Vocabulary

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This page contains explanations for abbreviations and terms you may find in the discussions concerning Japanese brass bands e.g. in the Fan Corner of this blog, or in the YouTube-video comments.

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Kyoto Tachibana Fact Sheet is here, and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) here.

More detailed background articles are here: Band, School, Competitions, Hibike! Euphonium.

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A·B·C·D·E·F·G·H·I·J·K·L·M·N·O·P·Q·R·S·T·U·V·W·X·Y·Z

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AJBA = All-Japan Band Association (全日本吹奏楽連盟)
Japanese organization (established in 1939) arranging a range of annual brass band competitions, most notably All-Japan Band Competition, All-Japan Marching Contest and All-Japan Ensemble Contest (blog page, Wikipedia). Bands start with prefectural qualifications with the best proceeding to the regional qualifications and finally to the National Finals. Tachibana, Izusho and Matsusho are all attending these competitions. See also “Bronze”, “Gold” and “Silver”.

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B-channel
Refers to the Chinese video-sharing platform bilibili, where a large number of Tachibana-related videos are also hosted, in addition to those on YouTube.

BFJO = Big Friendly Jazz Orchestra
Famed jazz orchestra from Takasago High School in Takasago, Hyōgo Prefecture. The band playing in the 2004 Japanese hit movie “Swing Girls” was modeled after BFJO (band homepage).

BH = Blumen Hügel (滋賀農業公園ブルーメの丘)
German themed agricultural park in Hino, Shiga Prefecture. Regular location of Tachibana parades. (blog post, park homepage, Wikipedia).

bradan (ブラダン) = Brass x Dance
Term coined in 2022 to describe a band playing brass band music fused with dance choreography. This style of performance is considered to be pioneered by Tachibana in 2005 and practiced today also by e.g. Izusho and Matsusho, as well as commercial bands like O-VILS. and MOS (=Music Omotenashi Sisters). Click here for an informative webpage. See also “Izusho”, “Matsusho”, “O-VILS.”, “danpure” and “odoribuki”.

Bronze (銅)
In AJBA competitions every band will be awarded either with Gold, Silver or Bronze. Additionally in prefectural/regional qualifications few bands will receive nomination to the next round of the competition. See also “AJBA”.

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CG = Color Guard
Band members who perform choreographed dance moves with various props, usually flags. In Tachibana the members of the Color Guard play always also instruments e.g. during seated concerts (Wikipedia).

-chan (ちゃん)
Japanese honorific added to person’s name to indicate endearment and closeness of the relationship, especially to young children and young females (Wikipedia). Often used with band members, although strictly speaking when not knowing them personally one should rather use honorific “-san”. See also “-san”.

Class
In Tachibana “Class x” or “xth Class” refers to the class counted from the founding of the school (1902). In April 2025 the 124th Class started the school.

Club President (部長)
In Tachibana the Club President is the leader of the school Wind Music Club, members of which the Band is formed. Together with the Vice President(s) she is responsible of the smooth operation of the overall Club activities, and direction of the Club. Club President and Drum Major (who are two different people) often represent the band together in formal occasions, e.g. in interviews and band introductions. Click here for a list of Club Presidents and Drum Majors in recent years. See also “DM”.

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danpure (ダンプレ) = Dancing x Playing
Term describing dancing brass band -style invented in Hokkaidō at Ikeda High School and Sapporo Intercultural and Technological High School (SIT) in 2008 (description). See also “bradan” and “odoribuki”.

DCI = Drum Corps International
American organization (established in 1971) sanctioning competitions for drum and bugle corps in the US and Canada (Wikipedia). Corresponding organization in Japan is Drum Corps Japan, DCJ (Wikipedia). Note that Tachibana, Izusho and Matsusho are not involved in the activities of DCJ.

(The) Diablettes
Three young sisters who are famous fans of Tachibana and aim to be in the band once old enough. Eldest one (Z1) joined the band in April 2023 as part of the 122nd Class (click here and here) becoming clarinet section leader in her senior year. The middle one (Z2) joined in April 2025 as part of the 124th Class playing flute, and the youngest one (Z3) is expected to join in April 2028 as part of the 127th Class. Their name is derived from “Diablo de Orange” (=YouTube-channel name of their father). Same as “Zaurus”.

