Background – Band


Band Official Website is here, Official Instagram here and Official YouTube-channel here (all in Japanese).


“The Kyoto Tachibana Brass Band, which is full of energy, full of smiles, and full of dreams, is like a vitamin to modern society, where people tend to feel depressed. The attitude of trying hard gives hope and courage to those who see it. When you’re feeling down, watch Kyoto Tachibana’s performance and get an orange energy injection.”Marching Navi, June 20, 2022


Band name:

Band parading at streets of Osaka in 2015

Kyoto Tachibana Senior High School Band, commonly abbreviated to Kyoto Tachibana S.H.S. Band (in Japanese: 京都橘高等高校 吹奏楽部) (see more about Kyoto Tachibana High School here).

They are fondly nicknamed as “Orange Devils” (in Japanese: オレンジの悪魔) due to their trademark full-orange uniform and tendency of winning band competitions.

band

Orange Devils in Disneyland Park, Anaheim with their trademark orange uniform

When working under the auspices of Green Band Association during their trips to US in 2005-06, 2011-12, 2017-18 and 2024-25 they used the name “Kyoto Tachibana High School Green Band” (see more of the 2011-12 trip here, of the 2017-18 trip here, and of the 2024-25 expedition here).


Band Motto and Themes:

Band motto is: “Full of Energy, Smiles and Dreams” (=”Genki Ippai, Egao Ippai, Yume Ippai” = “元気いっぱい!笑顔いっぱい!夢いっぱい!”).

In addition the band creates also an annual theme (click also here for a video by Orange Fairy):
1988 (85th Class): Fighting Tachibana ’88
1989 (86th Class): Rock’n’Roll Medley
1990 (87th Class): Disney Medley Part II
1991 (88th Class): Excited in Latin
1992 (89th Class): Renewal Sensation
1993 (90th Class): Remember the Riverside
1994 (91st Class): Swinging along with Glenn Miller
1995 (92nd Class): Henry Mancini Best Selection
1996 (93rd Class): The Burning Passion of Tachibana
1997 (94th Class): SOL DE MEXICO*
1998 (95th Class): DUKE DE STOMP*
1999 (96th Class): Sparkling Swing*
2000 (97th Class): Enjoy! “Tijuana Brass” with TACHIBANA*
2001 (98th Class): Love Dreams
2002 (99th Class): New Sounds of TACHIBANA
2003 (100th Class): Swing! Swing! Swing!
2004 (101st Class): COLA LATINO!!
2005 (102nd Class): Shall We Dance?
2006 (103rd Class): LAST DANCE!
2007 (104th Class): Line of DANCE
2008 (105th Class): Swing With Us!
2009 (106th Class): Let’s Dance All
2010 (107th Class): Catch Your Heart
2011 (108th Class): Share Best Smile
2012 (109th Class): We Are Entertainer
2013 (110th Class): Hit Like Sunshine
2014 (111th Class): Dreams Come True
2015 (112th Class): Hearts Are One
2016 (113th Class): Trust Way
2017 (114th Class): Do My Best
2018 (115th Class): Make Magic
2019 (116th Class): Wish in Bloom
2020 (117th Class): Power of Charm
2021 (118th Class): Soar on Wings
2022 (119th Class): Seek the Shine
2023 (120th Class): Reach the Peak
2024 (121st Class): TBA
* – it is likely that (at least) these are not the real mottoes of the band but just the program names of the band at the AJBA Marching Contest

It is good to note that also each Class of the band members creates a separate theme for themselves which would remain the same throughout their three years at the band. The theme is typically also accompanied by a hand sign. Click here for that theme of the 108th Class, and here for a list of those from 111th to 118th Classes (all themes by Lars-san).


Battle Cry: “Tachibana tension, Agatte-kita”:

It is a matter of honor for the band to express the battle cry in a way set by tradition. The cry has not changed at all since the beginning. It is “Tachibana tension, Agatte-kita, Hai, Hai, Hai, Hai, Hai, Hai, Hah-i, Se-no, X (and cheers)”. Seven “hai’s” and long pronunciation stretch at the end. “Se-no” is the same as the “1, 2, 3, 4” before the music starts and is a common shout used by the Japanese to set the timing. “X” is the annual motto unique to each year.

(see more of “Tachibana tension!” from the interview here, scroll down to “Battle Cry”)


Band Synopsis:

(summary of the band historical data in table format collected by Jeff Ragar -san can be found here)

Band in very early years

Kyoto Tachibana High School Concert Band was founded by legendary professor Hisashi Hiramatsu (1935-2021) in 1961 with 16 members (click here for a picture of 9 of those members with professor Hiramatsu in 2019). With the intent of improving the girls’ health it soon evolved to one of the oldest female Marching Bands in Japan (see info on their 50th Anniversary Concert in 2012 here (Wayback Machine), in Japanese).

