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USARJ Band, Pier 6 team members support first Kure Port Festival in three years
Show a clip of SSG Garnett singing a song called “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.”
Narration:
The U.S. Army Japan Band, performing jointly with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Band of Kure, played a variety of upbeat, familiar tunes to kick off the Kure Port Festival, which was held there for the first time in four years due to COVID-19.
Despite the rainy weather, thousands of people of all ages, coming from Kure City and beyond, attended the event. This included personnel from Kure Pier 6, a small U.S. Army installation located nearby.
Kure City Mayor Yoshiake Shinhara, who was there for the opening event, offered some insight into the history of the Port Festival.
Interview: Mayor Yoshiake Shinhara, Kure City, Hiroshima
Kure used to be known as the No. 1—or close to No. 1—city of military industry in the world prior to World War II. However, after the war ended, the city was struck hard as those industries declined. There was almost no industrial presence in Kure City.
Soon, private industries slowly began to come to Kure, reusing the factories that had been formerly used to support the military industry. It was during this period that Kure’s industrial strength began to revitalize, and the city’s many ports once again began to be used.
To show how Kure had once again become a city of industry, we decided to consolidate many of the events happening within the city into our Port Festival, which began in 1958. This also served as a way to let those outside of our city that Kure had come to life once again.
Narration:
The festival included a variety of booths lining the streets, including food, beverages, sweets and carnival-type games.
There were also a number of musical and entertainment performances, including the joint concert featuring the USARJ Band and the JMSDF Band of Kure.
The group performed songs and music covering a range of genres, including Japanese and American pop favorites, patriotic music, and even the Latin music, “Quién Será.”
Interview: Leading Seaman Io Eguchi, JMSDF Band of Kure
It was so much fun performing with the USARJ Band, especially when one of their soloists energized the crowd by shouting “Woo-hoo!” You don’t often see that in Japanese orchestral performances, but it motivated us!
Interview: SPC Karyann Mitchell, U.S. Army Japan Band
Interview: 1SG Leslee Borges, U.S. Army Japan Band
Interview: Petty Officer 1st Class Kazuo Michimoto, JMSDF Band of Kure
I’ve played with the USARJ Band more than 20 times, and they are very friendly every time we perform together. Like the USARJ Band members, I also wear a uniform and play music, so it is inspiring to perform side-by-side with them. During today’s performance, we were able to play many different types of music for the audience, which gave me joy. I believe we were able to provide an enjoyable and powerful performance today, and it was a lot of fun.
Narration:
Soldiers from Army’s 10th Support Group at Kure Pier 6 also volunteered at an MWR booth at the festival, selling a taste of Americana that included hot dogs and nachos.
Interview: LTC Michael Gallucci, Commander, 10th Support Group Ammunition Depot
Interview: Mayor Yoshiake Shinhara, Kure City, Hiroshima
With the U.S. Army’s participation, the festival has become not just a local celebration, but a global one, and we are very appreciative of that. With the Soldiers and civilians and their families living in Kure, it has become a very charming, global city, and we appreciate that as well.
Narration:
For U.S. Army Garrison Japan Public Affairs, this is XXXXXXX.
| Date Taken: | 05.04.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 05.04.2023 20:39 |
| Category: | Package |
| Video ID: | 882229 |
| VIRIN: | 230504-A-MS361-246 |
| Filename: | DOD_109616966 |
| Length: | 00:04:14 |
| Location: | ZAMA, KANAGAWA, JP |
| Downloads: | 4 |
| High-Res. Downloads: | 4 |
This work, Kure Port Festival 2023, by Daisuke Sato, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
