Fan Corner

This page is dedicated to discussion on activities related to Tachibana, O-VILS., Pink Devils, Donguriband, and other Japanese Brass Bands, as well as additional topics covered in this blog.

Before asking, read: Fact Sheet, FAQ, and background-articles on: Band, School, Competitions. If there is a term or abbreviation you do not understand, click here for Vocabulary.

Detailed rules of the discussion are here.

QR-codes for the mobile user are here.

Advice: You can comment anonymously without filling “name”- or “email”-fields but please note that in this case WordPress will put your comment into the moderation queue and it may take a while until I release it (note that if you fill the “email”-field it will not be made public). The same will happen if your comment is very short, or it contains 10 or more links.

If you want to search something among the quite large number of comments, first click here. In the Google search box, type a space followed by the character string(s) you’re looking for. Then, from the list of results, use your browser’s search function to find the string on each page.

Click the END key or search word “commentbox” to go to the comment box at the end of this webpage.

50,285 thoughts on “Fan Corner”

  1. With everything going on in the world I’m guessing we can all do with a laugh. This is indeed a real product, and the YouTube commercials are hilarious. The girl is actually a Scot, (Edinburgh, if I know my Scottish accents) but has a fabulous English accent.

    ..Joe

    https://youtu.be/ZKLnhuzh9uY

    Like

    Reply

  2. New article: “Details of the 2020 Japan Honor Green Band U.S. Expedition”, based on the interview of Yuzuru Kumagai (GBA) by Rei’ichirō Fukuno, click here.

    Video content of the article is meant for the readers of this blog and is available for limited time.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  3. As the video of WasedaSeturyo was posted,
    In fact, many KT fans in Japan are also fans of Waseda.
    This site is useful if you are looking for Waseda videos. “http://www.stcm.co.jp/HighSchoolMarchingBandJapan/pg352.html” (This site also has many links for KT and many bands.)

    WasedaSeturyo’s trivia-1.
    They hang weight on their feet during their daily life at school to improve their leg strength.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      • J.J. — Thank you for the post. Waseda Setsuryo is one of my most favorite bands … and your post has given me several hours of pleasant viewing. Thank you so much for posting this link.

        Like

        Reply

    • WasedaSeturyo’s trivia-2.
      WasedaSeturyo used to be a boy’s school. This is a video at that time, “Brass Band of 3000”.

      It started with a corporate band and changed to high school. Since then, management has changed and the name has changed twice. Originally a boys school, it became a girls’ school after a change of management. After that, the school has now become a co-educational school, but the band consists only of girls.
      This video is a band of the year when girls entered.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    • This was their performance in December 2019, playing a wonderful tune that was originally written for a NHK kids show, Foorin, which has pretty much gone viral. Waseda Setsuryo have been performing it regularly as part of their repertoire.
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26SFyateNr8
      I don’t recall hearing KT perform this song (yet)
      Doing a bit of research on that song, reveals a really deep meaning that the composer, Kenshi Yonezu, wanted to convey. This is his official video…

      I’m sure many here might have heard of the Obon festival, but this explanation given in a comment on the official song makes me appreciate it even more.
      From a comment by “jurist”
      （外国の方への説明文）Let me provide some background so non-Japanese can better understand the song:
      Yonezu originally wrote the song for Foorin, a kids vocal group, for a theme song for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, an event for world peace.
      Notably, this self-cover music video (“MV”) was released on the very day the A-bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki 74 years ago;
      the MV was released right before a traditional summer season called “Obon,” a time of the year when those that have passed away return and are welcomed to their family town from a spiritual place; people traditionally visit their family grave during Obon season to share their fond memories with the spirits; red spider lilies, which shows up repeatedly in the MV, is a flower that people offer to the spirits during Obon season.
      So, apparently, this song is a song for the victims of Hiroshima/Nagasaki, and this is Yonezu’s own way of expressing his hope for peace.

      The MV is, for the most part, in sync with the lyrics and there are subtle symbolisms involved:
      The crane (symbolizing peace); the child in the red cape standing like the Children of Hiroshima sculpture (victim); the man with the straw hat and the other girl being depicted as an adult at times, but not the child with the cape; the child with the cape being unnoticed by adults but only the two children and the baby can see. I assume that there are many more symbolisms that haven’t been identified yet.

      The real surprise and the true art here is that the original song by Foorin was an upbeat song sang by Children, the lyrics were read from the perspective of a child. It was a big hit in Japan. It is a happy song, giving listeners a nostalgic feeling of a fun and exciting childhood summer. However, even though the lyrics to the song are the exact same, Yonezu successfully transformed the song to a sentimental song with a melancholy melody when he sang it from the perspective of an adult, with an MV depicting the celebration of the spirit of the loved ones who have passed away.
      It is only then when we realize the real meaning of the song. The hidden flower symbolism of “Paprika” (the title of the song )is: “I miss you so much,” “I will never forget you.” Suddenly the lyrics can be read and understood from a totally different angle. I hope someone can provide a good translation! Love from Japan!

      Like

      Reply

  4. KT fan! Do you not see this after a long absence?
    The creator of this video, Anna Film Productions, has posted many wonderful Kyoto footage. You can feel like traveling in Kyoto.

    Like

    Reply

    • But I and not sure “Anna” is a she. I’ve identified 2 of the 3 cameramen at last year’s Blumen Hugel, and they were indeed men.

      I think it just might be the name of the company.

      Regardless, they’re VERY good at what they do!

      ..Joe

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    • True, Anonymous-san and Paul-san, I did note their video quality being a cut above the rest, starting with the title-artwork from a talented artist, and their use of good editing from multiple cameras, excellent audio quality.
      Their video about Gion highlights the concern of the community there, which I’m guessing is an influence for the unwarranted attention the KT kids are getting from the paparazzi.

