so, too.
Question⑭: Did you have any difficulties?
It was mentally difficult to teach the choreography to people whom I met for the first time. I tried to explain the basics carefully without going much into the details. Since there were only 12 KT graduates in total, I had a hard time teaching them all. After practicing, us KT graduates gathered in a room to discuss teaching methods instead of going to Disneyland. That actually seems to have strengthened our friendship and our sense of unity.
Question ⑮: A thank you message to the people in the U.S.
It was like a dream to have been able to go to the Rose Parade for the second time. There are many things in the United States that are not in Japan, and one of them is that the spectators were also entertainers. If you play with a smile, they will smile back. If you dance while performing, they will also dance to the rhythm! Before you notice, it is turned into a big, carnival-like performance where the performers and the audience enjoy as one. And we are really happy to have been able to experience such a great moment twice. I also want to thank the host families who warmly welcomed us. Thank you very much for accepting us as part of your families. I hope to see all of you in the United States again!
What is KT?
Still smiling after 5½ miles of the 2018 Rose Parade (picture by GBA)
The seven people who participated in this interview have made the decision to spend $3,800 to travel to the U.S. once again. They’ve saved up for the cost of the trip by working while attending university. As the factors driving them to do this, they unsurprisingly point to the passionate response they received from the spectators at the Rose Parade and their other events in 2018, as well as the fondness they have for people such as the families with whom they stayed during the trip and the staff at the events.
This leads me to think that, of the 200 KT members who participated in the 2018 Rose Parade, these 7 must have particularly favorable views of the U.S., and an especially welcoming attitude toward people from outside of Japan. I hope that their feelings are met in a completely favorable way by the band’s overseas fans.
One thing I need to make clear, though, is that not one of the band members was aware of the existence of our Unofficial Fan Blog. I sent the website’s address to them before the interview, but on the day of the interview, no one so much as said that they had read a translation of it. One thing I learned in conversation with these young women is that they are largely unconcerned about the attention they’ve garnered. At the end of the interview, I gave them all a modest gift, but if anything, they were embarrassed, like soldiers awarded medals for acts of which they have no recollection. As one member plainly put it, “I’ve never wanted attention”, “Today I kind of felt like I became a celebrity”, said another member with a hint of sarcasm.
Gifts to alumnae
For them, without question, the greatest honor and joy comes when the team is met with rapturous applause or receives a glowing review at a competition. That’s exactly why they’ve made every possible effort on behalf of the team, and why even now, after they’ve graduated, they continue to support and cheer for the band. Their goal has never been to garner attention on an individual level. From the past to the present, in the KT, every individual has always given 100 percent for the team. KT is popular around the world because of their uniqueness, their distinctively lovable personality, and their fun, energetic performances. “If we were just a traditional, military-style marching band, we’d be boring. We want to be a marching band with a unique style,” said Hiramatsu-sensei of his hopes for the band, and he has raised the KT to be exactly that.
Even as their performances have been a minor rebellion against the state of brass and marching bands in Japan, the aims of KT and Hiramatsu-sensei are not a radical attack on Japan’s social structure or educational policies. In fact, they’re the exact opposite of that: they’re the archetypical Japanese organization. The members are called upon to play not as individuals, but as a team. For occasions such as competitions, the auditions for soloists are held within the team, and the members of the team make the selections. The chosen performers feel a sense of responsibility toward the team, and devote themselves to the task. Never do they see themselves as the stars. Showing off is, to them, a plainly distasteful act.
The senpai (upperclassmen) coach the first-year students on a daily basis, and the coaching is quite strict. “My senpai from Class 112 was really strict and scary”, said one of the students I interviewed, reflecting on the rehearsals for the National Finals in 2015, for which KT won Gold. In Japan, it’s a commonly held view that a high school student speaking or acting out of turn in front of an upperclassman is an absolutely unacceptable act. These hierarchical relations persist beyond graduation, throughout life. This is the most normal of traditions and conventions both in Japanese schools and in Japanese society, and KT is no different. Whether it’s a good or bad thing, what has given rise to their performances is this thoroughly Japanese social system.
There may also be groups of people with a similar mentality in countries other than Japan, who may belong, for instance, to long-established organizations with an especially rigid commitment to unity, or to fire brigades, Marine corps, or airborne regiment. When we see that the KT members value playing as a team and abhor self-interested efforts, we can easily understand why even after graduating, they don’t see being in the limelight or receiving attention as an individual as any special honor.
While they answered my interview questions with a smile, when the subject turned to things like KT’s administrative system or the nicknames of their senpai, they were hesitant to respond, saying, “I can’t answer that” or “It’s not my place to say”. That’s in stark contrast to the fact that in interviews at the school last year, the teachers responded to all of my questions, keeping nothing hidden. My point here is that the band members’ secretiveness is not something that’s been compelled by their teachers or coaches. They simply refuse to betray their colleagues. As a team, the KT members are like a prestigious Special Forces that has been forged in the heat of battle. Their strong, underlying closed-ranks mentality is proof of that. It may be that even their teachers and coaches don’t fully comprehend the camaraderie and friendship that the band members build up over three years of hard training. Even their parents and teachers would likely find it impossible to break into the little society they’ve built, with their seemingly telepathic way of communicating.
If they were to wholeheartedly accept someone from outside of the world of their team and its alumni, it could likely only be a member of a rival team. With the team’s profile having risen to where it is today, there are probably going to be some parents out there who hope to see their children become “star players” at KT. I’m sure that KT would gladly take on any prospective member’s musical technique and talent as something that can contribute to the team, but at the same time, I’m sure they will also be thorough in eliminating any tendency toward self-centered play.
