The music club brass band of Kankou Gakuen Junior and Senior High School, a private integrated school located in Kanemitsu-cho, Asakuchi City, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2019 (the first year of Reiwa).
The Kankou Gakuen music club brass band, which has a history of active overseas performances and has reached its 50th regular concert milestone.
At the commemorative concert, alumni brass band members and the Kankou Wind Ensemble, along with volunteer graduates, will reflect on the 100-year history.
This article introduces the preparations and thoughts leading up to the commemorative concert.
History of the 100th Anniversary of Kankou Gakuen Music Club Brass Band
The homepage of the Kankou Gakuen music club brass band details the club's journey from its establishment to the present day.
100 years is a century.
We will look back on the history of the brass band that has continued for a century.
Establishment
The brass band started in 1919 (the 8th year of Taisho) with 6 members.
The band was organized as part of the athletic club and was invited to perform at local elementary schools and the youth division of the Kankou Church.
The first club president, Matsui Takeyoshi, reflected on the early days as follows.
I remember that the instruments were provided by the school authorities. At that time, there were no music classes in junior high school, and therefore there were no specialized teachers, so we were all complete amateurs, able to perform only a few elementary school songs, including "Kimigayo." Nevertheless, we made our first appearance at the autumn sports festival, playing a single fast-paced song repeatedly from morning till night.
Kankou Gakuen Music Club Brass Band Homepage History of the Club
From Post-War Activities to a Turning Point
There were periods when activities could not be conducted due to the war, but activities resumed shortly after the war.
The activities of 15 band members using old instruments left at the school expanded energetically beyond local elementary schools to venues such as Okayama Korakuen and exhibitions.
In 1949 (the 24th year of Showa), the first post-war Boy Scout National Convention was held at the Imperial Palace Plaza in Tokyo.
At this convention, where the brass band parade with the national flag was allowed for the first time since the war, the Kankou Gakuen Music Club Brass Band led the first official parade after the war, consisting of 3,600 participants and stretching 1,200 meters.
In the 1950s, the number and variety of instruments increased, and activities became more active and sophisticated, including participation in competitions.
By 1973 (the 48th year of Showa), the focus of activities shifted to regular concerts.
Records from that time indicate that discussions were held regarding the implementation of regular concerts based on a proposal from advisor Sato Masatoshi.
100 Years Since Establishment
In 2007 (the 19th year of Heisei), Sonoda Yasuyuki became the advisor.
The number of band members exceeded 100, and the first performance activity in the United States was realized.
This was a time when years of accumulation led to a leap forward, and it was also a milestone era as they celebrated their 100th anniversary in 2019 (the first year of Reiwa).
On the other hand, the beginning of 2020 (the second year of Reiwa) marked the start of a difficult period due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the postponement and cancellation of performance activities.
Even in adversity, the music club brass band's journey did not stop, as they sought new concert styles and evolved their performance activities.
As a result, with the support of the school and the enthusiasm of each band member, the 50th regular concert was held in May 2022 (the 4th year of Reiwa).
As the commemorative concert, which had to be postponed just before its scheduled date in March 2019 (the first year of Reiwa), is now steadily progressing towards its upcoming performance.
Overview of Major Activities So Far
What kind of activities have been passed down through the long history?
Here is an overview of the major activities so far.
Regular Concerts
One of the main activities is the regular concert.
The first regular concert was held on September 15, 1973 (the 48th year of Showa) at Tamashima Community Center.
Unlike the competitions that had been the main activities until then, this event was designed for people to enjoy the music of the Kankou Gakuen Music Club Brass Band.
Everything, including venue selection, signboards, and flyers, started from handmade efforts.
Through trial and error, it has been passed down to the next generation and has now grown into a major and large-scale concert.
It is a concert that continues to be loved and supported not only by current band members but also by alumni and many others.
Overseas Performance Activities
An essential aspect of the Kankou Gakuen Music Club Brass Band's activities is its overseas performances.
| Year | Activity |
|---|---|
| 1985 (the 60th year of Showa) | Participated in the 3rd Japan-China Youth Student Exchange Conference (Beijing, Shanghai) |
| 1990 (the 2nd year of Heisei) | Participated in the 1st Japan-Australia Youth Student Exchange Conference (Melbourne, Sydney) |
| 1995 (the 7th year of Heisei) | Japan-Korea Friendship Performance Visit (Seoul, Daegu, Busan) |
| 1996 (the 8th year of Heisei) | High School Brass Band Federation Performance Visit to Australia (Adelaide) |
| 1999 (the 11th year of Heisei) | Visited China for the 1st Xi'an International Music Festival (Xi'an, Shanghai) |
| 2002 (the 14th year of Heisei) | Participated in the 30th Anniversary of Japan-China Normalization Conference (Beijing) |
| 2006 (the 18th year of Heisei) | Participated as a representative of Japan in the 14th Japan-China Youth Student Exchange Conference (Beijing) |
| 2010 (the 22nd year of Heisei) | Conducted performance visit to South Korea |
| 2015 (the 27th year of Heisei) | Conducted performance visit to South Korea |
| 2017 (the 29th year of Heisei) | Conducted performance visit to the United States (July 21 - July 30) |
Advisor Sonoda Yasuyuki has long had a desire to give the students an experience in the heart of show business.
This desire led to the realization of the first performance activity in the United States in 2017 (the 29th year of Heisei).
In addition to regular concerts and overseas performance activities, the brass band actively engages in many visiting performances and interaction concerts closely connected to the community.
From these various activities, students gain experiences that go beyond simply improving their performance skills.
I felt that the educational policy of Kankou Gakuen Junior and Senior High School, which values "human education based on heart education," is truly being realized.
The commemorative concert may be a place to summarize and express what has been passed down for a long time.
While reflecting on past activities, I spoke with the advisor of Kankou Gakuen Music Club Brass Band, Sonoda Yasuyuki, and the president of the alumni association, Fujii Kazuo, about their thoughts on the preparations and the commemorative concert.
Data on the 100th Anniversary Concert of Kankou Gakuen Music Club Brass Band
| Name | Kankou Gakuen Music Club Brass Band 100th Anniversary Concert |
|---|---|
| Date | March 26, 2023 (the 5th year of Reiwa) Doors open: 1:30 PM Concert starts: 2:00 PM *Please refrain from direct inquiries to the Geibunkan regarding the commemorative concert. |
| Location | Kurashiki Central Library |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | Ticket price: 1,000 yen How to purchase tickets ・From current band members ・From participants of the Century Band ・From the Kankou Gakuen Music Club Brass Band homepage, via the ticket application form *If purchasing via the ticket application form, payment will be in cash at the venue on the day of the concert. |
| Homepage | Kankou Gakuen Music Club Brass Band |
