Background – Band competitions in Japan by All-Japan Band Association

Ōsaka-jō Hall, in the background also Osaka Castle

Contents:
– Introduction
– All-Japan Band Competition
– All-Japan Marching Contest
– All-Japan Ensemble Contest
– Japan Marching Band Association (JMBA)
– Drum Corps Japan (DCJ)
– References

Introduction:

The All-Japan Band Association (AJBA) was founded in November 1939 to promote brass band music in Japan. It mainly does that by arranging several large-scale nationwide brass band contests annually, including All-Japan Band Competition and All-Japan Marching Contest.

Harunori Ishizuya (石津谷治法), President of AJBA (May 2021-) (news)

These contests are based on multi-tiered qualification rounds. As an example when Tachibana attends the All-Japan Marching Contest (see more below) it has to first clear Kyoto Qualification (prefectural level) to go to Kansai Qualification (regional level) before reaching the National Finals.

In each contest the bands are awarded either Gold, Silver or Bronze, and the awards are usually distributed relatively evenly among the bands, e.g. if there are 24 bands competing, 8 bands may receive Gold, 8 Silver and 8 Bronze. In the qualifying contests Gold award has actually two levels: Gold with qualifying to the next round, and Gold without qualifying (so called “dud” Gold) as there usually are less qualifying spots available than Gold awards. Getting a “dud” Gold is a big disappointment to a band!

As photography is forbidden there are only very few publicly available videos on these contests, apart from the discs featuring the Gold Award Winners of the National Finals sold by PalsMusicShop (click here for the discs of the All-Japan Band Competition, and here for the discs of the All-Japan Marching Contest). Recent years the National Finals have been streamed also online, as well as some regional qualification rounds.

For more details The Band Post has well-written article on AJBA competitions here.

All-Japan Band Competition:

The All-Japan Band Competition is a symphonic sit-down concert contest for amateur brass bands arranged since 1940 (except for the war and occupation years 1944-56). Participating bands are classified either as Junior High School, High School, University or General. In qualifying rounds each of these classes can be further split into A- and B-category where the competitive bands fall in category A (bands in this category can proceed to the next round in the competition) whereas category B comes with relaxed requirements and is meant for smaller and less experienced bands (bands from this category do not qualify to the next round even though they would win Gold). Competition time is 12 minutes (Category A) and the maximum members in the band is 55 (High School).

Click here for the official rules of the National Finals in 2025 (in Japanese). The 2024 version is here, with English translation here. Note that the rules in the qualifying rounds may differ somewhat.

Seika Girls’ High School led by Noriaki Sakurauchi winning Gold in 2016

Click here for the Tachibana track record in the All-Japan Band Competition.

All-Japan Marching Contest:

The All-Japan Marching Contest is an indoor stage marching show for amateur marching bands first held in 1988 as a commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of AJBA. Participating bands are classified as either “Junior High School” or “High School (and above)” bands. The event started as “All-Japan Marching Festival”, and changed its name to “All-Japan Marching Contest” in 2004. In the early years the event was split into two divisions: “Parade” and “Festival” (Tachibana always competed in “Festival”). In “Parade” the bands wore gym clothes and performed a set of prescribed drill movements (click here for an example performance), whereas in “Festival” the bands wore uniforms and had no limits to their performance (click here for an example performance). In 2007 the “Festival”-division was abolished to differentiate AJBA from the activities of the rival organization JMBA (click also here). JMBA aims at DCI-style performance format, whereas AJBA model is a “marching concert band” (click also here).

The program time is 6 minutes, plus 1 minute is allowed for going in and out of the stage, if the timelimit is exceeded the band is disqualified. The rules set separately for every year require the band to perform certain drill movements (march once around the stage, do a 180 degree turn, etc). Pit instruments and props are not allowed, neither tossing baton or flags in the air (ruled in 2012). In the prefectural qualifying round the band can attend either in the “regulatory” contest where all the rules apply, or in the “free” program where rules don’t apply but the band cannot qualify to next round of the Contest either. Judges are usually active or retired wind musicians themselves, and there are 7 of them in the National Finals, 3 in the qualifying contests. Maximum number of band members is 81, including the Drum Major (ruled in 2013).