People from outside of Japan don’t need to study Japan’s national character or traditions to be able to enjoy a performance by KT. Just sitting quietly and enjoying the show is plenty. However, if you want to “understand” KT in the truest sense, you will need to accept the fact that the ways in which they think and act are all things that should be understood and respected as traditions, national characteristics, and culture, rather than treated as attributes that warrant logical dissection as ultimately right or wrong. To put it one way, KT is a team that shows us the way Japanese society is with orange uniforms and fun performances. The members probably won’t read this article, or care much about what’s written here in English. That is the KT tradition.
Messages from 9 KT alumni of 114th Class after the 2020 Rose Parade:
“We will return to Japan from now on. Thank you for the overseas fans!” (picture by GBA)
K (trumpet) in the center of the front row did not participate in our interview. She was one of the 2017 Marching Composition Team members.
Kyoto Tachibana S.H.S. Band - Unofficial Fan Blog 
What is comare instagram ?
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Thank you so much for doing this interview. You have answered so many questions I had about this band especially Chippi and Milpy who I have wondered for a while now. I just stumbled upon your site from seeing someone link it on a youtube channel and I am glad I was able to read a little about what they are doing now. By now they are probably in their third year of college and I hope they are still well and safe and smiling from their days in KT. I guess this group I can relate too more because of all the videos from the 2018 Rose parade 🙂 Amazing group of young people and I wish them all the best.
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Wow, now that is a marvellous insight into the students. Thank you
The future is bright the future is Orange 🍊
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I wish there’s a video of “tachibana tension” before the start of the rose parade
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I just wanted to thank you for doing this interview and posting the write-up as well as the images. It gives followers a good impression of what it is like for band members beyond the performances themselves. I am not surprised how mature they all are in the interviews, they’ve all taken on a huge burden and accomplished so much. I was thinking perhaps their seeming ignorance of their global popularity comes at least partly as a result of a lack of English skills and also they are likely preoccupied with everything that goes on in their lives. Those are no attention seeking divas, that much is clear! Thanks again!
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Chippi’s profile from the web site of the band she is now playing with:
Drums charge
Started playing classical piano at the age of three.
When it becomes small 3, learn additional electon.
Encountered brass band in junior high school and dedicated his youth for six years.
After graduating from high school, he quit his piano and once separated from music, but suddenly he wanted to play music and started playing drums.
Joined the Faculty of Light Music at university.
When I was looking for activities outside, it wasn’t enough for the light music club alone, but I met fluctuations in 2019.
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What’s the band name??
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The band name is YURAGI or Fluctuation.
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The Yuragi Band posted today a public notice on Twitter with a specific request, and it also relates to Chippi and KTSHS. Fans should respect the request per the translation below.
Here’s the notice in Japanese with the url address in quotes:
“https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EZvRif9VcAI0Gkx?format=jpg&name=medium”
Here is the English translation:
“Important Request and Notice Concerning the Activities of Yuragi
Thank you very much for supporting our activities.
The other day, we found a comment on YouTube from Kyoto Tachibana High School about our drummer, Chippi and her work with Yuragi.
Some of you may know her as an alumnus of Kyoto Tachibana High School. However, Kyoto Tachibana High School has nothing to do with the activities of Yuragi.
We really appreciate your comments for support and publicity, but I am concerned that this may cause problems for Kyoto Tachibana High School. We will not post any information about our activities on Kyoto Tachibana High School’s YouTube or SNS. Please do not post anything related to “Yuragi”.
In addition, Yuragi does not make a major debut, but acts as an independent. I hope that the activities of Yuragi will help Kyoto Tachibana High School, our supporters, people around us, and we would like to be careful not to bother those who love music, and we ask that you please consider the personal information of our members.
We ask you to be considerate of our members’ personal information.
We would appreciate your understanding for the sake of trouble-free activities.
Thank you for your cooperation.
June 2020 All Yuragi”
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Bonjour desolé mais comme tous les vieux Français je ne parle pas Anglais Fan de KT depuis de nombreuses années Comme beaucoup ici je pleure a chaque fois que je regarde une video les concernant Mais la aprés la lecture de cet article je pleure de rage de savoir que ces filles doivent payer pour avoir le droit de defiler C’est un veritable scandale
Longue vie a eux et Merci pour tous ces merveilleux moments
“Hello sorry but like all the old French I do not speak English Fan of KT for many years Like many here I cry every time I watch a video concerning them But after reading this article I cry with rage to know that these girls have to pay for the right to parade It’s a real scandal
Long live them and thank you for all these wonderful moments”
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Too bad you didn’t get to interview the 2017 Drum Major Ron, of Class 114. I’m curious to know what her nickname stands for. Also, what it was like to be at the head of a 200-member Rose Parade band with no other band member in front – and with thousands upon thousands of people gathered along the route for over five miles (not to mention the millions of others watching on television). I wonder if she felt intimidated or nervous about the crowd size. Well…..whether she did or not, from all the videos I’ve seen, she nailed her performance. They all did. I think that was where all of the months and months of long, hard rehearsing paid off for them. I’ve seen that GBA 2018 Rose Parade video, I think it was around twenty minutes in, where the camera is on Colorado Boulevard maybe about a quarter of a mile ahead of the band and they’re playing “Fireball” – and the entire band can be seen dancing in sync. It’s an awesome sight.