Band is formed out of students of the school’s Wind Music Club and has usually around 100 members from which typically only handful are boys. Wind Club activities are traditionally preferred by girls in Japan (boys tend to go to baseball or soccer clubs). They train before and after school hours as well as in weekends, holidays included, and are regular participant in All-Japan Marching Contest (6 National Gold Awards in 2008, 2009, 2015, 2021, 2022 and 2023, 3 National Silver Awards in 2007, 2011, 2014).

Band travels extensively in Japan and occasionally also abroad. Their first overseas trip took place in 1975 to Harrogate, UK (see more here), and later the band has visited Hawai’i every three years from 1981 (first to Maui and from 1998 to Kaua’i) to 2016. They participated in the 123rd Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena, California in 2012 (see more here) and in the 129th Tournament of Roses Parade in 2018 (see more here), and are invited in the 136th Tournament of Roses Parade in 2025 (see more here). In 2022 they were invited to Taiwan to play at the National Day Ceremonies as the first foreign performer in these celebrities (click here for more information). Their second trip to Taiwan took place in 2023 (click here for more information). A tool by Yoshimitsu-san shows on a map the places the band has been performing, click here. Another similar tool developed by Tachibana Fan Hong Kong -san is here.

Due to their fame the band has also been invited to participate in several wider-scale entertainment projects. They played as the background band for the promotional song of the 100th Summer Kōshien (Japanese High School Baseball Championship) in 2018 (for details click here), they collaborated with J-Pop singer Kalen Anzai at her music video in 2019 (click here), and they played at the soundtrack of the anime movie “Belle” in 2021 (click here).

There is more than 9000 videos on the band in YouTube with cumulatively more than one billion views (click here).

For more detailed information of band history and activities please see the “Tachibana Interview” -article series (Part 1Part 2Part 3Part 4Part 5).


Leadership:

– Band Director Yutaka Kaneshiro (兼城 裕) (Director: 2018-):

Yutaka Kaneshiro (photo by Masayuki Arakawa (GENROQ))

Music Teacher, Band Director and Wind Club Advisor (2018-): Yutaka Kaneshiro. Born August 19, 1978 at Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Graduated from Shimane University, Faculty of Education (majoring in music education) before moving to Germany to study trumpet under Bernhard Schmidt, the second trumpet of the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra (hr-Sinfonieorchester). Later he studied trumpet also under Akira Tanaka and Hiroki Yamashiro, and marching under Masaru Nakai and Hisashi Hiramatsu. Worked as a music teacher and director of wind music clubs at public senior high schools in Kyoto for ten years. Before Tachibana he taught six years music and directed the wind music club at Kyoto Prefectural Hokuryō Senior High School (website, Wikipedia, band website is here). Vice President of Kyoto Prefectural High School Band Association.

See news article of his appointment here, and interview here.

His interview at band official site is here (in Japanese).

– Former Band Director Hiroyuki Tanaka (田中宏幸) (Director: 1995-2018):

Band Director and Wind Club Advisor (1995-2018): Hiroyuki Tanaka. Born August 16, 1958 in Ikeda, Osaka Prefecture, alumnus of Osaka College of Music, plays trumpet. Lifelong fan of baseball team Hanshin Tigers, click here.

After resigning Tachibana in March 2018 he went working at Toyonaka Municipal First Junior High School (see more of that here), retiring from there year later. In April 2021 he started as Music Director of the brass band of Daisho Gakuen High School (website, Wikipedia).

See more of his book on Tachibana here.

His Wikipedia-entry (in Japanese) is here.

Social media:
facebook (old, Tachibana-era),
facebook (new, after moving to Toyonaka Municipal First Junior School),
Instagram,
Twitter (for confirmed followers only),
Blog,
YouTube-channel.

Tanaka-sensei speech makes the audience roaring with laughter (in Japanese way) (video by 慶次郎前田, starts at 0:10):

Click picture to watch video

– Founding Director Hisashi Hiramatsu (平松久司) (Director: 1961-1995):

Professor Hisashi Hiramatsu (photo by Masayuki Arakawa (GENROQ))

Founding Director (1961-1995): Hisashi Hiramatsu. Born January 1, 1935 in Aichi Prefecture, died March 13, 2021 (click here for news about his death). Alumnus of Kunitachi College of Music, trumpeter at Kyoto Symphony Orchestra. Music teacher and Deputy Principal, Chairman of All-Japan Band Association 2006-2013, honorary Chairman of Green Band Association, conductor at Tachibana Family Band and Special Advisor of the Kyoto Tachibana University Brass Band.

See his interview here, and his Wikipedia entry (in Japanese) is here.