DM = Drum Major
In Tachibana the band member who has been chosen to lead the band in parades and conduct the field/stage shows (see also Wikipedia). She is also in charge of the marching practice. When using the orange uniform Drum Major is recognizable by her silver-decorated capelet. The seated concerts in the Kaneshiro-sensei era (2019-2025) are usually conducted by Student Conductor. Drum Major and Club President (who are two different people) often represent the band together in formal occasions, e.g. in interviews and band introductions. See also “Club President”. Click here for a list of Club Presidents and Drum Majors in recent years.

Donguriband (=”Acornband”, =“どんぐりバンド”)
Nickame for the Brass Band Club of Matsue Commercial High School adopted in 2019 (blog page). Same as “Matsusho”.

Down Visor (ダウンバイザー)
Refers to an American gospel tune “Down by the Riverside” in the vernacular of the band members. The band is known to play this tune at the beginning of the parades since 1990s. Click here for the blog post for more details.

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First Girls
Refers to the Marching Band, Honor Guard and Color Guard from Taipei First Girls’ High School (TFGMHC) in Taipei, Taiwan. During their expeditions to Taiwan in 2022 and 2023 Tachibana visited the school and formed close ties between the two bands. Taipei First Girls’ High School has been participating in the Rose Parade several times, most recently in 2023.

Fukuno-san
Rei’ichirō Fukuno (福野礼一郎) is a Tokyo-born (1956) Japanese automotive critic and former street racer, with a career spanning magazine editing, numerous columns, and participation in the Car of the Year selection committee. He is known for his several widely praised in-depth Tachibana interview articles published in this blog.

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GBA = Green Band Association
Japanese-American non-profit organization (established in 1998) which arranges and sponsors Japanese marching bands to attend overseas events, most notably the Rose Parade, since 2008 (blog page, homepage). The word “Green” appears in the name of the band when they are supported by GBA. Last event arranged by GBA will be the Rose Parade in 2028. See also “Kumagai-san”.

Gold (金)
In AJBA competitions every band will be awarded either with Gold, Silver or Bronze. Additionally in prefectural/regional qualifications a few bands will receive nomination to the next round of the competition. See also “AJBA”.

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Hiramatsu-sensei
Refers to Hisashi Hiramatsu (平松久司) (1935-2021). Founder of Tachibana Senior High School Brass Band and the first Band Director (1961-1995) (blog post, note on death). Same as “Professor Hiramatsu”.

HS = High School
Secondary education in Japan is split into three year junior high school and three year senior high school (Wikipedia). Tachibana is a combined Junior High School and Senior High School. See also “JHS” and “SHS”.

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Izusho
Short of Izumo Shōgyō High School (=Izumo Business High School). Depending on the context, used either to refer to the Wind Orchestra of the school (blog page) or to the school itself. Same as “Pink Devils”.

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JHS = Junior High School (中学校)
Three year lower secondary school in Japan. Grades 7-9 with ages 12/13 to 15 years old (Wikipedia). Tachibana is a combined Junior High School and Senior High School.

JMBA = Japan Marching Band Association (日本マーチングバンド協会)
Japanese organization to develop and improve brass bands by arranging events and competitions (homepage, Wikipedia). Rival organiztion to AJBA. Note that Tachibana, Izusho and Matsusho are not involved in the activities of this organization.

JST = Japan Standard Time (=UTC+09:00)
The times in this blog are in JST unless noted otherwise. Note that there is no Daylight Saving/Summer Time in Japan (Wikipedia).

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Kaneshiro-sensei
Refers to Yutaka Kaneshiro (兼城 裕), former Tachibana Band Director and Advisor from April 2018 to March 2025 (blog post).

KFB = Kyoto City Fire Band (消防音楽隊)
Brass band of Kyoto City Fire Department operating 1955-2022 (disbanded due to Kyoto City budget cuts). In the final years several Tachibana alumnae were members of the Color Guard Corps of the band called “Fire Angels” (blog post).

kōhai (後輩、こうはい)
Kōhai refers to a member of younger age and/or less experience in an organization, like a band. Kōhai is expected to learn with gratitude and respect from the counsel of senpai, an older member of the same organization (Wikipedia). See also “senpai”.

KT = Kyoto Tachibana
Used to refer to the Kyoto Tachibana Senior High School Band or Kyoto Tachibana High School. Same as “KTHS” and “KTSHS”.

KTHS = Kyoto Tachibana High School
Used to refer to the Kyoto Tachibana Senior High School Band or Kyoto Tachibana High School. Same as “KT” and “KTSHS”.

KTSHS = Kyoto Tachibana Senior High School
Used to refer to the Kyoto Tachibana Senior High School Band or Kyoto Tachibana Senior High School. Same as “KT” and “KTHS”.