But thanks for doing these interviews with the former members. It was nice to read their thoughts and what they’re doing now. Regarding Chippi, she looks like the young lady playing snare drum on the left of the xylophone girl next to Chippi. They both smile a lot and they had similar hairstyles. I actually wondered if they’re sisters. But I read somewhere that the young lady on snare plays professionally now, and had played in the 2012 Rose Parade band. I just cannot remember where I read it, whether it was here at your blog or somewhere else. I’ve recently become a fan of the Tachibana band, so I’ve been to Facebook pages and watched YouTube videos of them, and I haven’t been able to remember everything about where I read or saw something on them. And thank you Tachibana band, listening to them, they’ve played songs that I’ve liked in the past but had forgotten about. And I’d never even heard of the song “Fireball” before I heard the Tachibana band play it. But I like it now, and I’ve never been much of a fan of dance or rap music. I’ve never been much of a Disney fan either, but I like the way they play Disney songs!
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Hey, welcome to the club! I was just like you about a year ago. It’s a shame they didn’t get to interview other star players that’s pretty popular around the fans, it’ll be ecstatic! Chippi’s look alike sister is Mita, she was the percussionist team leader from class 107th (2010). Both of them and the other alumnaes had performed one and a few times together after the Rose parade, you can check this if you haven’t watch it https://youtu.be/TkgFStt19EY
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Wow, thanks, I’d never seen that video before. Chippi certainly stands out, with her smile, her playing and her enthusiasm. I was impressed with Mita, that woman is awesome on drums. I’m a drummer myself. I also played for three years in my high school band, and even though it was many years ago, I remember what it was like. Which is why I was so impressed with the KT band. I’m glad these young ladies agreed to be interviewed, they could’ve all said “no”. So I’m grateful to them. You never know, maybe in the future other members will agree to be interviewed.
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I wrote the above comment by “anonymous”…i forgot to write my name.
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It does not matter what Ron’s name stands for if anything, in the same way as asking if Chippi’s name is about American or English Potato Chips, it’s meaningless and just a name !
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What is this? I can’t be curious about their nicknames? Well, certainly, I’m not the only one who is, since the interviewer of the girls asked them about it. You don’t have to be curious about it, but surely there are some of us KT fans who are. And the girls themselves answered the question, for those of us who would like to know.
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Whoo！
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_MbQ-l9tlk&t=302s)
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I’m sorry.
I made a mistake.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_MbQ-l9tlk&feature=youtu.be&t=230)
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Thanks so much for the interview and a big thanks to the students who participated. I just discovered KT this year, and it’s been a blast zooming back and forth through the different classes via YouTube. Their energy, passion and skill is a joy to watch and hear. If KT ever performs in Orlando, they may be sure one fan will be shouting encouragement as they pass (にこ).
Random thoughts:
I love seeing Kyoto via some of the band’s performances. I travelled up the Keihan Line to Kyoto many times as a Kansai Gaidai student (once to march in a parade), and I enjoy seeing the streets, parks and shopping areas again. It was home for a little while. 懐かし…
“Sing Sing Sing” has been a favorite of mine since my own high school band days. KT’s performances top anything I saw back then!
The students are right to pay little mind to what their fans think of them. That is a very healthy attitude!
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Ohayo gozaimasu Paul S….It seems that the Keihan Line is a heavily traveled line. If you go up to Gion Shijo on the Keihan line, there’s a Starbucks Coffee house. Have you been there? I have got to ask, Is Gaidai a high school in Kansai? So you saw KT as a sidewalk fan? I think being young teenagers, KT band members doesn’t really care what fans think. They have other things on their mind. Another song I like, and KT has played it before is: ” IN THE Mood? Lately, they have come up with another song I like from Walt Disney, “Peter Pan” called “Following the Leader”. Good to have you on the BLOG. arigatou
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:”The students are right to pay little mind to what their fans think of them. That is a very healthy attitude!”
That is exactly how it should be ! Only when they retire should thy find out how near the top of the tree we think of them, Co-ma-re is a good example, she bricks it if her SP is there, we do not want to add to it by any of them being distracted by thinking about all of us watching. Better to watch P chan air drumming naturally than to add fan pressure 🙂
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What an amazing interview. Great praise goes to Rei’ichirō Fukuno for his excellent work. The interviews are so well written: it is like being there yourself chatting to the alumnae – and full of extremely interesting and at times moving information. Also the pictures accompanying the interviews of the alumnae are beautifully done.
I think Rei’ichirō Fukuno really found the perfect format for these interviews: a casual chat about a handful of predetermined questions, which worked really well. Especially the answers to the four most salient questions regarding nickname, best moment, worst moment, and responsibilites were simply amazing.
There were countless other questions I would have loved to hear the answer to, but I have to remind myself that it is an interview not an interrogation! 🙂
I am very grateful to Rei’ichirō Fukuno for his fine work; and to orangedevilsfan who I’m sure was instrumental in making it happen; and also to the alumnae for agreeing to the interview: Arigato gozaimashita
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From Fukuno-san:
Thank you for so many compliments. I’m so grateful to orangedevilsfan for the wonderful editing. He doubled the value of my article.
There are a few additions. GBA has been paid for their Christmas parade and the Disney workshop fee every year so far. I can’t disclose the amount of money, but It’s incredibly expensive (including the entrance fee, it is not a $300 or $400 per person. Much more worse).
