ANAHEIM, Calif. – The exuberant roar of staccato snares, thumping sousaphones and stomping shoes all working in unison recently filled the gray morning air in the parking lot outside Angel Stadium. Stacks of travel-worn cardboard boxes and pristine instrument cases sat at one end of the cracked asphalt, while crowds of young performers marched, danced and played in tight formation across the wide expanse.
It was just a few days before Rose parade and one of the last chances Kyoto Tachibana Senior High School Green Ribbon had to practice the eight-song medley and the associated choreography.
Yuika Okai (left) and Karin Yamamoto enjoy a carefree moment while taking a break from rehearsals for the upcoming Rose Parade.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
One of 24 bands are planned The Japanese school will make its third appearance there at the Pasadena procession on New Year's Day. It will join an international contingent of bands from Mexico, Panama and Denmark.
The Japanese band's whirlwind visit to Southern California began on Christmas Day when the artists and their instruments arrived at Los Angeles International Airport. For most, it was their first visit to the United States.
They spent Thursday and Friday practicing and retreating to a nearby hotel. They were escorted back and forth in long charter buses while a local volunteer transported their instruments in a Penske moving truck.
The Kyoto Tachibana Senior High School Green Band rehearses for the Rose Parade in the parking lot of Angel Stadium in Anaheim.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
When asked about their first impressions, many of the young band members commented on how friendly the Americans they met were. And some raved about the food, particularly the hotel's bacon and eggs – an unusual breakfast in Japan.
“Everything is huge. Lots of cars and highways,” 18-year-old saxophonist Kokoro Kumagai said through a translator. “We went to the supermarket and every item is quite large and the color is very vibrant. Everything seemed delicious.”
The group is taken into account Japan's best and most innovative High school brass band. Until a few years ago, when the school began admitting boys, the band was made up entirely of girls. This year, 109 enrolled students and 82 graduates made their way to California.
The Kyoto Tachibana Senior High School Green Band is considered Japan's finest and most innovative high school marching band. Until a few years ago, when the school began admitting boys, the band was made up entirely of girls.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
On weekends, the band members spread out across Southern California, staying with families from Seal Beach to Ontario. Many said they were looking forward to experiencing normal American life and perhaps seeing some tourist attractions or doing some shopping in between their commitments. They had a busy schedule, with a benefit concert at John F. Kennedy High School in La Palma on Sunday, an appearance at the Rose Parade-affiliated band festival at Pasadena City College on Monday and an appearance at the parade at Disneyland on New Year's Day.
Bob Kunihiro said he hosted two band members at his family's Anaheim Hills home in 2018 and decided to do so again this year. He takes them to area restaurants and outlet stores, which he says is a popular option since American clothing is typically more expensive in Japan, especially given the current weakness of the yen.
“It's a lot of fun. I really enjoy it, the kids are really nice,” Kunihiro said. “Many children don’t speak much English and so they are very worried. I speak a little Japanese, but I also use Google Translate, which helps.”
That fear disappears as soon as they put on their trademark yellow-and-black collared tops and orange skirts — or, in the case of the few male musicians, black pants — and raise their instruments into the air. The band is an explosion of coordinated energy, with far more activity than the average brass band as its members jump, high kick and dash while playing a tune.
“Around 200 high school students and graduates will put on a very impressive performance with the combination of dance and music,” said Yasuda Fumihiko, director of Kyoto Tachibana.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
“Around 200 high school students and graduates will put on a very impressive performance with the combination of dance and music,” said Yasuda Fumihiko, director of Kyoto Tachibana, as he watched the training on Friday. “Very clever steps and very beautiful sounds, they will play eight melodies.”
The band's leaders said they chose songs that would appeal to American audiences of all ages, from Taylor Swift's “Shake It Off” and Lady Gaga's “Poker Face” to the Beach Boys classic “Surfin' USA” and the Jazz standard “Sing Sing”. Sing”, made famous by Benny Goodman.
For the band members, Rose Parade day begins hours before sunrise as they expect to arrive near the parade route around 3 a.m. The actual performance will last about two hours, during which they will perform the eight-song medley in one reprise, taking a spin through the streets of Pasadena before calling it a day in the late morning.
The Kyoto Tachibana Senior High School Green Band listens to their music director during rehearsal.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
The next day it's back to Japan for the high school students who have to take exams. The graduates will stay an extra day in the U.S. to visit, where else, Disneyland.
“We want to deliver a very good performance. We want to have fun and we want everyone watching to have fun too,” Kumagai said. “It's a kind of harmony. We want people in the United States to experience peace and harmony through our music and marching performances.”