Kumagai-san
Refers to Yuzuru Kumagai (熊谷讓), founder and chief representative of Green Band Association (GBA) (blog post). See also “GBA”.

Kyoto Tachibana Junior High School Band
Small brass band of Kyoto Tachibana Junior High School. It is completely different band than Kyoto Tachibana Senior High School Band, and therefore not followed by this blog.

Kyoto Tachibana University Wind Orchestra (京都橘大学吹奏楽部)
Brass band of Kyoto Tachibana University (band website). It is completely different band than Kyoto Tachibana Senior High School Band, and therefore not followed by this blog.

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Lee-san
Mr Lee Hou-ching (李厚庆, Pinyin: Lǐ Hòuqìng), Secretary-General of General Association of Chinese Culture (GACC). He is the initiator of the Tachibana Taiwan expeditions in 2022 and 2023, and the enthusiastic driving force behind all activities in Taiwan.

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Marcon
Used to refer to the AJBA Marching Contest. See also “AJBA”.

Matsusho
Short of Matsue Shōgyō Kōtō Gakkō (=Matsue Commercial High School). Depending on the context, used either to refer to the the Brass Band of the school (blog page) or to the school itself. Same as “Donguriband”.

Mita-san
Drummer Yuina Mita (三田結菜) (born 1992) of the 107th Class launched a career as a J-pop drummer-vocalist/songwriter releasing several albums. In April 2021 she founded the entertainment group O-VILS., and serves now as its General Manager as well as Representative Director of the band’s management company. Click here for more information about her. See also “O-VILS.”

MOS = Music Omotenashi Sisters
MOS is a four-member Japanese wind instrument girl group known for their unique fusion of brass band music and dance (bradan), somewhat similar to the style O-VILS. They appeared in America’s Got Talent in 2023 reaching to the semifinals. See also “bradan”, “O-VILS.”.

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O-VILS.
Name derived from Orange deVILS. Commercial brass ensemble formed in 2021 mostly from Tachibana alumni (blog page, band homepage). See also “Mita-san”.

OB = Old Boy
Refers to alumnus (=male graduate) (Wikipedia).

OD = Orange Devils
Nickname for the Kyoto Tachibana Senior High School Band referring to the color of their trademark orange uniform. Same as “Orange Devils”.

ODF = OrangeDevilsFan
Manager of this blog.

odoribuki (踊り吹き) = dance playing
Term describing dancing brass band -style of the brass band of Ōnishi Gakuen Junior & Senior High School (Ōnishi Brass). Reference. See also “bradan” and “danpure”.

OG = Old Girl
Refers to alumna (=female graduate) (Wikipedia).

Okazaki-sensei
Advisory Board Member and current Band Director (2025-) Ryūichi Okazaki (岡崎龍一). Click here for more information about him.

Orange Devils
Nickname for the Kyoto Tachibana Senior High School Band referring to the color of their trademark orange uniform. Same as “OD”.

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Pink Devils
Nickname for the Wind Orchestra of Izumo Business High School referring to the color of their uniform (blog page). Same as “Izusho”.

Professor Hiramatsu
Refers to Hisashi Hiramatsu (平松久司) (1935-2021). Founder of Tachibana Senior High School Brass Band and the first Band Director (1961-1995) (blog post, note on death). Same as “Hiramatsu-sensei”.

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RP = Rose Parade
Officially the Tournament of Roses Parade (Wikipedia). Annual parade held in Pasadena, Los Angeles, California (mostly) on New Year’s Day since 1890. The Rose Parade is one of the most prominent parades in the world, drawing more than 700,000 spectators in person and reaching an additional 27 million viewers on television across the US. It is also broadcast to over 70 countries around the world. Tachibana and Izusho have attended the Parade several times (2012, 2018 and 2025 for Tachibana, 2013 and 2019 for Izusho), assisted by the Green Band Association (GBA). See also “GBA”.

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S3
Refers to 1936 song “Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing)” made famous by Benny Goodman. Traditionally the last and most famous number of the Tachibana field/stage shows featuring fierce dance choreography. Many band members have said that the one reason they wanted to join the band was to be able to play this song. Click here for the blog post for more details. Same as “Sing” and “Sing3”.

-sama (様, さま)
Japanese honorific, added to person’s name to indicate extreme politeness, e.g. when addressing customers (Wikipedia).

-san (さん)
Most common Japanese honorific, added to person’s name to indicate politeness (Wikipedia). Corresponding honorifics in English are “Mr.”, “Miss”, “Ms.”, or “Mrs.” (note that in Japanese there is no gender difference).

senpai (先輩、せんぱい)
Senpai refers to a member of higher age and/or experience in an organization, like a band. Senpai is expected to use his knowledge to assist kōhai, a younger member of the same organization (Wikipedia). See also “kōhai”.