The members participating in the Rose Parade arrive in L.A. every year between December 25th and the 26th. The first 5-6 days they stay in a hotel near Disneyland, and they practice at Angel Stadium during the day. Starting in the evening, they are move to Disneyland, and each person freely eats dinner inside the park. It’s not just Johnnybo who has been to Disneyland five times, everyone has. When you think about what might happen when 200 high school students are released onto the streets of L.A. at night, this is a really well thought out program. Their parents can also rest easy leaving their children in the care of GBA with this. After the Band Fest is over on December 30th, they will meet the host families at Kennedy High School and spend one night with them. On the night of the 31st for the preparations for the Rose Parade, they will move to a different hotel and stay there one night. On the night of January 1st, they will once again stay with their host families.
Disneyland is selling park passes at the normal fee to them but pass are essential for 5-6 days of their activities at the end of the year. They used to apply a group discount, but after a change in CEO of Disneyland, group discounts have been abolished. The system for inviting local bands for free that Les Blankenhorn-san mentioned, has also been abolished.
At any rate, with the budget from collecting $3,800 from each student, that doesn’t cover all of the trip’s expenses, so Kumagai san pays the outstanding amount of several thousand dollars every year. So you can also think of the Disney expenses being paid half by Kumagai san. Kumagai san continues to participate with the Disney Parade by saying, “The costs is expensive, but this will be a memory that will last the students a lifetime.” Every year, Kumagai san also financially supports students who can’t pay the fee. Even though this world is full of people who only think and talk about themselves, Kumagai san doesn’t come into the limelight while investing a large sum of his own money into GBA’s activities. He has four daughters, and the eldest sister is the same age as the 114th class, but he always thinks of the students who participate in the trip to the U.S. like as his own children. He really is a wonderful person.
At the 2018, KT members boarded Japan Airlines JL60 and flew from Kansai Int. Airport(KIX) to L.A. Int. Airport but the students were divided in to several group. Most of the 95 alumni departed the night of December 24th, and most of the 105 enrolled students were December 25th. With current airfare that group fees are more expensive than individual fees (=there is a risk of cancellations) but with JAL as the sponsor, They do not charge an additional fee for carrying students instruments (that was roughly 36 grand for a round trip) . This is not a small amount, given the support paid in exchange for putting a small patch on their orange uniform.
This is the last year GBA will be forming a band. This is due to a (persuasive) request from the Rose Parade’s executive office where they said “Instead of routinely returning to a school every several years that is guided by the same coach but we want participation from a wider range of high schools throughout Japan.” GBA has been recognized for their achievements up to now, and will continue to collaborate with participant schools that go the U.S., but because of the above reason, it will probably be many years before KT once again participates in the Rose Parade. Unfortunately, that is a fact.
And, there seems to be a small misunderstanding, but I’ve never write my opinion about fan’s comments or something to here. I have even no WordPress account. I think someone wrote that in my name. I’ve written a comment once, but at that time I asked Nishi to post it.
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I belive this interview to be one of the most interesting things on this blog .Santa Fukuno-san thank you !
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MARIKO : Daddy, KT were eating at Tony Roma’s. How come we never eat there…it’s so near from home.
DADDY RICK : Well, honey…we’re vegetarians, that’s why.
MARIKO : Can’t we just eat some meat once in a while?
DADDY RICK : We can’t, honey. We are Buddhists and Buddhists are not supposed to eat meat.
MARIKO : How about if I kiss you, daddy? Will you take me there to eat meat like KT?
DADDY RICK : Well…
MARIKO : Here’s a big kiss, daddy…MWAH!
DADDY RICK : Who said we can’t eat meat? That’s baloney! Let’s go to Tony Roma and take all the meat there.
MARIKO : That’s my daddy! 🙂
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Don’t worry, guys.
KT will be reading this blog from now on.
According to wifey, most Japanese (especially young students) can read and understand English.
It’s just that they’re not confident enough.
To make it convenient for them, post your message in simple English.
My wife, for instance, can actually speak and understand English (aside from her native Kansai dialect and Russian). But I only learned about it after two years of wooing her.
I used to say naughty things to her in English.
I thought I could get away with it.
Little did I know she understood every ‘effing’ word I said.
It was sooo embarassing.
Hehe 🙂
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What a beautiful article. I laughed, I cried and I learned. Thank you!
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I almost cry each time I watch some of the videos of the 2018Rose Bowl parade. I read all I can find about KT. My two favorite members are Milpy and Chippi, who I have wrongfully calling Tippi. Both girls seem to have the biggest smile and the brightest faces of the whole band. I love the whole band, from the Drum Major in front to Milpy in the back. I was really impressed with the girl with the prosthetic leg, the fact that she marched the marched the entire way and kept up with the rest of the band, very impressed. I was also impressed with the volume of sound that these kids produced all the while dancing and marching. I couldn’t do that sitting down. And all that dancing didn’t seem to produce any smashed lips or loose teeth. So to all the members of the KT band, past and present, I would be very proud to have you as my children.
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Thank you for your very detailed information. What I do not understand about the whole thing (was formerly the organizer of major European events) that the organization of the Rose Parade in Pasadena does not cover all the costs. I have a little information and the admission prices are not exactly small. What can 200 teenagers consume in America in just a few days. For me it is a testimony of poverty from the organizers of the parade. I thought about supporting the KT with a larger sum, but when I read that the young people have to save the money to travel to the USA, I will do it all again To think about something. I hope that everyone has come back healthy and wish everyone, especially the 7 women and the interviewer, a successful 2020.
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Paul-san,
I totally agree with your comments and have often wondered what the band members reactions to the Blog post were, and now I know and it doesn’t surprise me. Well, I guess at first it did, but not now. With the focus on the band and making it and their fellow members the best they can be, it’s not surprising that none of those interviewed were aware of the Blog posts. As Co-ma-re said, and was echoed in their own words by others, “I don’t really like standing out. I actually just wanted to quietly play and have it quietly end.”