      Like

      Reply

      • I don’t know if it’s just me, but I felt a bit sick to my stomach seeing those foreigners taking photography of the Maiko ladies. A kind of voyeuristic. I felt like the foreigners took away the Maikos’ agency with just taking photos without permission. I don’t know if western people’s culture are just like that but it’s weird….. I’m guessing Anna Film productions asked permission from the Maikos first to follow them around with video.

        Like

        Reply

        • This is a good example where it does look like a commissioned shoot, and looks like a private ceremony with friends in the small crowd.

          From the description: On November 8, 2019, Toshiemi-san and Kikuyae-san made their debut as geiko. Kotsuru-san and Kohatsu-san made their debut as Maiko.
          In the comments, Anna Film explains what is going on here:
          “Erikae (襟替え, the turning of the collar) is a ceremony where a maiko (an apprentice geisha) becomes a geisha and begins to wear the white collar of a geisha instead of the red worn by apprentices. Her hairstyle would also be changed from the ofuku-style to the shimada worn by older women.”
          “Misedashi (店だし, making business public) in Japan is a ceremony where a shikomi (an aspiring geiko) becomes a maiko (an apprentice geiko) and officially begins their career. After the ceremony is over the maiko will be guided through the streets by an otokoshi-san (male dresser) to their teachers and other okiya to thank them for their support and let them know they have debuted.”
          Totally agree that the tourists have made things worse by taking shots without permission, leading to the new rules in that region. I’m thinking the same happens to private performances with KT, but the paparazzi throng that follows them through the Teramachi Arcade is only going to get worse as the popularity goes.

          Like

          Reply

    • Anonymous- Anna Film Productions continues to produce number 1 rate videos. I still remember their production of KT at Blumen Hugel Farm (2019).

      Like

      Reply

    • 00:36 Down by the Riverside
      02:22 Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da by The Beatles
      04:09 A Hard Day’s Night by The Beatles

      Disney Medley:
      05:17 Disney’s Fantillusion!
      05:41 Whistle While You Work (Cinderella)
      06:26 Chim Chim Cher-ee (Mary Poppins)
      06:50 A Whole New World (Aladdin)
      07:24 I’ve Got A Dream (Tangled)
      08:18 Kiss the Girl (The Little Mermaid)
      08:55 Be Our Guest (Beauty and the Beast)
      09:10 A Friend Like Me (Aladdin)
      09:34 It’s a Small World
      10:04 Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah (Song of the South)
      10:37 It’s a Small World

      11:30 Don’t Say That Again by Shakatak (Arrangement: Naohiro Iwai)

      14:51 Part of Your World (The Little Mermaid)
      15:31 Under the Sea (The Little Mermaid)
      16:29 Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah (Song of the South)
      17:00 I See the Light (Tangled)
      18:54 Swing, Swing, Swing! by John Williams

      Like

      Reply

      • Anonymous-san….. Thank you for your list of songs. My question is, with all these songs, and there are a lot of them, “how does KT wind club remember what musical key to press, without sheet music? All this notes are memorized, except in concerts. I think this is true to most all Japanese bands. tachibana tension

        Like

        Reply

    • Paul M- You are correct. There were two. Was this the only place they played Beatles songs? The video is located in the EVENT section of the BLOG. I did see the Mode Japan stamp in the right corner. Because of the parent’s concerns about comments, I discontinued comments on videos. your tomodachi

      Like

      Reply

        • Johndoe-san…. You are correct, I forgot about the graduation, and the band playing Beatles songs. I think Tanaka was a Beatles’ fan. Thank you (arigatou)

          Like

          Reply

      • Paul M….. my tomodachi. I know, after working with young to older teenagers at YMCA camps, their curiosities sometimes overwhelm their “not to do” instructions. In the west, when children are told not to do something, they do it because you told them not to do it. Of all the students in Japan,and there are a lot, I just don’t get no student have not had the curiosity to check the “BLOG” out. For children and adults, this is the safest BLOG on the internet. Now with the Corvid-19 and the government sending everyone to their room (house), I spend days at my computer, turning my computer on, and watching videos of bands, doesn’t matter which band, although, I do watch KT, the most. I think the school will open on the 25th, and I would think the students can’t wait. agatte rita

        Like

        Reply

    • There was something special about 115- they were riding the crest of popularity after the Rose Parade, they had an adorable, beaming DM who delighted everyone with her smile, they had popular and known kids with Penguin-Chan- among others – in her second year, and they were accessible via video before the parents went stupid.

      They might not have been Gold Gold level at competing, but they WERE Gold Gold at entertaining, and that was always the main desire of Hiramatsu-san.

      ..Joe

      Liked by 5 people

      Reply

  7. Svet (Rizzo’s wife) and I were cleaning his studio when I chanced upon a music sheet. It says “You’re My KT Dream”.
    Svet said it was a cover version of an original song “All My Only Dream” by a band named The Wonders.
    She told me Rizzo used to serenade her with the original song when they were still sweethearts.
    When Rizzo became a KT fan, he changed a few lines from the original and dedicated it to KT.
    He and his kids would always sing it during their bonding time.
    If you guys in this blog would like to sing along, here’s the lyrics. The original is in youtube. Just type “All My Only Dream – The Wonders Lyrics”.

    EVERY NIGHT I PRAY, I’LL HAVE YOU HERE SOMEDAY.
    I’LL COUNT THE STARS TONIGHT, AND HOPE WITH ALL MY MIGHT.
    AND WHEN I CLOSE MY EYES, YOU’LL BE RIGHT BY MY SIDE

    IF I COULD ONLY HAVE ONE WISH,YOU’D BE THE BAND I’D LOVE TO MEET
    YOU’RE MY K.T. DREAM.

    AND WHEN I CLOSE MY EYES, YOU’LL BE RIGHT BY MY SIDE
    IF I COULD HAVE JUST ONE REQUEST, STAY WITH ME GIRLS I CONFESS
    YOU’RE MY K.T. DREAM.