Professor Hiramatsu addressing audience in 2012 in La Palma, California when band attended the 123rd Tournament of Roses Parade (video by Music123, introductions starts at 30:38):

Click picture to watch video

– Deputy Band Director Kazumi Itani (井谷一美):

Kazumi Itani (picture by her facebook)

Deputy Band Director Kazumi Itani. Born March 12. Music teacher, professional clarinetist and alumna of Osaka College of Music.

Her interview at band official site is here (in Japanese).

Social media:
facebook,
Instagram (private),
Twitter,
YouTube-channel.

– Assistant Band Director Akemi Hayami (早見 明美):

Akemi Hayami (photo by Masayuki Arakawa (GENROQ))

Assistant Band Director and Assistant Wind Club Advisor: Akemi Hayami. Japanese Teacher. Chief of Guidance and Counselling. She is responsible for general affairs of the Wind Music Club.

See her interview here, and her introduction at school site here (Wayback Machine) (in Japanese).

– Band Marching Coach Nanaho Shima (島奈央 or 島ななほ) (Coach: 2020-):

Drummer Nanaho Shima (“Mentapu”) of the 111th Class was appointed as the Marching Coach of the band from June 2020. Previously she was at the drum-set of Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps (member of DCI), and later Dark Sky Percussion (member of WGI) and INOV8 (also member of WGI). She has also worked as the pit instructor for Marching Band 輝合 ~Teria~.

Social media:
facebook,
YouTube-channel.

– Band Coach Hirofumi Yokoyama (横山弘文) (Coach: 2001-2020):

Hirofumi Yokoyama (photo by Masayuki Arakawa (GENROQ))

Band coach Hirofumi Yokoyama: Born September 13, 1962 in Kōbe, Hyōgo Prefecture, went to Hōtoku Gakuen Junior & Senior High School. Studied in the US, and took part in the competitions of Drum Corps International (DCI) as part of (now defunct) Velvet Knights Drum and Bugle Corps. Alumnus of Osaka College of Music. Freelance marching instructor for about 30 senior high school bands in Japan. Music Director of the Green Band Association (GBA). Click here and here for his entry to Tachibana.

See his interview here.

His Twitter-account is here.

– Band Marching Coach Kazuhiro Miya (宮一弘) (Coach: 1995-2000):

When he retired in 1995 Hiramatsu-sensei invited Kazuhiro Miya -san as the band Marching Coach. His was a freelance coach with main job as a chief priest of a temple in Kyoto. He also coached Hankyū Wind Band (nowadays knows as Waseda Setsuryō High School Wind Band), and was teaching Yokoyama-coach as well. He passed away suddenly (click here) in 2000, after which Yokoyama-coach assumed the role in 2001. His influence to the band performance was enormous, click here for the story.

– Club Presidents:

Club Presidents and Vice Presidents in recent years:
2024 (121st Class): Kumagai-san “Eli” (エリー), alto saxophone
2023 (120th Class): Nakajima-san “CocoP” (ココピー), euphonium
– Vice Presidents: Houki-san, clarinet and Nakamura-san, percussion
2022 (119th Class): Takeuchi-san “Renpy” (レンピー), piccolo
– Vice Presidents: Yagi-san, clarinet and Shigekuni-san “Nameron” (なめろん), percussion
2021 (118th Class): Nakamura-san “Suchi” (すーち), tuba/sousaphone
– Vice Presidents: Okada-san “Kiropī” (きろピー), trumpet and Morimura-san “Ranī” (らニー), percussion
2020 (117th Class): Nakamura-san “Nokoko” (のここ), percussion
– Vice Presidents: Santō-san “Mirare” (ミラリ), tenor saxophone and Mori-kun “Bari” (ばり), sousaphone
2019 (116th Class): Okuda-san “Burumi”(ぶるみ), alto saxophone
– Vice President: “Bonon” (ぼのん), flute
2018 (115th Class): Nakamura-san “Aloro” (アロロ), alto saxophone
– Vice Presidents: “Chiruku”, clarinet and “Fukumi”, trumpet
2017 (114th Class): Ishida-san “Takoppu” (タコップ), trumpet
– Vice Presidents: “Remi”, euphonium and “Moon”, trombone
2016 (113th Class): “Shiome”, saxophone
– Vice Presidents: “Little”/”Ritoru”, flute/Color Guard and “Remus”, euphonium
2015 (112th Class): Suenaga-san “Pao” (ぱお), trumpet
– Vice Presidents: “Cocco”, trombone and “Moko”, euphonium
2014 (111th Class): Sugiyama-san “Nashipaka” (なしぱか), trumpet
– Vice Presidents: Tsukawaki-san “leharu” (家春), alto saxophone and “Koyaki” (こやき), flute
2013 (110th Class): Yamano-san “Haru” (春), alto saxophone
2012 (109th Class): Torigoe-san “Takeshiba”, sousaphone
– Vice President: Koga-san “Suzu-chan” (すずちゃん), percussion
2011 (108th Class): Kiku-san “Gachamiruku” (ガチャミルク), trumpet
– Vice Presidents: Honda-san “Deijī” (デイジー), flute and “Korin” (こりん), alto saxophone