I’m not sure how you play quietly on the drums and Chippy never played quietly on anything ! 🙂
Terrific interview. Thanks to all who made it possible and I look forward to watching the alumni-band on TV at the Rose Parade
Warmest regards,
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Thank you to everyone who made this interview and its availability possible. I very much appreciated the alumni’s perspectives particularly the memorable moments in their time in KT and updates on where they are now with their lives.
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First class insight into KT. I know first hand all the positives and minuses of running a teenage band. What happens at KT is wonderful. Just wish we could see more of the practice sessions. I wish all involved with forthcoming tour all the very best. Look forward to more interviews. Kind regards, Peter Border.UK.
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Hi Peter-san….Because of these interviews, there are move new people commenting to the BLOG. I think that’s great, and feel free to come back. The BLOG is almost at 12000 comments, tachibana tension
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Ahh, yes!
I love this interview!
KT’s “Magnificent Seven” just made my day!
Feels like I wanna wear my KT Orange Miniskirt once again… 😉
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Rick san,
For a while now I’ve been imagining if KT could play that piece. It suits their style of music, don’t you think?
Tachibana tension!
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Toto
KT can certainly play it.
But it would be more spectacular if I, the “Ultimate KT FanBoy”, will be joining them wearing my special KT Drum Major outfit galore (complete with mace,glittering shoulder drape, gloves and high boots).
I wouldn’t mind being the center of attraction and “Star” of the show.
😉 😉 😉
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Doc, nooo! Pleeease! Don’t wear the skirt yet, you’ld ruin everything, let us savor the moment first, pleeeease! Then we can all wear our mini skirts together😀
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Jpaez
Hahahahahaha…!!!
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I never had any interest in Marching Bands until I watched my first You Tube video of
Tachibana a few years ago. I still cannot get enough of watching the perform. They are simply amazing. This interview was a great insight to their effort and hard work. I’ll be a fan forever!
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Arigato gozaimashita Fukuno-san. I’ve only been skimming this article and I’m already overwhelmed by the latest updates on the band member. It is good to know that they are doing well, and that they are still very passionate about music and marching. I think it’s very thoughtful of you to give them gifts as a token of appreciation on behalf of everyone in this blog. And I really admire the fact that they do not care about fame nor personal glory despite their reputation in Japan and worldwide. Japanese people and their culture continues to amaze me.
Again, thank you very much. I will surely have fun reading this article in more detail later.
Tachibana tension!
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If the story I heard is correct, when the 115th wind club members retired in March this year, Mr.Fukuno and the moderator of this site should have given similar flowers to all 39 members. The picture of the flower appears in the article “115TH CLASS: THANK YOU. WE WILL MEET AGAIN, SOMEDAY SOMEWHERE” in the “News” corner of this blog. I was able to confirm that because some graduates posted the exact same flower photos on their SNS. Mr. Moderator, Is that correct?
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These interviews are superb! They let us know how some of our favorite band members of class 114 are doing and what they are doing today. We get to learn what each member did during their time in the band and how they felt about the Rose Parade and America. Also, we get more insight into the workings of the band. With the number of injuries in this small group, you can imagine how many there must be in the whole band!
Now on another matter, I cannot believe the greedy Disney Corp. charges the bands to parade in Disneyland and the sound track recording, then give a public announcement that leaves an impression that the band was invited. What is even worse, they charge the band members to get into Disneyland! All of this should be free, the cost of it all would probably be less than a penny to the earnings of Disney Corp.
Thank you Fukuno-san for these wonderful interviews. I hope you will continue to keep the blog updated with any interactions you have with current or former members of KT.
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Hi Allen…. I did not realize that school bands had to pay Disney Co., to parade down Disneyland’s main street. Do they charge the GBA or the individual bands? As much money Disney, co. makes, and charging for bands to entertain, sounds kind of greedy. I think I paid $14.00 in 1977 for the basic ticket, with the lowest numbers of rides, but who can afford the entrance fee today. I understand it’s over $100.00 per person today. I did see a video some time ago, where KT performed at the Tokyo Disney Sea, so I wonder if they had to pay there?
My 5 wooden Yen or nickles worth
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Allen and DET:
When I was 12 or 13 years old and had my paper route in Los Angeles, we could earn prizes for signing up new subscribers. One of those prizes was an all-day, all-rides pass to Disneyland. I would earn passes for myself and my friends. We could get a bus to Disneyland, spend a couple of dollars for food and enjoy a whole day there for $5.00. We had some great adventures. Those were the days.
I am delighted that our KT friends had a similar opportunity, regardless of cost.
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Hi Howard….. Yes, I remember the days at Disneyland. We would caught the city bus from La Mirada on Beach Blvd., and transfer at Knott’s Berry Farm to Disneyland. We would walk through the Front Gate early in the morning, ride all the rides, and not leave until after the fireworks. The staff had to run us out of the park. We would caught the last bus to La Mirada. Now, I think the entrance fee is over $100.00.. How many newspapers would you have to deliver to make $100.00? How things have changed. After reading the interviews of the 7 KT graduates, it stated a fee for each member, and what was included in the fee..The one thing in the fee that surprised me, was paying for the privilege of marching down Disney’s main street. Maybe I heard it wrong. arigato gozaimashite
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Paul-san…..This was a complete surprise to me, when I came online this morning. Can’t believe that it has been almost two years since the 2018 Rose Parade. It was great to learn what the seven were doing now. Since being a slow reader, it took me couple of hours to digest the information. arigatou
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Hi Paul…. Yea, my 5 wooden nickles wouldn’t go too far. I wouldn’t be able take in Disneyland air, for 5 wooden nickles. hahaha I read somewhere in the interview that it would cost each alumnae $3800.00. This included all cost while in Southern California, including fees for the Disneyland parade, entrance fees, etc. What I can’t understand is why Disneyland is charging bands, if they are invited to participate in the parade on Main Street? Just wondering. Merkurisumasu to happinyuiya, (Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year).