-sensei (先生、せんせい)
Japanese honorific, added to the names of authority figures, like teachers (Wikipedia).

Shima-coach
Refers to Nanaho Shima (島奈央), Tachibana Marching Coach since summer 2020. She is 111th Class band alumna (drummer) with nickaname “Mentapu”. While staying in the US she has also been playing in bands which are members of DCI and WGI. Click here for the blog post on her. See also “DCI” and “WGI”.

SHS = Senior High School (高等学校)
Three year higher secondary school in Japan. Grades 10-12 with ages 15/16 to 18 years old (Wikipedia). Tachibana is a combined Junior High School and Senior High School.

Silver (銀)
In AJBA competitions every band will be awarded either with Gold, Silver or Bronze. Additionally in prefectural/regional qualifications few bands will receive nomination to the next round of the competition. See also “AJBA”.

Sing
Refers to 1936 song “Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing)” made famous by Benny Goodman. Traditionally the last and most famous number of the Tachibana field/stage shows featuring fierce dance choreography. Many band members have said that the one reason they wanted to join the band was to be able to play this song. Click here for the blog post for the more details. Same as “S3” and “Sing3”.

Sing3
Refers to 1936 song “Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing)” made famous by Benny Goodman. Traditionally the last and most famous number of the Tachibana field/stage shows featuring fierce dance choreography. Many band members have said that the one reason they wanted to join the band was to be able to play this song. Click here for the blog post for more details. Same as “S3” and “Sing”.

SIT
Used to refer to SIT Band, brass band of the Sapporo Intercultural and Technological High School. The school was one of the inventors of the “danpure“-style of brass band perfomance. See also “danpure”.

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Tachibana
Depending on the context, used either to refer to the Kyoto Tachibana Senior High School Band or the Kyoto Tachibana Senior High School. Note that there are several schools in Japan with “Tachibana” in their name (click here for details). Therefore it is preferable to use “Kyoto Tachibana” which refers to the school named Tachibana in Kyoto Prefecture.

Tanaka-sensei
Refers to Hiroyuki Tanaka (田中宏幸) (born in 1958), former Tachibana Band Director and Advisor 1995-2018. He has written a book on his experiences as the Band Director of Tachibana, click here for details. Click here for the blog post on him.

TFB = Tachibana Family Band
Tachibana alumni band formed in 2009 as “Hiramatsu Family Band”, changing its name to “Tachibana Family Band” in 2013 with Professor Hiramatsu as the conductor until his death in 2021. Currently led by Kayoko “Wakko-chan” Wakisaka, former Assistant Band Director of Tachibana. TFB traditionally holds an annual concert every February (band facebook, blog post). See also “Hiramatsu-sensei” or “Professor Hiramatsu”.

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ufo
Nickname for euphonium (Wikipedia).

Unofficial (Fan) Blog
This blog.

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WGI = Winter Guard International
American association (established in 1977) arranging performing arts competitions for Color Guards, percussion and small marching bands (website, Wikipedia).

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Yokoyama-coach
Refers to Hirofumi Yokoyama (横山弘文), freelance marching coach specializing in the “dancing style” of marching. He has been working with Tachibana, Izusho and Matsusho, as well as with O-VILS (interview). Marching Coach of Tachibana 2001-2020. GBA Music Director and Band Director of all of the “Green” band overseas expeditions of the GBA up to the Rose Parade in 2018. Click here for the blog post on him. See also “GBA”.

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Z1, Z2, Z3
See “Zaurus”.

zasō (座奏)
Sit-down/seated concert.

Zaurus (ザウルス)
Refers to the three young sisters who are famous fans of Tachibana and aim to be in the band once old enough (click here for their father’s YouTube-channel). Eldest one (Z1) joined the band in April 2023 as part of the 122nd Class (click here and here) becoming clarinet section leader in her senior year. The middle one (Z2) joined in April 2025 as part of the 124th Class playing flute, and the youngest one (Z3) is expected to join in April 2028 as part of the 127th Class. Name is derived from their desire to join the band and, and if nothing else, they could don the inflatable dinosaur costume used in some occasions by Tachibana, most notably during the Bandfest in 2017. Same as “Diablettes”.

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Do you have a term or abbreviation related to Tachibana which is still unfamiliar to you? Write a question to the comment box at the bottom of this page!

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