    ANY WAKING HOUR IT SEEMS, I ONLY HAVE YOU IN MY DREAMS.

    SO EVERY NIGHT I PRAY, I’LL HAVE YOU HERE ONE DAY
    I’LL COUNT THE STARS TONIGHT, AND HOPE WITH ALL MY MIGHT

    AND WHEN I CLOSE MY EYES, YOU’LL BE RIGHT BY MY SIDE
    IF I COULD HAVE JUST ONE REQUEST, STAY WITH ME GIRLS I CONFESS
    YOU’RE MY K.T. DREAM…

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

      • Signor DET, my cousin Rizzo is one extremely romantic fellow. Girls swoon over him. He has this special appeal that’s irresistible. Even children finds him adorable. Even I used to have a crush on him when we were young. He told me once that he was put into this world to bring happiness and smile on everyone. No wonder he loves KT very much. They are pretty much the same as him.

        Like

        Reply

        • Giancarla-san… konnichiwa Ohayogozaimasu: (hello Good Morning) I love to hear him talk about his kids, and his joking with them. I get the feeling that he is in love with his family. Like everyone here on the BLOG, and fans across the world, his love for KT wind club is well known. Not only does he run a clinic for those who are totally KT wind club affected, he does give Japanese language lessons. a tomodachi

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply

  8. From “trocken Sand” on Mr. Jphnson’s blog:
    60th Anniversary “3000 people of the brass band” Event Summary
    ■ Date: June 20 (Saturday) doors open / 14:00 raising of the curtain / 15: 00　
    ■ Venue: Kyocera Dome Osaka
    ■ Organizer: Kansai Telecasting / 3,000 Wind execution Committee
    ■ admission 😦 freedom Sekiken) advance 1700 yen / day of 2100 yen
    (upper reserved seat tickets) advance 2100 yen / day 2,500 yen
    (lower reserved seat tickets) advance 2100 yen / day 2,500 yen
    ■ advance tickets Release Date: April 18 (Saturday) before 10: 00 ～
    ￭ inquiry: “3000 people of the brass band” performances Secretariat (Kansai business station) 06-6314-8262 (11:00 to 18:00 except Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays)
    ￭ official HP : https: //www.ktv.jp/event/3000/

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • ODF-san… Thanks for the information. i read in the school website, that they had cancelled the student study trips to Hawaii, and Okinawa, Did not say anything about the Wind Club, but it might affect them also. arigatou

      Like

      Reply

        • ODF-san…. Thanks, I try to go into the school website every few days, trying to keep up with the many cancellations and re-openings. That’s good news that March 25 is the date for reopening. I don’t know what effects Covid-19 is to Kyoto, but here the schools are closed, Some schools are closed until Sept. Only carry-outs for all stores. No more than 10 people to gather in groups. Toilet tissue is more important for some people than food. Many of the stores can’t keep enough toilet tissue stocked. Although most people are calm, in bigger cities, there is a underlying of panic. SAD

          Like

          Reply

          • DET-san… Don’t forget about the 6′ rule! When you go into your favorite store, make sure you have a tape measure so you can keep the proper distance 😉 A friend in Australia sent me an email about the hording of toilet paper also. A worldwide phenomenon – unreal!

            Like

            Reply

            • Jim T…. Can’t forget about the 6 ft. rule. I think there’s a song somewhere about the toilet tissue; “Give me my toilet paper, and forget about the beans.hey,hey, hey.” tachibana tension

              Like

              Reply

  10. Long time lurker, first time poster so im sorry if this isn’t the correct place to share this.

    I’ve always heard that the band sometimes practices without any instruments and I’ve seen short clips of that here and there but never a full performance until now.

    Is it bad that i could perfectly hear and follow the song in my head lol

    Liked by 9 people

    Reply

    • I’m a relative newcomer to KT, 6 weeks in KTSHSB-AA (Kyoto Tachibana SHS Band – Addicts Anonymous) – it’s a perfectly normal symptom, I’m told.
      Advanced symptoms of this infection haven’t quite set in, but it does appear those would involve wanting to learn the choreographed dance steps to Sing3 whilst wearing an orange skirt. Our resident MD will only prescribe more KT to satisfy the cravings and hopefully stem the desire to wear that skirt.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

    • i thought it sounded like they were singing the song while doing the choreography. i couldn’t be sure with all that racket the other bands were making.

      Like

      Reply

  11. Pure Gold Part Deux:

    2009 Osaka-jo. The second year in a row that they took Gold. I gotta be honest: every time I see them perform the squares, I get nervous- I’ve seen too many videos where one of the kids take a tumble, and it’s usually a Euphonium or Sousaphone, and the potential for an injury is high.

    They’re being released in order. I hope 2010 and 2011 are there too: there’s far too few videos of those years.

    ..Joe

    https://youtu.be/hO_dq04Hk2Q

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • JOE, thank you for finding the video of the All Japan Marching Contest 2007-2009. In 2010, there will be very few videos, as we had not competed in the contest due to the rule that clubs with two consecutive gold prizes cannot participate. 2008. 2011 and 2012 were featured on TV programs, and in 2011, the Marching Kyoto, Kansai, and national tournaments were tracked in this TV program. Square, we call it “GURUGURU”, was endangered on the TV in 2011, and eventually one of the students stunned, and has not been done since 2013.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

      • Hi Y A M A N A K A-SAN/Joe-san….. it is hard to find the best KT performance, since all are very special. The earliest performances seem to be very good ones, but I have to remember that it took Tanaka-sensei, (1995-2018), Yokoyama-sensei, and AKEMI HAYAMI-san many years before they could produce a champion like KT. The 2012 RP put KT on the world map. Looking back, I also liked the 2015 AJMC performance,
        It seems that Yutaka Kaneshiro-sensei is doing a good job, but think what the band will be in future years. Now with this Virus, and the school closed, I would think the band members are home practicing, but not as a group.