– Drum Majors:

Drum Major can be recognized by her silver-lined shawl when the band is using the orange uniform. In the video below Drum Major “Ron” climbs up to podium and leads the band through two first songs at the 38th Annual Pasadena Tournament of Roses Bandfest in 2017:

Click picture to watch video

Drum Majors in recent years (click also here for a video by Orange Fairy):
2024 (121st Class): Kamata-san “Momona” (モモナ), clarinet
2023 (120th Class): Noguchi-san “Puncho”(プンチョ🌱), clarinet (interview)
2022 (119th Class): Kihana-san “Creta” (クレタ), trombone (interview)
2021 (118th Class): Uda-san, “Racho” (らちょ), clarinet
2020 (117th Class): Aoyama-san, “Makko” (まっこ), trombone
2019 (116th Class): Kurisu-san, “Palinpu” (パりんぷ), flute (interview)
2018 (115th Class): Kusaka-san, “Okazel” (🙂かツェル★彡), clarinet (interview)
2017 (114th Class)+Rose Parade 2018: Nagao-san, “Ron”, clarinet
2016 (113th Class): Okada-san, “Piimo”, flute
2015 (112th Class): Okamoto-san, “Cony”, trombone
2014 (111th Class): Fujiwara-san, “Maazef” French horn
2013 (110th Class): Saitō-san, “Ion”, saxophone
2012 (109th Class): Yamaguchi-san, “Maiya”, flute
2011 (108th Class)+Rose Parade 2012: Asada-san, “Horacha”, clarinet
2010 (107th Class): Nishimoto-san, “Ume”=”Plum”/Ōhara-san*, “Kurōbā”=”Clover” (クローバー), French horn
2009 (106th Class): Taniguchi-san, “Maamen” (まーめん), euphonium
2008 (105th Class): Akita-san
2007 (104th Class): Kubota-san
2006 (103rd Class): Sakaguchi-san
2005 (102nd Class): Umehara-san, percussion
2004 (101st Class): H Ikeda-san
2003 (100th Class): Nakajima-san
2002 (99th Class): Kinami-san
2001 (98th Class): Kawaguchi-san
2000 (97th Class): N Ikeda-san
1999 (96th Class): Iwamoto-san
1998 (95th Class): Koyama-san
1997 (94th Class): Ueda-san
1996 (93rd Class): Adachi-san
1995 (92nd Class): Masuda-san
1994 (91st Class): Sakabe-san
1993 (90th Class): Matsui-san
1992 (89th Class): Inoue-san
1991 (88th Class): Mizuno-san
1990 (87th Class): Kageyama-san
1989 (86th Class): T Hori -san
1988 (85th Class): C Hori -san
* – Nishmoto-san formally resigned in June 2010 and was substituted by Ōhara-san

Pictures of Tachibana Drum Majors from 1997 (upper left) to 2023 (lower right) by Freud Alb:

See more details of the Wind Music Club organization from the interview here.


Music and style:

The music the band plays is almost entirely Western, starting from gospel and big band era classics, and ending to evergreen pop songs and recent chart hits with heavy dose of Disney tunes interspersed. Music is chosen bearing in mind the expected preferences of the audience and how easy it is to adapt to the band dancing style. The regular parade program is about 15 minutes long and if needed it will be rolled over.

Based originally on the suggestion by Yokoyama-coach the band trademark dancing style was developed in 2005 based on the 1997 “Burn the Floor” ballroom dance show by 102nd Class Marching Composition Team, including euphonist Seiji Nakao (中尾征爾) and percussionist Kōhei Shiba (芝公平). All dance moves are choreographed by the band members themselves resulting to the unique Kyoto Tachibana -style of marching which has made the band adored in Japan and overseas. Band has also granted permission to other schools to adopt similar approach to their brass bands, such bands are Izumo Business High School Wind Orchestra and Ōnishi Gakuen Junior and Senior High School Brass Band.

See also interview here fore more details on band music and style.

Article on the choreography the band is famous for was published in the September 2023 issue of Band Journal. Translation of the text to English by Tetsuya T -san is here.

(large collection of original versions of music Tachibana plays can be found in this playlist)

Click here for more information about the instruments the band is using.

The trademark song of the band which is practically always part of the program is “Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing)” made famous by Benny Goodman in 1937. This wild dance is sometimes performed in parades as a standstill number but usually it is the last song (or encore) of any stage/field show and ends with traditional “Tachibana Plow” -formation and “Ey!”-shout. Several bandmembers have said that the reason they applied to Tachibana and joined the band was to be able to play and dance this song (video by I LOVE BRASS; starts at 6:30):

Click picture to watch video

Tachibana parade nearly always starts with century old gospel tune “Down By the Riverside” which tells you to throw your aggression away and assume more peaceful way of life – what better message to set up proper mood for the band performance (video by 慶次郎前田, starts at 1:15)!

