Photo By Tech. Sgt. Kyle Johnson | The Koku-Jeitei Central Band plays with the U.S Air Force Band of the Pacific Jazz...... read more read more
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YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan – The U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific and Koku-Jeitei Central Band hosted an outdoor jazz concert at the Hibiya Park open-air concert hall August 24, 2019 with support from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government as an ongoing display of friendship leading up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
The U.S. and Japanese Air Self-Defense Forces have a long history of joint performances. They perform together all over Japan four-to-five times a year. The consistent performances have been an invaluable part of the overall Air Force mission.
“It’s really nice to showcase our bilateral capabilities. It looks really good to the citizens of Tokyo for our groups to be performing together,” said Master Sgt. Jeremiah True, noncommissioned officer in charge of the pacific showcase jazz ensemble. “We don’t speak the same language, but through performing together, we can send a strong bilateral message to the community.”
Because of their unique location, the two bands have plenty of opportunity to hone their skills and spend a lot of time traveling the country.
“We typical partner together for some holiday engagements, and then throughout the year for some jazz and concert band,” said Staff Sgt. Dave Wuchter, a trumpet player for the band. “We’ve done a couple gigs at their base and we’ve done concerts with their army. The Japanese people are pretty great about embracing us and getting us places we normally couldn’t.”
The performances have taken on a new, secondary, mission lately.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is hoping joint displays of friendship like this will help familiarize Tokyo residents with foreigners in preparation for the hundreds of thousands of visitors expected to arrive in less than a year for the Olympics.
“Our communication is already strong,” said JASDF Lt. Col. Matsui Tetsuo, Central Band commander and conductor. “But we play in front of people to show our international friendship. Playing with the PACAF band specifically is very enjoyable because we both make a very bright sound.”
The Olympic symbol has five overlapping rings that represent the five populated continents of the world, connected by athleticism. For more than one hundred years, countries have been united through athleticism in the Olympics.
In much the same way, music has crossed country lines for thousands of years.
| Date Taken: | 08.24.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 08.29.2019 01:49 |
| Story ID: | 337823 |
| Location: | TOKYO, TOKYO, JP |
| Web Views: | 114 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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