        Like

        Reply

        • I would love to see a special event re-union event, where you have those students who graduated from KT and are in college, come back and do a performance with their respective senior class… I’m sure the students continues with their music lessons, because they were excellent as band members, they would be just as experienced today…

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply

          • Y A M A N A K A=san It would be a real treat to see past wind club members back at the school. While the school is close, I thought it good to see other bands. This is the Godern Bears at the Brass 3000.

            Like

            Reply

        • Hi Paul M…. That was a very good performance, and I can’t remember if I saw the 2014 video of their performance before or not, until today. I thought I had seen Mosra in a graduation video. Wish everyone to stay safe. arigatou

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply

        • My favorite part of the green floor video is the DM’s speech at the party afterwards where she asks the 1st and 2nd year students “to achieve the dreams that we could not do”, that’s exactly what they did do in 2015 🙂

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply

          • Johndoe-san/PaulM-san…. Just finished watching Oekyama Shuten-doji field show on this BLOG”s Events 2016. This must have been the last Field Show KT wind club did, (10/30/2016). They really sound good. Can’t find any field shows past 2016. There was one field show where they played “Little Brown Jug”. I think it might have been before 2016. oyasuminasai

            Like

            Reply

        • Ah… 2014: the year of my favorite performer- Puree, (or Pyurre, never sure which) and on the drum kit, we also had Menthapu, who I think was the best overall drummer in the annals of KT- she had a dynamism that many kids lack.

          Plus, she had that gorgeous Gene Tierney overbite! 🙂

          ..Joe

          Like

          Reply

          • Hi Joe! ,yes Menthapu was a great drummer and had a great charisma.I cannot forget the encouragement smile and handshake she had with Nancy right before the final performance at Osaka Jo Hall.I belive that the 2014 Tachibana percussion section to be the all time Tachibana best.

            Like

            Reply

          • Joe- Ah yes, the 2014 KT Wind Club had a smooth professional sound. In the Oeyama Shuten-doji performance, Tanaka-sensei or Yokoyama-sensei moved the brass section to the back, and rearranged the woodwind section in front. Like during concert arrangements. It created a richer sound. The brass section could still be heard over the woodwinds. I could hear the woodwind section better, I know in parades, the woodwind section is at the very back, in order to keep the brass from drowning the woodwind section out, but if I was standing in front of the band, it would be hard to hear the woodwinds, unless I was at the back. My 5500 yen worth

            Like

            Reply

        • Hi confused: Hope this URL will help explain a Field Show. This video was taken in the outer lands of Japan-2014 The video is recorded in EVENTS 2014. There are two parts and I guarantee the sound is amazing. It was just a performance for the county folk. KT was the only band or if there were other bands , they were hiding . https://youtu.be/AZ1QMjUkiZo

          Like

          Reply

        • Nice video from 2014, DET-san, it seems like the only recording of theirs with the Beatles medley with Obladi-Oblada, and a nice variation of their staple Disney tunes.

          Like

          Reply

          • Hi The Sledge-san… Konnichiwa ogenkidesuka (good afternoon, how are you) Since the school has closed, and hopefully will re-open March 25, going back in history is a way to smooth a man’s soul. It is refreshing to see some of the old videos, and dream that KT Wind Club will be able to do the Blumen Hugel and all the other engagements. tachibana tension or Agatte Rita

            Liked by 1 person

            Reply

          • Hi The Sledge…. There was another performance, where they used a Beatles song, I can’t remember where, but it was one of the Beatles’ first songs. ” It’s a Hard Days Night” Can’t remember if it was during a parade or concert. Maybe I will find it, and put a URL on the video. tomodachi

            Liked by 1 person

            Reply

        • DET — This is in reply to the Golden Bears show. As a former DCI snare drummer, it was awesome to see as many as 10 snare drummers do their routine. What is most awesome to me was the fact that all 10 of them were “sticking” together! Hope you know what I mean when I say that. Add the other percussion and it was a total delight to watch them. Thanks for sharing, DET.

          Like

          Reply

          • Rich-san…. I enjoyed the sticking together. Did you see the one drummer loosing his one stick. Being as professional as they were, he or she did not pick it up until sticking together ended. That’s class!
            arigatou

            Like

            Reply

        • Hi, Det-san, I thought her nickname was Nancy , I heard one of her colleagues call hear that :” Nancy you’re the best” after the finals at Osaka Jo Hall.

          Like

          Reply

          • Radu-san…. You could be correct. Nancy just doesn’t sound a Japanese name, but so doesn’t Coca-Cola, or Starbucks. tachibana tension

            Like

            Reply

        • Speaking of 2014, I think one of my favorite numbers was played during their December final stage show. We all love Sing3 but the fun these kids in their Blue & Gold kit had with “Shake a Tail Feather” (5:45 mark) from their Great Memory 2014 is WOW! Enjoy

          Like

          Reply

          • Jim T…. 2014 was a very good year for KT. I think it was a preparation for 2015, and the GOLD. There’s another asphalt concert some where. I’m on the hunt. tomodachi

            Like

            Reply

        • Paul M…. Boy, talking about confusion. I am trying to reply to you, while watching Goldie Hawn on the old TV program “Laugh-In”. Listening to her is confusion, Laugh-In is on the Laff network. The KT show was on asphalt and one of my first videos. I can remember another video, showing the wind club members using strings to mark the lines, before the performance, and the wind was blowing so strong, some of the members had trouble standing straight. I think this was the performance where they played, “Little Brown Jug.” I’ll try to find this show. a tomodachi

          Like

          Reply

        • DET-san, arigato gozaimasu, yes, thankfully for us there is a cornucopia of historical recordings of KT performances to fall back on.
          As for bands other than KT that have wowed audiences around the world, this was the Waseda Setsuryo Wind Band showing the Italians how they do it at a marching band festival in Giulianova back in 2014.

