Tachibana has been invited to the 136th Tournament of Roses Parade on January 1, 2025 in Pasadena, California (click here for the detailed post on the matter).
This page is reserved for discussion of the plans to go there in person to see the band and possibly meet with other fans.
Please note that this is a public discussion forum, so be careful with any personal or otherwise sensitive information. Exchanging emails is highly recommended for any detailed discussion.
Click here for the blog post following this expedition in detail. Official description of all of the participating bands is here.
Back in 2019 when I first discovered KT I would not have believed I would be passing on coming to Pasadena to see KT up close after such an electrifying show that the band provided in 2018. It’s just a short 2.5 hr flight, after all. But things change, bands change as well. After some consideration I just cannot justify the trip for only the bandfest. I really don’t care about the crowded parade or paying for Disneyland and the benefit concert remains a big question mark. One of the main benefits of making the trek would have been meeting other fans and I am sure you all will have a ball.
It is just by coincidence that I will be having an important visitor from Japan for the holidays. I am looking forward to the coverage. I am sure there will be a lot.
To those that are going to be there, have a great time!
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The 2018 KT TOR parade videos I’ve seen on YouTube are really pretty good. I’d love to film, but moving about doesn’t seem too easy, in order to focus on our O-Devils. TOR website says selfie sticks and camera extensions aren’t allowed. Anyone have suggestions for this novice? Or, wanna collaborate as a team for a good video from multiple locations?
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Last time there were many people who searched various social media for clips all over the parade route and collated them together. Our best hope, in addition to the small number of groups/individuals filming in distributed coordinated locations, is that all people in the audience would use clear #KT-affiliated tags in their public posts. That way people would find them as easily as possible.
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I certainly encourage everybody to record lots of videos on Tachibana and upload them to YouTube. Even a short video can easily collect more than million views, click here for an example. Use keywords: “Kyoto Tachibana S.H.S. Band”, “Kyoto Tachibana High School Green Band” and “京都橘高等高校 吹奏楽部” (keyword in Japanese is important for large number of Japanese fans).
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Hi all, I have created a group email for those who are coming to Rose Parade. I will use it for updates, meeting ideas, etc.
If you are coming and would like to be added, please contact me at baile zero four zero @gmail.com
Rob B
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I have tickets for Bandfest.
I will not purchase grandstand tickets as I will moving around a lot and filming where possible.
Bought a new camera specially for it. 😉
I booked a direct flight with KLM from Amsterdam to L.A. on the 28th of December.
I will return one week later on the 4th. 👍🏻
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I hope they share their videos with us, I would be very happy. In my opinion we see far too few before, after, behind the scenes videos of KT at events 🙂
I wish you a pleasant stay and lots of fun.
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I agree. It would great to see the lead into them forming up at the start of the Rose Parade. That sort of thing tends to be not covered. I too hope that there will be plenty of coverage of the whole parade. Good luck to the band, I know that your performance will be fantastic and that you will remember it for the rest of your lives. Enjoy. Stay Safe. Stay Orange.
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Gressy
Send me your email and I will update you
Rob
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Rob, that’s very nice. It would be even better if you could keep us all updated here on the blog. Then everyone would benefit.
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Hi hoogends
I will be attending from 12/26 thru 1/4/25. If you would like to email me just add gmail to my name listed in (. ).
I will be meeting up with a few others and will try and update more info later in year.
Rob B
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I don’t see much happening here.
So I’m going individually.
I have booked a hotel and rental car already.
Have fun.
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Maybe because it’s still eight months away. Of course, nothing wrong with making your reservations early. Parade tickets have already gone on sale, after all.
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Going to spend a week to see all of KT events but the hotel rates are astronomical ( $1200 ) even 30 miles away. No wonder people are fleeing California.
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I live about 30 miles away from Pasadena and checked some local room rates. The Travel Lodge motel near me will be charging almost $200 per night. The Raddison and Hilton referred me to their web pages.
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At the end we have a nice group of people (nine including myself, en maybe more will join)
Mailing list and all.
We will meet in L.A. and go from there. We had already 2 Zoom meetings the discuss various thing in terms of planning, meeting etc.
My goal is to record the band as much as possible, I hope I can manage that, as this would be a great success for me.
We will be easy to spot, but cannot say why. 😊
Can’t wait to see KT with my own eyes (and my camera lens) 😄
Cheers.
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Send me any footage your group is able to capture and I make a page for you in the blog: “The Adventures of Tachibana-fans in the Land of Roses”.
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Sound like a good idea ! 🍊🧡🌹
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Thanks for the update
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Does anyone know when the dates for Disneyland, Bandfest and the benefit concert will be released ?….thanks in advance.
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Bandfest is Sunday, December 29th and Monday, December 30th. No date for Disneyland has been announced but we assume it will be Saturday December 28th. I think they said the benefit concert is on Thursday, January 2nd, 2025.
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You can find most info here: https://shorturl.at/WPsDy
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I suggest someone be identified as a Focal(s) for logistically organizing / planning / coordinating all activities for out-of-town and out-of-country visitors planning to attend KT events.
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From Rei’ichirō Fukuno:
This is Rei-ichiro Fukuno. I am still in touch with KT and GBA, and I visited the school for my third donation in late February and met the GBA board members too.
I will report here any information I am allowed to disclose about the 2025 expedition to the Rose Parade. I have been invited to go to their Regular Concerts in late March. If I get permission from the school I will publish pictures on this wesbite. Thank you.
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ODF , have you ever been in contact with Rei’ichirō Fukuno again? A travel report on KT’s Rose Parade would be wonderful.
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As far as I have understood he is not going, but we may get some pictures on the activities.
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ODF, thanks for the quick reply. Despite the really nice videos from “KTVnews8” about the Regular Farewell Concerts, I miss the interviews of Mr. Rei’ichirō Fukuno. Rei’ichirō Fukuno’s interviews with the President and the DM and the section leaders, were something very special and not the usual small talk.
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Hi, Jeff here. I live in NJ on the East coast, and was wondering if I came to the events, are there any recommendations where to stay for the 4 days, and would it be possible for the KT fans to organize a bus for transportation to and from the venues? Maybe something simple like a mini bus or perhaps a limousine service. I know this is a lot to ask, but???????
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Sounds like a good initiative in which I might be interested.
Always wanted to see them perform in person.
I’m a bit hesitant to to go there alone (from the Netherlands)
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Are they going to be doing a Benafit s Concert at John F Kennedy High School this time.
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That’s where they always have been (except once, in 2020 when the place was under renovation). But no official information exists yet.
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Are they going to be doing a benefit concert at JOHN F KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL this year also.
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Yes on the 29th ,but it is not accessible for the general public unfortunately…..
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I wish you all the best for your travels and tours this year and also your prader and next year i live in London so I will not see you but I hope to go to japan next year and hopefully see you on prade or in concert *
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I just want to wish them all a great tour and joy.
The future is bright the future is Orange 🍊
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