Click picture to watch video

Instead stage/field shows often start with “Winter Games”, 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics theme song by David Foster (video by 慶次郎前田; starts at 0:25):

Click picture to watch video

As an example of newer music here is Pharrell Williams 2013 chart hit “Happy” from animated movie Despicable Me 2 (video by sttaketo, starts at 16:04, and the ending pose at 17:50 is really really good!):

Click picture to watch video

Oldie hit songs of the program are represented here by “The Loco-Motion” made famous in 1988 by Kylie Minogue (video by I LOVE BRASS; starts at 3:06):

Click picture to watch video

Disney Medley is integral part of any event and they play the catchiest tunes about 30s each and you can have fun listening e.g: “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo” (from movie Cinderella), “Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee” (from movie Pinocchio), “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf” (from sequels of movie Three Little Pigs) or “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” (from movie Mary Poppins) (video by Marschtanz63; medley is between 5:18-10:57, and again 20:23-25:28, see detailed set list here):

Click picture to watch video

Movie music has not been forgotten either, here band takes on Star Wars with few bars of “Main Theme” followed by “Cantina Theme” (video by I LOVE BRASS, starts at 10:40)… ooh no! don’t fall down!! (at 11:24):

Click picture to watch video

There is certain preference to South American music in the choices of the band and here they go exploring mambo and what better way to do that than playing “¡Qué rico el mambo!” by Pérez Prado, the King of the Mambo! (video by I LOVE BRASS, starts at 5:48):

Click picture to watch video

Japanese-origin music is a rarity in the band events but here is “Moonlight Densetsu” from the famous magical girl anime series of the 90s, Bishōjo Senshi Sailor Moon (video by st.taketo; starts at 0:30):

Click picture to watch video

Stage/field shows in general are events where band performs larger selection of music, here as an example Glenn MillerIn The Mood” (starts at 7:31, video by I LOVE BRASS):

Click picture to watch video


Uniforms:

Over the decades the band uniform has of course been changed several times (see more details in this interview). The band current trademark orange uniform was designed in 1981 by band alumna Yamashita-san and is considered a symbol of luck and therefore worn in all competitions the band participates in. Color comes from Citrus tachibana -fruit (mandarine-like fruit growing native in south-western Japan) and the white hair ribbon represents the petals of the flower of the fruit (video by おーじろー2):

Click picture to watch video

Blue-gold uniform has been the other main uniform but the band has practically stopped wearing it in public events since the end of 2016 and it is rarely seen any longer (video below by 慶次郎前田):

Click picture to watch video

Blue happi-coat/white skirt combination (“Hawai’i uniform”) is used only rarely as band does not have enough of them for the whole band any more (video by MIKAN):

Click picture to watch video

For sit-down concerts the band has used the combination of red jacket/white skirt and socks until the end of 2020 (see video below by 京都いろは通信):

Click picture to watch video

New uniform was introduced at the beginning of the band 57th Regular Concert on December 24, 2020 and the band now plays in white tuxedo with orange handkerchief or tie and black trousers:

Click picture to watch video

Occasionally the band also performs in their school uniforms. Here is the band in November 2018 playing in their new school uniforms introduced in 2017 with checkered skirt and light-grey jacket (video by Môde in The Japan):

Click picture to watch video

For winter-time cheering duties to support school soccer and volleyball teams band uses strikingly red jackets with tracksuit pants (video by stakketo):

Click picture to watch video

Although mainly used in practice, black tracksuit pants and white T-shirts are used in some events (e.g. Brass Expo like video below). Drum Major is recognized by the red “T” in her shirt (video by 慶次郎前田):

Click picture to watch video

Members of the percussion wear also sometimes white or black tabard to protect their uniforms (video with black tabards by きりのんch):

Click picture to watch video


Regular events of the band over the year:

(see also this interview for more detailed account of the band activities over the year)

The first outdoor parade after winter break (and the last event of the school year) is typically Kyoto Sakura Parade late March. This is exciting for the fans as it is the first time we can see the new Drum Major and what changes are made to the routine for the year (video by I LOVE BRASS):

Click picture to watch video

The highlight of the year is the Band Regular Concert late March at the end of the school year (note that this event used to take place in Christmas time before 2022 when it was first time held in March). This is the last concert the band 3rd year members play in. The concert is usually split in three parts: first part is “Classical Stage” with classical music, second part is “Pops Stage” with lighter music, and the third and last part is the wild Tachibana-style Stage Marching Show which culminates in the emotional farewell of the retiring 3rd year band members. It is very difficult to attend this Concert in person as the tickets sell out in seconds, but the band sells discs featuring the third part (stage marching show) of the Concerts in recent years (click here and here). Starting from the Concert in 2021 the event can also be seen as pay-per-view online stream.