          What I found spectacular was their parade ground performance where the band members some acrobatic moves normally left to the cheerleaders. Talk about insane athleticism.

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply

            • Mito First have also won my heart with their performance of Sing3

              I particularly enjoy their woodwind in this performance, especially the male clarinet’s solo, you can tell he was having fun.

              Like

              Reply

      • I had forgotten that they didn’t compete in 2010. There’s precious few videos of that year. Hopefully we get to see a performance or two from then.

        ..Joe

        Like

        Reply

    • I am Japanese. I don’t speak English, so I rely on google translation. The two TV shows are about two comedians and a newscaster, who will play musical instruments with the help of Tachibana Band Music Club. It would not be worth translating into English. However, I have never seen an English translation of two TV programs, 2010 and 2011, which tell the daily life of the Tachibana Band Music Club and have fun and moving stories. The two TV programs were also popular with Japanese Tachibana fans, and I saw them and became fans. However, in the two videos summarizing the challenges of the 2014 and 2015 All Japan Marching Contest, somebody has subtitled in English. Even on this site, some of the videos are uploaded without subtitles. Please find it by all means. He has also added English subtitles to other videos, such as the Tachibana Festival. (I don’t need much English subtitles for Tachibana Festival)

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

      • YAMANAKA-san, thank you for your contributions. Don’t worry about your English, the translation seems to be working enough for us to understand you. The show seems quite entertaining, with the kids back in 2008 enjoying themselves with the 3 jokers. Is the show still on?

        Like

        Reply

        • The 2008 TV program ended with two broadcasts. Tachibana High School’s brass band was too popular in the TV broadcasts of 2011 and 2012 and the brass band battle in 2013, and it may be that they refused to cover major TV broadcasts. Nowadays, it is banned from taking pictures at parades and concerts, and other measures are being taken to limit overheating. Schools and their parents seem afraid of leaking personal information and stalking girls. Another story is that there is a rumor that 360 days out of 365 days will be practiced, but there are not so many club activities that are closed before the Bon holiday in August, the New Year holidays and before the examination. (Except for the year of participation in RP) However, I think they practice daily. In the last two years, Japan has adopted a policy to curb student club activities, so I think the number of days to practice is decreasing.

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply

          • YAMANAKA, a Tachibana parent kindly emailed the site admin and told us the reason for the video ban.
            Parents of other bands are complaining about comments about their videos saying things such as “not as good as the Tachibana”, or “they are copying the Tachibana”.
            Tachibana parents have a different reason, the do not like the band being discussed !
            The result is that apparently all the parents of all the bands want the video ban 😦
            If you go back through the older comments you will find the letter from Anonymous Parent.

            Like

            Reply

  14. Pure gold!

    Someone named Tangerine 110 subsc put 2 CLASSIC KT videos up. The 1st is the 2007 Osaka-jo. 2007! only 2 years after they adopted choreography. Look how young Yokoyama-san looks at the beginning:

    https://youtu.be/YUFPCOF3r3Y

    I think this person is a former member, because she’s writing about changes made to HER costume, and changes to the choreography. I think the second is the 2008 Kansai performance.

    Just friggin’ AWESOME!

    Enjoy some classic Tachibana.

    https://youtu.be/dJ3i079qD00

    ..Joe

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    • Thanks for the heads up.. the video highlights of the young KTSHSB can only prove that practice and beliefs in the band ideology will produce perfection as i see the band in today’s video. The KTSHSB are amazing to watch and their performances are equally amazing to watch. Though I’m a newbie with the KTSHSB, I wish I can get a t-shirt to the people in NYC can finally see who they are and invite them to do a show at NYC Carnegie Hall, where they will be just as amazed as I have…

      Like

      Reply

    • Joe: I am afraid the uploader of the two videos you attached is not a former member but a Taiwanese! I’ m saying this not only she, the name chosen is more likely by a woman, uses Traditional Chinese which is only used in Taiwan and Hong Kong, but I have seen at least a more video uploaded by her and she seems very knowledgeable about our favorite band.

      Like

      Reply

      • It’s worth mentioning that Traditional and Simplified Chinese refers to the way the characters are drawn rather than the language its self, excess strokes are removed in simplified 🙂

        Like

        Reply

    • Joe – – thank you for your post, and classic Tachibana will never ever get old. The choreography skills at KT have been nothing short of amazing throughout these past many years. Just think, for the 2007 band, their senpais were only first years when the swing dance style was adopted by KT in 2005 who then had to teach the incoming students in 2006 and 2007, yet achieved qualification for national competitions seen in those videos winning the SILVER in 2007 and then their GOLD in 2008. By the way, check out their high-tech bass drum stands in these two videos. 😊 Arigatou.

      Like

      Reply

    • when you watch the second video and see the level of precision n the crisp lines and turns you can see why the years 2008 thru 2010 where the best years of Tachibana . this group of students and their achievements may never be matched again. To be a step above other THS years really says something. In every successful group there is always “the best of the best” and this 3 year group is it. Mita-san and her senior class had to be the top class ever to come through the program. TSHS wind club is amazing and a step above most others year in year out. to be even a step above that? What an achievement.

      Like

      Reply

      • I would disagree that “the years 2008 thru 2010 where the best years of Tachibana.” Personally, I think 2015 was their best year, and that performance at the Osaka-jo is so far the best they’ve offered…

        But only so far. If we get the damn parents to shut the hell up and allow the kids to go for it, there’s many years ahead of them that can still rank right up there as best in class.

        ..Joe

        Like

        Reply

    • You’re welcome, Paul. One of the very few benefits of chronic insomnia- I’m up betimes every day, and am just the first person on the site to get to YouTube!