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Allen,DET & Paul
Every time I bring my whole family to Disneyland, my Japanese mother-in-law has the same complaint.
I cannot print in this blog what she said, coz’ it full of unprintable swear words.
Clue : It’s full of “Baka” (stupid) and “Aho” (idiot).
Hehe 🙂
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Professor Rick… I know how your mother-in-law feels. One year I had planned to make a vacation for my Dad, Mom, Sister, and her husband. I had planned to take them, all expense paid, to Disney World, until I checked online of what it would cost me. Like your mother-in-law, I let out a few uncommon words. I would have had to take out a loan, just to buy the 5 entrance fee tickets. So we went to the lake instead.
Since this band is made up of different Japanese bands, I would assume that the KT alumnae will not be wearing the orange in the Rose Parade, or will they? tachibana tension
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I too can’t understand why Disney, could or would actually “Charge” bands to perform inside their Park! They’re part of the Park’s entertainment for that day. Maybe they’re charged discounted fees for the rides, but even that makes no sense. Here in Pennsylvania, DisneyWorld in Flordia is the East Coast’s most visited place. Both my daughters were in our local High School Band in different four year periods, and travelled with our band to DisneyWorld, at Disney’s invitation, and never did they have to pay a fee for them to perform there that I am aware of, and I feel certain I would have been informed. The band raised funds for the trip for transportation, meals and hotel, and parents helped out volunteering in the fundraising, and a number of them chaperoned the trip, but at no time have I ever heard of a Fee being charged to march inside the Park. Bands in our region and I assume beyond, travel to Disney World once every four years, that gives each band member the opportunity to make the trip once before they graduate. Travel arraignments for our school, at least, are made through a travel agency. During my children’s time in our band, they were bused to Flordia, which is a very long bus ride. In more recent times, the band flew.
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Les-san….. Hi Les, after reading your comment, I thought that I had read the statement concerning the fees wrong so I went back to re-read them. The comments right before Chippi’s interview gives the total fee, and what is included. They did say that the $3800.00 included round trip air fare, hotel, meals, transportation, fees for Disney Parade, 5 days admission to Disneyland, and Disney workshop fees. Are these fees for transportation to and from Disneyland? This individual cost information was after Johnnybo, (I think Johnnybo liked Disneyland, she said she went 5 times while she was here in 2017J) and the interview with Chippi. tachibana tension
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Paul….. I will donate the 5 wooden nickles to Disneyland’s air, although I don’t know how much air you get for 5 wooden nickles, not a lot. I would think that bands at the Disneyland parade would be considered as limited one day part-time employees,. Is Disney that greedy, to have bands pay? How things have changed since Walt’s death in 1966. Sorry, when I heard that it just struck me as crazy, although I had been called crazy before. I had better stop, or I will start saying uncommon things. a tomodachi crazy person
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Having worked with kids both in school and out of school for 40 years, I am well aware of how delightful they are when they are intelligently talking to adults and to other young people. KT is no exception to that; and as a world traveler, I find that young people all over the world are the same. Give them a subject with which they are passionate about, and the result is what you read in these 7 interviews with KT members. I would have liked to have been present to hear them “up close and personal. Thanks to the interviewer for his brilliant stories of those interviews, the interviewees from which we learned things we didn’t know before, and ODF for publishing them on this blog. It was a very educational read.
Now, for those band members going to the Rose Parade this year in 2020, look for the University of Wisconsin Marching Band in the parade … our Badger football team will playing in the Rose Bowl game on New Year’s Day. Wish I could be there to see all 3 … KT, the marching band, and the game. Good luck and have a great experience, everybody.
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My college band was also in the parade and at Bandfest. The University of Oregon band gave an OK performance and deserved the award for the most economical — can you say cheapest? — uniforms.
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“Anonymous” was me. I touched the wrong button and the window closed before I could add my name.
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Great interviews. Now I think I understand why I like this band so much. I’d tell you, but it’s a secret. LOL
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Rei’ichiro Fukuno-sama…. Thank you for all the interviews. It was a real treat to hear from the 114th alumnae of KT. The 114th alumnae are more like family members on the BLOG, and knowing what they are doing now, is really neat. I understand by reading Chippi’s interview, that she was planning to go to Paris. I was in Paris in 1974, and it was a lot different then, than now. There’s a lot of demonstrations by Parisians in the street according to the news. .They do that alot The summer time is the best time to go to Paris, it’s a lot warmer too. . tachibana tension.
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Hi Paul,… I did hear that Disney’s Star Wars movie did bomb. I rented one of Disney”s Star War Videos, and in my opinion it fell short, although some might have liked it, this is just my opinion. I quess I tried to compare it to George LUCAS”s original STAR WARS. Maybe that’s why Disney CEO is discontinuing discounts, to pay for Star Wars. To change the subject:
Has the schedule been published for the different activities for the GBA Japanese band? Without the Orange, I don’t know if I will be able to recognize the 114th KT class. tachibana tension or tachibana rising
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Hello, I live in Texas, U.S.A. I am following the Band for some time now. My youngest daughter was in a High School Band, the Drum Line. Attached is a picture of one of the drum line girls. She is so friendly and positively to the audience, I would like to send her greetings from here. I know that the School will not answer, but maybe send the e-mail to her. Does anybody know what her nickname in School is? I believe she is so great for the Band and has so much friendliness to the audience.