The qualification contests are held typically in September, and the National Finals are held in November at Ōsaka-jō Hall (since 2009).

Detailed Contest rules of the National Finals in 2025 are here, in Japanese. The 2024 version is here, with English translation here. Mandatory drill movements in 2024 are described here, in English. Note that the rules in the qualifying contests may differ somewhat.

Detailed data on 2019 Marching Contest qualifications and Finals can be found here.

Tachibana winning Gold in the National Finals of the Marching Contest in 2015

Click here for the Tachibana track record in the All-Japan Marching Contest.

All-Japan Ensemble Contest:

The All-Japan Ensemble Contest (Ancon, アンコン) is a competition for amateur brass band ensembles of 3-8 members, first arranged in 1978 to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of AJBA. Participating bands are classified either as Junior High School, High School, University or General. The program time is 5 minutes, exceeding the allotted time leads to disqualification. The prefectural qualification contests are held in December-January, and the National Finals in March. The venue of the Finals is rotating around Japan.

Click here for the Tachibana track record in the All-Japan Ensemble Contest.

Japan Marching Band Association (JMBA):

The Japan Marching Band Association (JMBA) (also: M-kyō, M協) is a rival organization to AJBA, and similarly it aims at promoting brass band music in Japan by arranging events and contests. Main competition is JMBA National Championship taking place annually in December, and the competition format resembles that of Drum Corps International (DCI) or Winter Guard International (WGI) in the US. Tachibana does not participate in the JMBA activities so they are not covered further in this blog.

Drum Corps Japan (DCJ):

Drum Corps Japan (DCJ) is another organization in Japan following the DCI-style of marching. They were established in 1994, and their aim is to foster the “Drum Corps Spirit” in Japan. They arrange various marching related activities and contests, highlight of the year is the All-Japan Championships taking place typically at the end of November. Again, Tachibana does not participate in these activities so DCJ is not covered further in this blog.

References:

All-Japan Band Association (AJBA) Official Newsletters “Suisōgaku” from December 2018 onwards are here, in Japanese.

All-Japan Band Association (AJBA) Official Twitter-account is here, in Japanese.
All-Japan Band Association (AJBA) website in Japanese is here.
All-Japan Band Association (AJBA) Wikipedia page in English is here.
All-Japan Band Association (AJBA) Wikipedia page in Japanese is here.

All-Japan Band Competition Wikipedia page in English is here.
All-Japan Band Competition Wikipedia page in Japanese is here.

All-Japan Marching Contest Wikipedia page in Japanese is here.

All-Japan Ensemble Contest Wikipedia page in Japanese is here.

Japan Marching Band Association (JMBA) homepage in Japanese is here.
Japan Marching Band Association (JMBA) Wikipedia page in Japanese is here.

Drum Corps Japan (DCJ) homepage in Japanese is here.
Drum Corps Japan (DCJ) Wikipedia page in English is here.

Japanese magazine and website focusing on Drum Corps activities “DrumCorpsFun”, click here.

27 thoughts on “Background – Band competitions in Japan by All-Japan Band Association”

  2. The All-Japan Brass Band Association (AJBA) today published updated Band Competition (sit-down), Marching Contest, and Ensemble Contest rules. They include:

    MARCHING CONTEST 2024 REGULATIONS https://www.ajba.or.jp/00ajba/07_pdf/kitei_naiki2024/5_marching_kiteikadai.pdf
    (I have tried to translate them using a mix of Google and DeepL translators, up to where further explanatory diagrams are shown.)

    Basic concept of the competition
    This competition is held under the consistent concept of “concert bands parading whilst playing as they are,” and does not require excessive staging or flashy attire.
    We hope that many bands will feel free to engage in marching activities as well as concert activities.

    Prescribed tasks
    Prescribed tasks are performed by all performers (including the drum major). In principle, the drum major is at the front of the formation during the prescribed tasks and directs them. There should only be one drum major.

    (1) Three or more columns march round the quadrangle line.
    [Interpretation]
    (a) The outermost part of the formation must always be on or beyond the 20 m line.
    (b) The march must be continuous and the entire formation must not stop.
    (c) A lap shall be completed when the entire formation returns to the starting position.
    (d) The method of turning a corner (a 90-degree turn) is free.