      ..Joe

      Like

      Reply

    • The second video is the All Japan Marching Contest, based on the information posted at the venue. I think that the floor is not green is a matter of video quality and resolution.

      Like

      Reply

  17. Can’t expect a new KT video for a while, so please allow me to introduce other band.
    Here is a video that YT has recommended to me. It is playing Mito Technical High School(Blue Beginners), orthodox Sing3.　The third grader graduated and the performance is only for the first and second graders of 20 students.

    This band also participated in the Glenn Miller Festival.
    This is also a very fun stage show.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • As RX Bruin-san said . . . Thanks J. J. for posting recordings of this very talented group.

      While watching both recordings, I found myself thinking of the KT choreography that would accompany various numbers this band was playing. I guess that’s just one of those things I and I am sure others who have been bitten by Tachibana Tension are just going to have to live with ;-).

      Like

      Reply

  18. I re-watch the Rose Parade and notice that Reina the trumpet player from class 113 I believed, she played solo at the 2015 gold medal competition for those who don’t know is missing. Did she not attend the 2018 Rose Parade?

    Like

    Reply

    • No, I don’t believe she did. Could be she couldn’t spare the time from school, had a job, or simply could afford it.

      We’ll probably never know the reason, but I can also state we’ve never seen her at an event as an alumni.

      ..Joe

      Like

      Reply

    • yup, many of my high school band friends no longer play. i’m one of the few who still do. looking at GrooMe! and the Family Band, though, it’s nice to see that there are KT alumni who still like to play.

      Like

      Reply

      • Manny-san…. After her solo at the AJMC in 2015, I had not seen her in any of the parades.. Did she graduate, or leave the band? Just my 5500 yen worth

        Like

        Reply

        • My zutto tomodachi….. I have three Japanese Maples, that produce much leaves in the fall, but no yen–=sad,sad,sad. You will have to go on dreaming. The reason for the 5500 yen is the amount that my good friend Yoshiaki Mori send me, while I was attending college. He indicated that this was the cost of a plane ticket to Nagano, but he did not send the money for the return trip to US. I have a belief that he did not sent money for a return trip, because he wanted me to stay in Japan. His whole family wrote letters, in broken English, trying to convenience me to come to Japan, Out of college, with no job, no money. and my parents unable to finance my trip, I could not go. I don’t know how much a plane trip cost in 1972, but now it is much more than 5500 Yens.
          With the school closed now, I am afraid the activities are also. Hopefully, the Japanese hot weather will kill this virus. I think it will take the hot weather to rid this devil. Stay safe. arigatou

          Like

          Reply

      • I posted a link to a video of a late 2016 performance by KT saxophone alumni from the 111th class (2013).

        They would have likely been part of the 2012 RP troupe, unfortunately, the potato recorders of the day doesn’t seem to help me recognise them.

        Liked by 2 people

        Reply

    • NeoGenesis from what I heard from Rizzo’s wife, the young trumpet girl couldn’t join the Rose Parade since she was studying in Europe during that time. I, too, met several Japanese students in Spain and France while working there as museum curator. They seem to be very interested in history and culture.

      Like

      Reply

  19. Maeda-san posted a YT video taken at a KT SHS Joint Concert performance back on July 17, 2016 featuring the tunes of Seaside Bound and SingX3. Very nice angle shot of the video.

    Like

    Reply

    • Ahhhhh my favorite piccolo player performs with this band. Haven’t seen her for a very long time. Wish I knew her name or at least her nickname. Is it possible that somebody can help me with this? Thanks.

      Like

      Reply

  20. Minasan konnichiwa March 10, 2020: Kyoto Tachibana SH– Breaking News: The University of Tokyo (Faculty of Science); Kyoto University (both of them Faculty of Engineering); Osaka University (Faculty of Dentistry); and Shiga Medical University, (Faculty of Medicine) have all passed. It ended with the words: I will tell you the details later. I am assuming that KT student graduates passed all their University examines. Great news

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • DET-san – – thanks for sharing that great academic news! I wonder if KT Senior High School has an emphasis in STEM subjects since those Universities are all STEM related. Arigatou.

      Like

      Reply

      • RX Bruin…. I wasn’t sure if PASSED was an indication that the KT students could go into the STEM program. The PASSED part was a little confusing to me, but my brain is not that smart anyways. hahaha arigatiou

        Like

        Reply

  21. Mode In Japan has uploaded another video, again, no date/time stamp on the featured event, but the location appears to be an observation deck/rooftop of a building overlooking a park where our favourite band is performing.

    <

    video link removed>
    From the title and description, using online translation tools, it does mention the embargo on video recording.
    【犯罪禁止!!】京都橘高校吹奏楽部　学校周辺で不審者がいれば110番通報を！ – “[Crime prohibition !!] Kyoto Tachibana High School Wind Band If there is a suspicious person in the vicinity of the school, call 110!”
    “一部の橘ファンの犯罪行為の為に撮影禁止になっています。” – “Some Tachibana fans are prohibited from taking pictures because of criminal activity.”

    They sound great even from a distance, which I’m going to guess is an actual recording from their POV and not inserted from previous recordings. I’ll need to listen to it with my better headphones later.

    Like

    Reply

      • Thanks for that, RX Bruin-san.
        Mode In Japan has improved a bit by not shaking as much as his previous recordings, which trigger my vertigo. Perhaps the wide angle from the balcony/rooftop pushes the perspective to make the band seem farther away than they really are.
        Seeing he’s been uploading a few videos from that venue lately makes me think he’s just found some lost footage perhaps. I don’t mind as it gives a nice perspective to the scenic locations KT perform in.
        There’s a fair bit of Japanese in the thumbnail to his vid on YT, but not placed in the description, making it hard for me to do the copy-pasta to translation sites, perhaps our resident experts here might be so kind to give us an idea what Mode In Japan’s concerns are?