School year starts in April and late that month freshmen join parade in Blumen Hügel Farm in their school uniforms marching behind the band clapping hands (video by 慶次郎前田):

Click picture to watch video

Freshmen marching debut takes usually place couple of weeks later in early May in Brass Expo (click here for details of their marching routes there) (video by 慶次郎前田):

Click picture to watch video

In June the band typically participates in “Brass Band of 3000” Event at Kyocera Dome, Osaka (video by I LOVE BRASS):

Click picture to watch video

Fall is dedicated for All-Japan Band Competition (August) and All-Japan Marching Contest Qualifications in September and National Final in November (see more of AJBA Competitions here) (video by Marschtanz63):

Click picture to watch video


References:

Contact form of the school, click here.

Kyoto Tachibana High School email: nk (at) tachibana-hs (dot) jp.

School telephone switchboard:
+81-75-623-0066

Band postal address:

京都橘高等高校 吹奏楽部
〒612-8026 京都市伏見区桃山町伊賀50
JAPAN

Telefax number to the band:

+81-75-623-0070
addressed to: 京都橘高等高校 吹奏楽部

Please do NOT send cards, letters, gifts and the like to the band or the band members as the school policy is NOT to deliver them to the students.


244 thoughts on “Background – Band

  1. The content of what Hisashi Hiramatsu sensei is talking about is all well known to KT fans here, but I have included it here as a way of paying tribute to Hiramatsu sensei.

    Kunitachi College of Music Homecoming Day 2020
    Part 2: “Talk and concert by award winners (Hisashi Hiramatsu)”
    Date: 1 November (Sun), 2020
    Venue: Kunitachi College of Music Auditorium Small Hall

    ‘The joy of living I learnt in Kunitachi’

    0:33 My name is Hisashi Hiramatsu. Thank you for introducing me. I am very honored to have received the third Kunitachi Prize (Grand Prize), which is a truly prestigious award, and I am very proud of it.

     To tell the truth, I am currently undergoing anti-cancer drug treatment, and I am living a life where I am hospitalised and even when I am discharged from hospital, I am mostly at home. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to attend the award ceremony, so I recently made a DVD of it. If I were not able to attend the ceremony, I had arranged for it to be made available to the public. But fortunately, today, I am able to attend in this way. So, I would be grateful if you could watch the video now. I am currently a special advisor to the brass bands of Kyoto Tachibana University and Kyoto Tachibana High School. On the occasion of Kyoto Tachibana University’s performance at the Concert Hall on 22 September, I conducted Tchaikovsky’s ‘1812’. The following video shows footage of that performance in the background. Also, Kyoto Tachibana High School participated in the Rose Parade in California, USA. The video also includes footage from that parade. I would like you to watch the video and listen to what I have to say.

    (DVD footage starts here)
    2:56 My name is Hisashi Hiramatsu, and I have just received the 3rd Kunitachi Grand Prize. Thank you very much. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude for the warm guidance and support I have received from many people. In particular, I would like to thank the members of the Keiji-Nara Docho Association for their enthusiastic recommendation of me for this award, and the members of the selection committee, including Mr Yosuke Yamashita, Chairman of the Kunitachi College of Music Docho Association, for selecting me for this award.

    4:03 I studied at the Kunitachi campus for four years from 1954. In the long, quiet environment of the old wooden school building and outdoor stage, I was able to spend time with many teachers, classmates and the whole school in a free and friendly school culture, just like a family. In particular, the late Mr Katsuhiro Kitano of the NHK Symphony Orchestra, from whom I learnt the trumpet, was very kind to me and sometimes I looked forward to having dinner with him after visiting his home for lessons.

    Mr Yoshiyuki Kozu, the winner of the first Kunitachi Prize, was also my senior student of the school. I lived in the dormitory for two years after entering the university, where I had a lively time with many seniors and classmates, including my senior, Mr Yoichi Sugawara, my senior, Mr Kozo Masuda, now deceased, who was a composer and professor at our alma mater, Kunitachi, and Mr Hiroyuki Takara. For me, kunitachi became not only a place to study music, but also an invaluable and important place to be with my friends.

    5:50 After graduation, I was able to join the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra as a trumpet player, and while I was enjoying my youth, sometimes playing the trumpet solo, I suddenly discovered that I had pulmonary tuberculosis. I felt that my life had gone completely black. I spent the next year and a half in hospital. Unfortunately, I had to give up playing the trumpet.

    6:30 Later, I somehow recovered. In 1961, I became a music teacher at Kyoto Tachibana Girls’ Junior and Senior High School, and embarked on a new path, starting a brass band for girls with only 16 members. I also introduced marching with movement to build up the girls’ physical strength and tried to feature feminine performances.