    (2) Three or more columns march along the centre line and make one or more 180-degree turns (each column makes a U-turn).
    [Interpretation]
    (a) Before and after the turn, move forward at least two steps (start the next action after the third step). The drum major will direct the turns and will also make a 180 degree U-turn (I-turns are acceptable).
    (b) The centre line can be either vertical or horizontal.

    (3) Mark time for at least 32 consecutive steps.
    [Interpretation]
    (a) Perform in such a way that it can be confirmed that your heels are clearly raised.
    (b) It is acceptable to move to the next movement on the 32nd step.
    (c) It is acceptable to change direction (pivot) whilst marking time.
    ■ If any of (1), (2) or (3) above is not performed, the competitor may be disqualified.
    ■ If a competitor is unable to perform any of the prescribed tasks due to physical reasons, the organisers must be notified in advance and their permission received.

    Equipment, props, musical instruments, and conductor
    (1) The use of equipment must follow the basic principles of the competition.
    (2) The use of props and pit instruments is not permitted.
    (3) Throwing major batons and flags is prohibited to prevent accidents.
    (4) The lineup will consist of woodwinds, brass, and percussion instruments. The use of electric bass, piano, celesta, and harp is not permitted.
    (5) If there is a conductor in addition to the drum major, the conductor does not have to perform the prescribed tasks.

    ADDITIONAL JUDGING CRITERIA FOR THE 2024 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
    https://www.ajba.or.jp/competition.html#shinsa_kanten
    This is the Google translation of the competitions/contest of interest to KT:

    [All Japan Band Competition] (sit-down competitions)
    As a music competition, performances are not only judged on sound and technique, but also by actively listening to the musical expression and judging based on the following items:
    – Is the playing technique (breathing, pronunciation, etc.) used to produce a beautiful, rich sound?
    – Is the music expression (pitch, rhythm, harmony, phrasing, balance, etc.) based on a thorough reading of the sheet music?

    [All Japan Ensemble Contest]
    Judging will be based on the following criteria.
    – Does each instrument resonate richly and clearly?
    – Is the performance colorful and with a tone that suits the characteristics of each instrument?
    ・Are the melody, rhythm, and harmony well expressed in line with the piece?
    (including pitch, balance, blend, etc.)

    [All Japan Marching Contest]
    Judging will be based on the following criteria:

    – Is the playing technique (breathing, pronunciation, etc.) used to produce a beautiful, rich sound?
    – Is the music expression (pitch, rhythm, harmony, phrasing, balance, etc.) based on a thorough reading of the sheet music?

    Is there harmony between sound and movement?
    – The composition of the performance and its execution.

    OVERALL BAND COMPETITION (sit-down) REGULATIONS are here: https://www.ajba.or.jp/00ajba/07_pdf/kitei_naiki2024/2_concours.pdf

    OVERALL MARCHING CONTEST REGULATIONS are here: https://www.ajba.or.jp/00ajba/07_pdf/kitei_naiki2024/4_marching.pdf
    (These include the judging rules and scoring system.)

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    • Alan. If at all possible, could you please compare the rules and regulations of Japanese contests to those of DCI drum & bugle corps contests? And, would you please include a judging sheet used by the judges? That would be awesome to compare the judging sheets … side by side. Our d&b corps would then use those judging sheets in order to improve the corps for the next contest. My marching color guard would use judging sheets in the same way. But, wait a minute. DCI corps would have several contests throughout the summer climaxing in one final contest in August. Do
      Japanese bands have just the one big contest to determine the best? In both a sit down and a marching contest? In all my time, I have never heard of a DCI drum & bugle corps having a sit down concert contest. If other members of the blog wish to add to this discussion, please do so.

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      • Rich- KT is not a DCI band. As described elsewhere on this page, the AJBA, to which KT belongs, is not a DCI related organisation. As can be seen from the above, AJBA marching contest rules are different and bands are judged on their musicality and on “harmony between sound and movement”. Concerning the separate “sit-down” competitions, most if not all AJBA bands take part, including of course KT.
        The Japanese bodies related to DCI-type activities are the Japan Marching Band Association (JMBA) https://www.japan-mba.org/
        and Drum Corps Japan http://dcjpn.org/ja/corps/

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  3. Song titles performed by KT in AJMC’s National Final (#1~#30) are picked up from the book “80 Years of the All-Japan Band Association” (2019).