        Like

        Reply

        • I’m no translation expert, but my rough understanding is that Mode in Japan was talking about “stalking of specific students” which caused shock and is a crime. They said that the following day after Garasha, there was a staying near the school and sleeping outside in the morning, and filming in the train together in the evening. Mode ends it with, “What would you say? You’re the cause of the filming ban nowadays!”

          Like

          Reply

        • Paul-san, I’m going to have to “call a friend” so to speak for the translation.
          In relation to the audio recording of that performance, I’m guessing he’s got another camera down where the audience was standing either with a friend or has ripped someone else’s recording. Fact that there is ambient chatter and wind noise does suggest it’s just a normal microphone on a smartphone as opposed to a high quality digital recorder with a furry wind sock that we see on the better videographer rigs.

          Like

          Reply

        • Paul-san, I have just fed it through online translation tools, will need to verify it with my cousin who’s a native Japanese speaker, but that might take a while as we’re not in regular contact. The rough translation from the online tool is quite concerning, so will need to be confirmed.

          Like

          Reply

      • Paul-san, I’m hearing a lot of ambient chatter around in Mode’s video I linked above. I think Mode has time-synched the audio recording of the performance from much closer than the vantage point with the video taken from there. There would have been a ton more wind noise that high up, and from my monitors it’s like the chatter is from people close by, which doesn’t appear to match the few (if any) people visible on that platform.

        Like

        Reply

        • Paul M…. Totally agree. I can now understand how some parents feel. Why was this video even put on the BLOG to begin with. Just my opinion.

          Like

          Reply

        • Good idea, Paul. I thought the video would have brought a fresh perspective, which in a way it literally did, but the opening frame text would certainly undermine everything positive we’re trying to share about KT with the world.
          I’m thinking Mode’s a little ticked off with the restrictions imposed on videographers and is slashing out.

          Like

          Reply

        • DET-san, as I mentioned in another reply. My intent was to just share a different perspective from a newly uploaded video of our favourite band. To dismiss the “why” aspect detracts from the intent I had when sharing it. The thumbnail text, descriptions, etc, there in the video previews would have been overlooked, but a natural curiosity on the interpretation of their text brought about this line of discussion amongst us.
          You might think it’s a negative, but I see it as a way we might get to understand the mindset of one of the people who go out of their way to take videos of KT.

          Like

          Reply

          • The Sledge-san… Maybe we just did not understand the video. With the unwanted activities around the school now, the school have already given a phone number for students to call in the event they see or meet trespassers, so putting 2+2 together, the school is taking measures to protect students. It’s not what we might have thought about the video, but what the parents, and school thought. I am happy that the video is now referenced to the YT. Was he on a hotel baloney or the Kyoto tower taking the video? I could hear the music, but couldn’t see the band very clearly or maybe my eye sight is not as good as it was. Maybe instead of embreding it to the BLOG, it would have been better just to reference it as a URL to the YT. Well, water over the damn, so let’s enjoy more KT videos. Just my 5500 yen worth. P.S. After visiting KT SH website, I wonder if they would open the door for application of an old hairless man, who can’t speak Japanese? I would honesty say 100% NO.

            Liked by 2 people

            Reply

      • For those wondering, a lot of the videographers following KT have a “Christmas tree” of equipment attached to their mono-pods, I’ve seen some put Go-pros, others have 360° cams, and digital audio field recorders together with their gimbal stabilised cameras.
        I can sense given the hordes of cameras following the parades it can be a bit daunting for the parents seeing so much attention being given to their kids. We’ve already seeing a ban on unauthorised photography in Kyoto in the Gion district in private roads. It’s going to get harder, I guess, given KT’s growing popularity, I can’t see how they’re going to prevent someone in the crowd with a smartphone from recording the performance.
        Not cool, in a different sense.

        Like

        Reply

      • Paul – I agree that this was not cool also for the following reason: I believe that YT videographer is trying to present a message. While I don’t want to post the translation of his opening frame onto this blog, if you hold your Smartphone with the translation app’s camera function, you will be able to see the translation of his beginning shot. Yikes.

        Like

        Reply

    • The original video, in fact I think there were 2 or 3 shot from the same location, had been on YT before. I do not believe at that time there was any of the title and description that appears in this video.

      Lately, there seems to be a run on re-posts or combining of videos from various sources under different names, which is weird in and of itself. A couple I’ve seen lately seem to be 2 or 3rd generation copies of the originals and the picture quality is not good at all.

      Just my 2 cents worth.

      Like

      Reply

      • Having seen Mode’s videos from before, the shaky footage from what does appear to be a smartphone does suggest it is his original footage. What Paul, RX and I are trying to determine is what the opening frame is saying. As the old saying goes, “there’s something fishy”…
        I can post the Japanese text, but the OCR does look like it botched up a few characters here and there. I’ve tried drawing the Kanji out on the Translate “pad input” but that’s going to take me a while. The crude translation of the OCR probably has no context to it, and is probably nuanced to Hades with localised phrasing.

        Like

        Reply

  22. The eldest Daiblettes playing piano. Of particular note- look on the top of the piano. You will see KY figures, and the one in the tarbard MUST be Penguin-chan: it’s even shorter than the rest.

    ..Joe

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Hi Joe, Yes, I did notice that. The figurines and partial view of pictures and/or drawings of KT images caught my eye the first time I watched it on YT. For the figures, it looks like the one to the left of the “P-chan” figure, appears to have Drum Major cords. I wonder which DM they were honoring. Based on hair length and ponytail, I’m guessing 115? And the one on the far right, looks like a Izumo uniform. LOL. I also noticed a map of Hawaii on their wall. Yay! My home state represented. 🙂

      Like

      Reply

    • Joe-san…. She is a good piano player, Yea, I think that one figure on top of piano is our KT P. I saw her youngest sister on the drums. She was pounding away at a recorded song, and had a determination in her eyes. In a couple of years, she will be marching at Blumen Hugel Farm parade.