    7:23 In 1970, the Osaka Expo was held, and our band was invited to perform in the marching performance. At that time, professional bands and university bands from abroad came to Japan, and we were greatly impressed and inspired by their wonderful performances. Our band’s performance activities have gradually increased in the local community, and we have been loved by many people. Thanks to this, the number of members has increased, and we have been able to participate in marching contests in the Kansai region and in Japan and have achieved good results.

    8:16 We have also been invited overseas and have been able to travel to the UK and the USA, where we were able to interact with the local people through our performances. We were also able to represent Japan in the Rose Parade, which is said to be the largest in the world and has a history of over 100 years, which was a long-held dream of mine.

    8:48 Meanwhile, as an officer of the brass band associations, I have worked as President of the Kyoto Band Association, the Kansai Brass Band Association and the All Japan Band Association, and from 2006 I was appointed President of the All Japan Band Association for seven years. During that time, I worked on a number of issues, including the improvement of the performance techniques of the 13,000 member organisations nationwide, reform of the management organisation, measures to cope with the declining birthrate, and the way activities should be conducted as amateurs from the very starting point. Another great treasure was the warm exchange with brass band leaders from all over the country.

    9:51 After stepping down as President of the All-Japan Band Association, I taught brass bands and was involved as a special advisor to Kyoto Tachibana High School and Kyoto Tachibana University, both of which I had been a great supporter of. In this way, I have been able to walk through life as a brass band player with young people who love music until the age of 86. This has been a great joy and I have been very happy.

    10:34 Meanwhile, I have also been involved in the activities of the Kunitachi Docho Kai, as president of the Keiji-Nara Docho Kai, welcoming new graduates every year and giving concerts to introduce new members. We have always worked to the best of our ability with a sense of gratitude and respect for others, and have learnt the importance of music and warm human relations from our studies at Kunitachi. I will continue to make every effort to be of service to you.

    11:33 Last but not least, I would like to wish all the members of the association good health and success, as well as the further development of the Kunitachi College of Music, of which I am very proud. Thank you very much for today.

    (DVD ends here)

    Appendix
    ●Dochokai (同調会): name of the alumni association of the Kunitachi College of Music.
    ●Keiji(京滋): Name of Kyoto and Shiga Prefecture combined.
    ●Yoshiyuki Kozu (神津善行)(1932-), famous composer
    ●Yoichi Sugawara (菅原洋一)(1933-) famous singer
    ●3rd Kunitachi Prize:
    (https://www.kunitachi.ac.jp/NEWS/introduction/20200423_01.html)

    Liked by 4 people

    • Thank you for the tribute.
      Professor Hiramatsu’s spirit must surely still be with the band. I remember reading about club president “Su-chi” clutching his portrait as the students anxiously awaited the results of the 2021 National Contest. Sort of proves it, really.

      Liked by 1 person

  2. A final piece of information from me. Hopefully some might find it useful: the 2nd DM of the 107th class (Ōhara-san) was nicknamed “Kuro” (くろ) and played french horn.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Hi ODF

    I noticed that a lot of information regarding club vice presidents have been added to the blog. The information is new to me, so I have studied it with great interrest. However, there is one piece of information that I cannot make sense out of: The club vice president of the 109th class is listed as a percussion member with nickname “Suzu-chan”. Now, I know most nicknames of the 109th class, but the nickname “Suzu-chan” is not familiar to me. And I do know the nicknames of the 4 percussion members of the 109th class, and I can say confidently, that none of them was nicknamed “Suzu-chan”. In my estimation that particular piece of information is not accurate.

    Unrelated, here is another piece of information: The 106th DM played euphonium and had the nickname “Maamen” (まーめん).

    Liked by 2 people

  4. Hi Orangedevilsfan

    I used the wrong instrument abreviation for the club vice presidents. I wrote ‘Tb’ thinking it meant trombone. I should have written ‘Trb’: Cocco and Moon did not play sousaphone; they were trombonists. I apologize for the mistake.

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  5. Can someone tell me on which day will Tachibana play in the Pasadena Bandfest?
    Friday afternoon or Saturday (morning or afternoon? My wife and I are planning on attending, but we want to see the Orange Devils perform. Much love from Bakersfield CA, USA.

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    • No one knows yet. I went to the last one to see the Toho Marching Band and I didn’t buy my ticket until October, when it was announced on which day they were going to be playing.

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      • I did not realize that the bands were divided up over the three performances. One on Friday and two performances on Saturday. It was only by good fortune that we got to see Toho. Hoping to see Tachibana this time.

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        • Tickets for Bandfest are on sale NOW. It’s taking place on Sunday December 29th and Monday December 30th. It was quite a surprise for me, I had no idea tickets went on sale so early. Of course, we don’t yet know which day KT will be performing.