Thank you very much. Horst Poethke
“For those who have fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know” Tim Craft wrote it on a C ration box lid at the Siege of Khe Sanh in Vietnam….1968
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hpoethke-san….Sorry, I don’t believe the school will send e-mails to individual band members, nor give names or nicknames. It is a policy set forth in their security. There is a school website you might like to go to on the web at tachibana-hs.jp It’s in Japanese so you might be able to translate using Google.
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Horst:
Was the drum line girl you mentioned the snare drum player with a gigantic smile? She definitely had a lot of personality. She looked like she was having the time of her life, enjoying every minute of the parade.
Also, the quote by Tim Craft should be seen far and wide.
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Howard,
the girl I am taking about is not in the 2019 parade. She is in the 2019 Band. Look at the following video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNhAeFi8zls&list=RDyNX43WGQcpA&index=2.
She plays the snares. I believe her name is Penguin chan. She exudes so much personality warmth and joy when she’s playing! Watch this video: 京都橘高校吹奏楽部 ブルーメの丘2019【4K】 sing sing sing パーカス.
You will see how much warmth she is bringing the three girls on the sideline. Also go on You Tube to Diablo de Orange. Go to this video, 京都橘高等学校吹奏楽部 ブラスエキスポ2019西大路パレード Ms Penguin is just one of the best players at this band. I am looking forward to see her on the 2020 Rose Bowl parade.
Thanks about my comment. People around here in the U.S. believe Freedom is free…..
Horst
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Before the concert on January 2nd I went behind the theater and saw some band members packing up drums. I approached one of the girls wearing a face mask and showed her my list of the names of the KT members from the interview. At the top of the list was Chippi. She pulled down her mask and said “that’s me”. She was kind enough to autograph my list. However it’s in Japanese. When I told her that she was considered the darling of KT she became very embarrassed and said “no, no”. I showed her Milpy on the list and she said she was inside preparing for the concert. The concert was fantastic. I was in the third row with no one in front of me. At one point, Chippi looked right at me and gave me a big nod and a grin. I was sitting next a host family and when the girls came down to the family they were crying. Even I had tears in my eyes.
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Bill Cook-san…. konnichiwa…. That’s great, and I envy you for your brief encounter with Chippi, But most of the wind club (band) members don’t realize how world famous they are. After reading the 7 interviews, a large number of the graduates did not know about the BLOG,(now they know), and how their videos are viewed from around the world. Sometimes, when I view certain KT videos, I would tear up. My first tearing up was the 2012 Rose, then it was the 2018 Rose, especially the 2012 & 2018 Benefit Concert at Kennedy HS. Why does it affect us like that? I know teenagers are easy to have emotions, I did as a teenage boy, but the military solved that. arigatou
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DET-san,
Your question, “Why does it affect us like that?” (talking about the emotional effect the band has on the band followers), is a very good one and I would imagine everyone would answer it differently. Here’s my wooden nickel’s worth.
You’ve been following the Tachibana HS band far longer than I have – just found them in October; but like you have become not only a fan but an admirer of what these young high school aged students have, are accomplishing and will no doubt accomplish in the future. We’ve all seen the videos of what these amazing young people have done in organizing, go through in practices and performing.
The grueling practices, especially the looks of disappointment on the faces of those not picked for the band, the elation all of those who did survive and the support they show towards one another, is what endeared me to the band in the beginning.
Then you start to see the personality of each year’s band (I don’t think any two bands have been alike) and you start to notice members with their individual personalities like Milpy, Chippi and Penguin (or P-Chan as some call her). It’s easy to see why so many fans feel justly proud of the Orange Devils and the members they feel a closeness to. As a post from another contributor on another page said “i like how we all become concerned parents”. This is very real and very true. Not in the literal sense, but one can “admire from afar” and watch the videos to see how the “little chicks” are doing.
Several of the video tug very hard on my heart strings – the December final concert and recognition of the departing 3rd year seniors in the lobby of the School Festival Hall and certain songs the band plays, such as “The Rose” in their field shows and stage performances that get to me. So believe me, you are not alone in the feelings department.
I don’t have the knack for expressing myself as well as others on this blog have, but I think you get the idea. I guess, for me, what it all boils down to is my wish that the graduates could stay around a bit longer – three years doesn’t seem to be enough.
Best wishes to all.
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JimT-san….I would say that you hit the nail on the head. You have expressed yourself very well. Yes, three years are too short. Before we know it, they had graduated out of the band, and gone, some not to be seen again, except, maybe, as sidewalk fans. That reminds me; there were a video of a graduation ceremony (112th class??), and on the video, one of the CG in front of the band, kept wiping her eyes. The emotion was just too great. After a few minutes, she began to smile. I was tearing up the same as her. Maybe we, subconsciously, wish our kids were more like KT members. Konbanwa
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Jim T-san and DET-san,
A couple of items: did you notice a difference in the participation of the 2018 and 2020 parades. Especially, Chippi, Milpy and Ramirin. as high schoolers, they were much more disciplined in the marching. They still had fun but you could tell that there were senpai also in the band. In the 2020 parade of course, they were no longer in high school, they paid their own way and were determined to have the most fun. The lines were not straight in marching. Chippi spent more time high-fiving than playing music. They truly felt like they were one with the crowd.