      Like

      Reply

      • @DET Would it happen to be this one? It’s probably been posted somewhere around here, but it’s too adorable to not have it again. =)

        Like

        Reply

        • Hi-Mark-san…. Hai (yes) I think this is one of the videos, I watched some months ago. It was a real thrill to watch her, and even though she did miss a few beats, I can’t wait to see her at Blumen Hugel (Hill of Blooms) in the near future. We know the oldest has great piano abilities, and the young one on the drums, but the middle sister plays trombone(?), or is she the one, who is determined to be KT’s future DM.? With all this talent in the house, I wonder if the parents has a musical skill? We know that they take good videos. . Please stay safe, so we can enjoy what is left of this year. DET

          Like

          Reply

    • I like the fact that part of a drum set is in the video, too … looks like a hi-hat and perhaps a crash cymbol. How old are these kids, now. Is KT in their future?

      Like

      Reply

      • We hope KT is in their future. Imagine how the parents will freak out when Diablo De Orange videos the parades – because his kids are in them, so the other parents can’t kick – and then posts them. It’ll be seppuku all over the place!

        Oh- there’s also a guitar back there, too.

        ..Joe

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

  23. This video was just uploaded by Mode in Japan of our favourite band at the Osaka College of Music but doesn’t have a date stamp. The 100th Century in the title does appear to be in error, as OCM was founded in 1958, but its predecessor in 1915, making their centenary in 2015 if they were to celebrate that.

    The video quality isn’t the best, but I’m sure some here will recognise members and can tell which class this is.

    Like

    Reply

  24. Johndoe
    and others in reference to the temperatures in Japan during the summer time. I looked at the wikipedia from your post. This is about the same conditions here in the sunny south east. I’m good with it. We too have been planning a trip to Kyoto and then on to Busan South Korea. This virus has change all our plans. So, maybe next year or later this year.
    Paul, if you are going for sure let us know. Could possibly meet up. Stay safe everyone.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  25. Thought this song would go well with the horn and drums as well as flutes–Shake And Dance With Me by Con Funk Shun. They are a Northern California group. Their music is similar to Earth, Wind, & Fire (saw that they played September by the same). Shake And Dance With Me would be a great performing song for a “Dance With Me” annual theme.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  26. Event : Symposium on COVID-19 by Dr.Rizzo Coniglieri, ND (Naturopathic Doctor)
    Place : Coniglieri Bldg, 2nd Floor, East Wing, Okamoto Hall (besides Cafeteria Italiani)
    Time : 9am-10:30am

    Dr.Rizzo Coniglieri is currently presenting a symposium on COVID-19 and its possible naturopathic cure using virgin coconut oil. In attendance are members of PTA and students. It is also his farewell speech before he embarks on a special mission to his homeland, in cooperation with the Italian government.

    (In the audience are Fujiko,12 and kid sister Mariko,10)

    MARIKO : Jiko, when will daddy come home? (whisper)
    FUJIKO : Dad didn’t say…maybe in a week or two. (whisper)

    MARIKO : I will miss daddy. (sad)
    FUJIKO : Me too. (sad)

    MARIKO : What will daddy do in Italy?
    FUJIKO : Don’t know…maybe he’ll do a fashion show with his KT orange miniskirt.

    MARIKO : Honto ni? (giggle)
    FUJIKO : They’ll be shocked (giggle)

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  27. Good evening Paul and DET-sans,

    There are a number more of the interactions with the Little Orange Devils on Diablo de Orange’s YouTube channel. From viewing all of the videos there, especially the latest ones, they have quite the musical family (piano, guitar, drums and who knows what else). It’s not only great to see the expressions on their faces but the expressions on the band members; even the incoming 1st graders get into the high 5s!

    I believe that this is one of the many reasons why the Orange Devils have such a great following. These young people take the time to acknowledge their followers, especially the young ones!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Jim T You are right. Many of the young kids on the parade route, face will light up when KT goes past, and the high fives, just makes their day. I think some of the kids would go a mile just to get a high 5 from KT wind club. arigatou

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  28. Brass Expo 2020 dates have been determined.
    May 10th.
    （However, the effect of the virus (COVID-19) is unknown. In my opinion, it may be canceled depending on the situation of the virus in the future.）
    Reference、 Kansai Wind Band Association site (http://www.kansaisuiren.jp/NEWS/news.htm)-in Japanese

    NEWS also lists the dates of other events.
    * All-Japan Band Competition (Kansai Qualification) August 22(Kyouto Concert Hall), National Finals October 24- 25.
    * All-Japan Marching Contest (Kansai Qualification) September 22 (MARUZEN INTEC ARENA OSAKA), National Finals November 22.
    * Kansai Stage Marching Festival February 7, 2021. etc

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Having just binged Hibike! Euphonium on the weekend, the endearing story can be transposed to these short video clips. I can envisage the admiration these younger girls have for their “older sisters” in the band and aspiring to be “that special person” as the protagonist, Kumiko, aspired to when she looked up to her older sister.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    • Hi Paul M….. The three sisters are the first girl fans I look for in a parade video. In some of the videos, the sisters look as if they are warming up before KT gets in view. I like to watch the face expression of the little ones on the side of the parade route. Their expression is like when kids go into an Ice Cream Shop for the first time. Your tomodachi

      Like

      Reply

      • Hi Paul M… J.J.-san. gave a schedule for KT wind club from the Brass Expo, May 10th to the Kansai Stage Festival 2/7/2021. I haven’t seem any other cancellations, except the Sakura Festival. I am hoping that the warm/hot weather will kill this thing. zutto, zutto tomodachi

        Like

        Reply

Add your comment in the commentbox below. First write the comment text and then click the envelope or gear icon. English only. No negativity. No band member names, social media accounts or whereabouts. No more than 10 links. Send direct messages to the band using their Instagram (do not post them here).