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  6. There is a discrepancy between the recent Orange Fairy video and the information on this page. Here it says Kazuhiro Miya began as coach in 1995, while the video shows that he was coach as early as 1988.

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  7. Hello ODF

    I just noticed you have added a link to a few posts I made in the comment section for the fan corner a while back, which describes class nicknames and handsign. However the description which reads “…each Class (all students, not only the band members) of the school creates a separate annual.“, is a little inaccurate. Perhaps you will allow a small correction: it is not broadly all school members – it is only for band members. And it is not annual – they choose the name in their first year and identify as a group by this name for all 3 years in the band. It is like each individual student gets a nickname in his/her first year which he/she goes by for all her/his time in the band, so also the students in the band from a particular class identify as a group by a certain nickname/motto throughout all 3 years.

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  8. Regarding DMs:

    There is an inaccuracy in the list of DMs regarding the DM of the 107th class. In the above description there is a footnote saying the DM of the 107th class quit and was partially substituted by Horacha. This is inaccurate, since it omits the fact, which is very clear from Orange Fairy’s videos from this time, that a replacement DM was chosen (a french horn player). I suspect that “Ohara-san” is the name of the second DM – but I don’t know. Both 107th-DMs are shown in Freud Alb’s graphic which makes the count given off by one: the DM in the upper left corner is from 1997 (94th class) and not from 1996 as stated. The 2 DMs from 107th class are fourth and fifth from the left in the second row. (The picture of the one who quit with black background). Since the former of the 2 DMs left the band halfway and only functioned briefly as DM – I tend to think of the latter of the two as the “true DM of the 107th class” and the former should arguably not be in the graphic nor on the list of DMs.

    Regarding club presidents:

    The 2015 club president of the 112th class was: Suenaga-san. She played trumpet and was nicknamed “Pao” (ぱお).

    The 2013 club president of the 110th class was an alt-saxophone players. I do not know her real name, but I believe her nickname was “Haru” (春) (which litterally means ‘spring’ – the season)

    The 2011 club president of the 108th class was as trumpet player. Again I only know(?) her nickname: Gachamiruku (ガチャミルク) (but I’m a bit uncertain if I read the letter ミ corectly – it was hard to make out and so could be some other letter).

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Club President of 2020 is Nakamura-san (percussion). Remember we have several videos of her speech representing the band.
    For 2019 I don’t know.
    For 2018, Midori-san (Alto sax) gave speech at ROHM festival. If I heard correctly, the MC introduced her as the club president.
    For 2017 I think the trumpet girl is the club president. I remember a photo of her and Ron stand in front of the band. There is also a clip of her being interviewed about Rose Parade.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Someone told me the nickname of the 2017 club president but I’ve forgotten what it is. If I recall correctly, I think it started with an “M.” I actually know what her real name is but I don’t use it. In that video of her being interviewed by a reporter from a news station, she has a label on her uniform with her nickname on it, but it’s mostly covered by the Rose Parade poster she’s holding up and her nickname can’t be seen. Ron was also there and she had the same label with her name on it.

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  10. I recently discovered your band. As an alumni who played in jazz, concert, and marching band, played in honor bands yearly, won the Louis Armstrong award, was invited to march in the Rose Bowl Parade, and loved my life as a band manager, I was truly moved by the level of mastery you show on the field. I am filled with nostalgia and wish more than ever before for those days in band again. Your beautiful performances have connected with my heart and I truly hope to see the “Orange Devils” in person in my lifetime. Keep bringing music to the world, we are all better for it!

    Liked by 3 people

    • Thank you so very much for all the happiness you give. I appreciate the hard work. The videos of Tachibana at the 2018 Rose Parade are amazing. I hope to see you in 2025. Love watching you perform in all the videos. The best band I have ever seen. I love the dancing and the smiles.
      Love and Respect,
      Matt Smolinski
      Spokane, WA, USA

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  11. Indeed this year KT-band seems successfully reform with their performance A-to-Z and was really good as well
    and finally they won GOLD in national competition after 6years waiting, but in some sense somewhat it was also due to the organization’s courtesy and showing honors to Mr. Hiramatsu who passed away this year,
    Of course KT-band also deserve it though.

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  12. I believe that Kyoto Tachibana SHS Band. Is the Best and most Famous Marching Band in the World. These girls with their Musical Excellence, precision dance, and Heart Warming smiles and Natural Japanese Beauty. Make TACHIBANA forever Immortal.

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  13. I’m trying to gather all the music sheet of pieces played by KT. As far as I’m concerned, ‘Down by the Riverside’ is an arragement made by Paul Yoder, or at least that was what Tanaka told me on Twitter. Do any of you have the scores or know where to get it? I’ll share everything once I finish gathering all just in case there are some musicians like me among us ^^

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