    All of #10~#35 are listed on the website of Kyoto Prefecture Band Association.
    http://www.kyoto-suiren.jp/marching/marchindex.htm

    [1] 1988
    “Fighting Tachibana ’88”
    Gonna Fly Now (Theme From “Rocky”) (B. Conti)
    Eye of the Tiger (F. Sullivan, J. Peterik)

    [2] 1989
    Rock’n Roll Medley (arr. Naohiro Iwai)

    [3] 1990
    Disney Medley II (arr. Toshihiko Sahashi)

    [5] 1992
    “Renewal Sensation”
    Siboney (E. Lecuona)
    Cotton Club Stomp (D. Ellington)
    Dixieland Spectacular (arr. J. Edmondson)

    [7]1994
    Little Brown Jug (G. Miller)
    Pennsylvania 6-5000 (G. Miller)
    Tuxedo Junction (G. Miller)
    In the Mood (G. Miller)

    [9] 1996
    Siboney (E. Lecuona / arr. Naohiro Iwai)
    Tequila (C. Rio / arr. Kenjiro Urata)
    Amapola (J. M. Lacalle / arr. Naohiro Iwai)
    El Cumbanchero (R. Hernandez / arr. Yoshihiro Kimura)

    [10] 1997
    “Sol de Mexico”
    Estrellita (M. Ponce / arr. Toshihiko Sahashi)
    Tijuana Taxi (E. Coleman / arr. Toshio Mashima)
    Mexican Hat Dance (F.A. Partichela / arr. M. Aquila)
    Children of Sanchez (C. Mangione / arr. Naohiro Iwai)

    [11] 1998
    “Duke de Stomp”.
    Take the “A” train (B. Strayhorn / arr. Iwai Naohiro)
    Cotton Club Stomp #1 (D. Ellington / arr. Mashima Toshio)
    Caravan (D. Ellington, J. Tizol / arr. Naohiro Iwai)
    It Don’t Mean a Thing (D. Ellington / arr. Kenji Nakagawa)

    [13] 2000
    “Enjoy! Tijuana Brass With Powerful Tachibana”
    The Maltese Melody (B. Kaemfert, H. Rehbein / arr. Kenjiro Urata)
    Rise (R. Badazz, A. Armer / arr. Kosuke Onozaki)
    Route 101 (J. C. Calderon / arr. Naohiro Iwai)
    Fandango (J. C. Calderon / arr. Kazuhiro Morita)

    [20] 2007
    “Line of Dance”
    Annie Laurie (Scottish folk song / arr. Atsuhiro Isozaki)
    The Bandwagon (P. Sparke)
    Sing Sing Sing (L. Prima / arr. Naohiro Iwai)

    [21] 2008
    “Swing with US!”
    Ave Verum Corpus (W. A. Mozart / arr. Keiko Ohkubo)
    The Bandwagon (P. Sparke)
    Sing Sing Sing (L. Prima / arr. Naohiro Iwai)
    Swing Swing Swing (J. Williams / arr. J. Bocock)

    [22] 2009
    “Let’s dance all”!
    Canterbury Chorale (J. Van der Roost)
    The Bandwagon (P. Sparke)
    Sing Sing Sing (L. Prima / arr. Naohiro Iwai)
    Swing Swing Swing (J. Williams / arr. J. Bocock)

    [24]2011
    その胸に抱け青雲の志(Let it left in your mind) (Jun-ichi Naito)
    The Bandwagon (P. Sparke)
    Sing Sing Sing (L. Prima / arr. Naohiro Iwai)
    A Night in Tunisia (J. D. Gillespie / arr. Toshio Mashima)
    Swing Swing Swing (J. Williams / arr. J. Bocock)

