Tachibana is again… back in the house!

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Text by Paul Miller (ptmiller448 (at) gmail (dot) com)

Pictures with recognizable people have been published with permission.

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Waiting for everyone to return…

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“Are we there yet Are we there yet”?

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…and we are back…. with some new friends!

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Yea…..we remember this, it was fun. Let’s do it again. Who do you think our Host Family will be? who knows, who cares…. First we do Disneyland, every…single….night, for 6 days. FREE ! (well, sort of) How cool is that ????

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Looks like were going to have a P A R T Y !!!!!

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Over the past four years, my wife and I have twice opened our home and our hearts to the students of Tachibana. In 2017-2018 we hosted three delightful musicians all from the 112th Class, who graduated in 2015 as the last of the Gold medal winners from Tachibana (see that story here).

For the All Japan Honor Green band, we had our Host Meeting back in November 20th, 2019, where we found out who our new “roomies” would be. We were totally surprised and honored to be chosen as the Host Family for two more alumnae of 114th Class from Tachibana (see their interview prior to Rose Parade here, and a picture of them leaving from L.A. back to Japan here).

As soon as we got home I emailed both Kurara and her best friend Puchie (nicknames used as a courtesy to the families) welcoming them into our, and their U.S. forever home. We told them we’d see them at the December 25th practice, and to have safe travels back to the U.S.

The All Japan Honor Green Band had up to then, not rehearsed as a one group. Sure they had practiced in small regional groups memorizing the music, but had yet to march and play as one unit, and even as late as December 24th, some band members had yet to arrive in Los Angeles, this was definitely a ‘work in progress’. We told ‘the girls’ what we would be wearing so they could find us at the first practice.

On Christmas Day we got to the Anaheim stadium parking lot just as the members were taking to ‘the asphalt field’. About an hour later they got a break and they both scampered over to meet us, followed by a few other 114th Class members. Obviously the word had gotten out. We had brought a container of fudge as a ice breaker, and within 2 minutes the rest of Tachibana, regardless of class came over and enjoyed the sweets. Even Yokoyama-coach stopped by and had a piece, repaid us with a huge smile, a ‘thumbs up’ to my wife….as all the girls laughed an giggled.

The last all day practice at the stadium was on December 28th. We had arranged to meet the girls in Downtown Disney that evening for dinner. The meal was horrible, but the conversations were priceless. Sure, we used Google Translate a lot, but by the end of the night you could tell they knew some English too.

The next day was a half day rehearsal, in their Green uniforms, or costumes. After lunch, they loaded back on the buses for the 3.5 mile journey to Disneyland for the Main Street parade. Then off to a Disney ‘workshop’, then back to the hotel.

The next day was the Disney “hotel check out” then over to the hotel in La Palma, and off to Bandfest at Pasadena City College. Then back to the hotel and the Host Family meeting and pick up. By that time is was 6pm, cold and dark. We loaded up the suitcases and made the 90 minute drive home. By that time everyone was running on fumes, and the girls were starving. So we had desert first because it was what Kurara wanted.. we then had dinner, simple but filling, and then after an hour of chat, and watching videos…of guess who?… by 11pm they were in their room fast asleep.

The next morning the girls slept in until about 9:30 am, we had a great breakfast together and talked about what they wanted to do…or see…and of course, eat. Puchie wanted to do some “outlet” shopping, and after that… they both told us it would be time for, you guessed it…

As we parked the car, they got out and breathed deeply, and said….(in perfect English): “Yes……we are here!!!”

After a fun and filling lunch we got our left over pizza’s to go, and proceeded to make one more stop before getting home, as the girls requested to take a little “Power Nap”, as this was December 31st, and tomorrow morning came with an insane wake-up call at 3am. At least the girls were able to leave their suitcases here over night, all they took with them was their uniform, hat and if small enough, their instrument. We dropped them off back at the hotel at 7pm, wished them a good parade, have lots of fun and share the pizza.

January 1st, 2020, couldn’t believe it. We set the DVD player to record the parade as we watched over breakfast. They really did look good, even the “Mario Turn” while a bit crowded, worked to perfection. We headed “down the hill” to Anaheim to pick them up at 12:30pm, and just as the first bus was pulling in, we pulled into the hotel. They spotted us first and while looking a bit tired, we headed home. We did have one more stop to make, and as we got closer to home we made a detour so the girls could see my wife’s horse. They were still wearing their uniforms but went tramping thru the mud and muck following her to get the horse.

Finally home…. the girls changed into regular clothes and came out to join us as we were watching the Rose Parade on TV. Lots of laughing and giggles, finger pointing and words I didn’t understand….we all agreed it was a morning well spent, even if it did mean standing in the middle of a cold street, at 4:30am, waiting for the sun to come up and the parade to start.

We sat down to dinner about 5pm as the girls were bushed but hungry, Had a great dinner together, laughed and talked about so many different things. As always our phones were close at hand and they started to do goofy photos of each of us.

We all crashed about 9pm…..after we figured out that the girls had to be at the hotel by 10am, to board the bus for the trip over to the concert venue, this year being in downtown L.A. So….up at 7am, breakfast at 8, leave at 9, and hope there’s no traffic.

No problems, no traffic, plus the girls caught a little ‘cat nap’ on the way to Anaheim. They left promptly at 10am. Our ride to the concert left at 2pm as we ‘stole’a ride on the G.B.A. shuttle, got there and went up to the balcony to listen the the practice for that nights concert.

The concert was fantastic….great sound, great conductor, great music, a night to remember. The good bye’s at the concert were an emotional hell…for all of us.

We agreed to meet the next day at Disney just to say good bye again….

I hope most of you enjoyed this second installment of ‘Tachibana is in the House’. The first edition was primarily of both our guests and the events, simply because none of us had ever been to a Bandfest, or a Benefit Concert. As you can tell this time it’s about two marvelous young adults that in so many ways captured the hearts of everyone with their charm and grace that both girls brought with them from Japan.

It was an absolute joy have all five girls become a part of our ‘family’ and for us to share our home with them. Some times those 11 or 12 days were hectic, often times rushed, but always enjoyable and no one ever complained. I’m glad that my wife and I were able to have these two experiences, being not sure what the future holds with the changes and challenges ahead of us.

As wind club members join Tachibana and become a part of this legacy, others must leave after a very short three years. Enjoy this last photo, as “The Miller Family” (photo taken by Puchie) wishes each of you the best of everything in life and memories that you will carry forever.

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From Puchie:
I read the article. This is great article👏
This is a wonderful memory for us.

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From Kurara:
I read the article!
I was glad that many memories were written!

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