Another item: over a year ago I watched a video of the December regular concert. (I don’t remember which class). I cannot find that video anywhere. It was very moving with the bows of the different sections. (I think they were playing ‘We Are Sailing’). I know the audience was mostly parents and guardians. It seems that KT does not want outsiders to enjoy the poignant moments of the Seniors and other band members playing together for the last time. Those of us that follow their performances all year consider ourselves as parents and grandparents. There are a lot of YouTube video of other Kyoto high schools doing their regular concerts. I wish KT would let us also enjoy the last concert of year. When I attended the Honor Band benefit concert at the Aratani Theater, I saw some of the girls crying while playing. This was towards the end of the concert. I believe it was because for many of them, this was the last concert in which they will participate. Their musical careers are over as they move on with their lives.
Your thoughts.
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Good afternoon Bill,
The video you are looking for may be this one from 2014. This is a longer version of the Final Concert and does include the sections taking a bow while ‘Sailing’ is being played. The Seniors are also farewelled at the end.
http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm30409501 About
Each high school band taking part in the TOR and Bandfest submits videos of their performances, so I am sure the powers that be for the Tournament knew what they were getting when they selected KT for 2012 and then again in 2018 – I’m not sure the crowds did. It didn’t take them long to find out the Orange Devils are a different kinds of marching band, and did they ever show their appreciation!
KT broke the mold for field shows and parades and I, for one, hope they keep it that way!
As we have discussed for quite some time, the decisions about recording and then posting the performances are many and varied. From a fan’s standpoint, yes, I am disappointed with the decision to not post the Final Concerts in December but the school, parents and band members make those decisions and we as fans don’t enter into it.
It is what it is. But as someone on the Blog has stated – the Japanese love their phones and cameras and one way or another the videos might appear, if only for a brief moment before they get pulled.
My 2 Yen’s worth.
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Bill-san…. Doumo.. I can’t add much more than what Jim-san has said. He has expressed it much better than I could, but here is some thoughts to why. I think the re-appearance of KT at the 2018 RP, and Band Fest were because of the 2012 RP. The Brass Bando Club was so pleasurable to the crowd, that the Rose Parade Committee had to bring them back for a second time. Like Jim, i did notice tears, and it could have been by the senpai’s as their last “hurrah”, even though they have already left the band in December, plus the applause of the crowd overwhelm everyone.to tears, even me. I can’t count the times I’v watched video of their parade- in- review at the Band Fest with my own tears. Why, I can’t answer that. It just happens. Maybe we look at the band as our own kids, and when they show tears, we show tears with them. The same at the Benefit concert. My friend in Tokyo, told me years ago, that most young Japanese are shy, and can be emotional. She was telling the truth.
Welcome to the BLOG. arigatou or Anata no tomobichi
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DET-san . . As usual, you are right on point with your comments. Regardless of year, these KT kids are the most infectious group (in a very gooood way; not the virus way) I have ever seen. They can have you laughing one minute and in tears the next. I guess that’s what ‘Tachibana Tension’ is all about.
Hope you are doing well, Watashi no shin’yū.
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I am very familiar with this video and have saved it and others from the lobby of the School Festival Hall in my YouTube library. Another one which is shorter (10 min, I think) shows shots of the graduating class getting into several parts of the music being played by their under class mates – doing some of the band moves and the screams. I get a chuckle out of that one.
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Me again: I think I know the one you are talking about. I remember one, can’t remember what class, where the graduates with the flowers next to the wall was dancing along with the band. These kids are so neat. arigatou
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I know exactly how you feel. A particularly moving video is the one that KT sent the Rose Parade Committee for competition (which won the grand prize.) in 2017 for the 2018 parade. The first time I saw it, I thought…WOW!
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Hi Bill,
It was great meeting and chatting with you as we waited in line before the concert. I see your encounter with Chippi has made its way to the site. Next time, remember to take a selfie. I’m sad I didn’t meet you a bit earlier. I maybe could have met Chippi too…and offered to take a picture of the two of you. LOL. 😉 And I agree with you, the concert was absolutely amazing!!! My only complaint…it went by way too fast. I didn’t want it to end.
On a side note, I also got to meet the famous Paul Miller. Paul, it was a pleasure to meet and chat with you and your lovely wife after the show.
Aloha, Brian
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Brian, hi. I also had a great time talking to you. Afterward, I thought dummy, why didn’t you get his e-mail address. My wife asked why I didn’t get a selfie. I told her I was too nervous. I was lucky just to get her autograph. My e-mail is caribbill@gmail.com I would love to hear from you and share photos.
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Does Chippi speak and understand english?
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Manny, She understood a little, but had to call another band member over to translate some. She knew I was complimenting her about being a fan favorite while in service.
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Thank you so very much to the KT alumni for agreeing to be interviewed, the GBA and all others to make this happen, to Fukuno-san for conducting the interview, and of course to ODF for making this available on your site! This is so very much appreciated for us to hear each of their stories, allowing us to gain further understanding of the inner workings of the KT SHS Wind Band. I cannot wait to view the upcoming performances. どうもありがとうございました！ (Thank you very much!)
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I really appreciate Rei’ichirō Fukuno-sama for his priceless interview article, and thanks a lot for all interviewees who 114th alumnae of KT. I’m glad to hear that the participation of Seven alumnae of 114th in 2020 Rose parade is determined. I can not wait to watch their beautiful and adorable performance again!
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Thank you for the interview. It is impressive to me how the students commitment to the Band is so great. That is why they are the best in the World !!! I live in Texas and we have a lot of Bands at our Schools, but none of them are as committed to the success of this Band.
Thank you again.
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