    [27]2014
    “Dream Come True”
    Cat’s Tales (P. Graham)
    Merry-Go-Round (P. Sparke)
    Take Five (P. Desmond / arr. Tetsunosuke Kushida)
    Swing Swing Swing (J. Williams / arr. J. Bocock)
    Sing Sing Sing (L. Prima / arr. Naohiro Iwai)

    [28]2015
    “Find Your Adventure”
    Highlights from Planes (M. Mancina / arr. M. Brown)
    Merry-Go-Round (P. Sparke)
    Misty (E. Garner / arr. M. Lewis)
    Sing Sing Sing (L. Prima / arr. Naohiro Iwai)
    Swing Swing Swing (J. Williams / arr. J. Bocock)

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  4. Thanks to information provided by Tetsuya T with reference to the book “80-year history of the All Japan Band Association (2019)”, and by cross-referencing with the information provided by Orange Fairy, I think data about KT performance at the All-Japan Marching Contest prior to 2005 can now be provided as follows:

    2004: did not qualify from Kansai
    2003: did not qualify from Kansai
    2002: did not qualify from Kansai
    2001: did not qualify from Kansai
    2000: National Finals (award not known)
    1999: 3-year rule
    1998: National Finals Good sound award
    1997: National Finals Good sound award
    1996: National Finals Good sound award
    1995: did not qualify from Kansai
    1994: National Finals Good sound award
    1993: did not qualify from Kansai
    1992: National Finals (award not known)
    1991: 3-year rule
    1990: National Finals (award not known)
    1989: National Finals (award not known)
    1988: National Finals (award not known)

    Notes:
    – Before 2007, the Marching Contest was divided into two categories: Parade and Festival, with Kyoto Tachibana competing in the latter.
    – Before 2004, the top awards were known as “Good Sound Awards”.

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  5. Pingback: Kyoto Tachibana High's 'Orange Devils' Take Taiwan's People by Storm | JAPAN Forward

  6. Band and marching contests may change starting this year.
    Letter(30/05/2022) from the President of the All Japan Band Association (http://www.ajba.or.jp/news.html)-in Japanese
    Although the details have not yet been announced, “We are pleased to inform you of our decision to publish the results (presumed to be the scoring results) of each organization and group in the national contest, with the name of the organization (group) and the names of the judges clarified, in each organization (group) and in the bulletin “Suisogaku（すいそうがく）.”

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  7. The appointment yesterday of 石津谷治法 Harunori Ishizuya as new President of the AJBA provides an opportunity to look at what is probably the major improvement he could initiate.
    Of the AJBA’s 23 Officers, none are female.
    Of the AJBA’s 62 Regular Members, only 4 are female (6.5%).
    Of the 7 Judges of the 2019 32nd All Japan Marching Contest, none were female.

    Given that the majority, probably most Brass Band participants are female, this is worrying. It is hard to avoid concluding that a block is in place to counter the prospects of women with aspirations. Moreover, it is likely that a school band promoting feminine values would not be appreciated by men who have long defended values that may be considered their opposite. Regardless of nation, serious questions inevitably arise when an organisation retains in the hands of men control of the activities of thousands of young women. Hopefully, the new President will wish to move quickly to recognise and address the situation.
    Source documents: http://www.ajba.or.jp/gaiyou.htm (list of AJBA Officers & Regular Members @ 18 May 2021); http://www.ajba.or.jp/marcon32koukou.htm (32nd All Japan Marching Contest Judges)

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  12. Just for the record, from 2007 to 2019 a total of 25 medals were awarded at each AJBA National Marching Contest. They included 7 to 11 annual Gold awards (e.g. 8 out of 25 in 2007 and 11 out of 25 in 2019).

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  14. The 67th All-Japan Band Competition (final) will be live-viewed. The theater to be screened will be announced later.
    Reference　in Japanese (https://gaga.ne.jp/suisougaku-live/)
    I hope that the 32nd All-Japan Marching Contest will also be live-viewed,and I hope that both will be relayed over the Internet.
    However, it is unclear whether KT can advance to the finals.
    　By the way, the JMBA National Championship (final) was relayed over the Internet this year.

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  15. If I understand this right, more than one band can win gold in the final or am I mistaken? And how many band qualifies from the Kyoto competition to the regional competition?

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