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Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Central Band
陸上自衛隊中央音楽隊
JGSDF Central band
JGSDF Central Band at Camp Narashino in 2008
Active June 1951 – present
Country Flag of Japan Japan
Branch Flag of Japan Japan Army
Type Military band
Size About 100 personnel
Garrison/HQ Camp Asaka, Nerima, Tokyo
Commanders
Current
commander
Colonel Takahiro Higuchi[1][2]

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Central Band (陸上自衛隊中央音楽隊 (Rikujō Jieitai Chūō Ongakutai)) or JGSDF Central Band is the priemer military band of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Its main activities include national ceremonies, regular concerts in the Tokyo metropolitan area, chamber music concerts, and national tour concerts. It also appears at a wide range of events such as joint concerts with Bands from the Maritime and Air Self-Defense Forces. The Central Band also presides over all military bands of the Ground Self-Defense Force and is modeled on military bands in the United States and the United Kingdom.

History[]

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Central Band was established in June 1951 under the jurisdiction of the National Police Reserve, predecessor of the JGSDF. Its history is rooted in the long heritage of Japanese military music, and more specifically the Imperial Japanese Army Band beginning in the 1880s. Throughout the last 60 years, it has remained one of Japan's best-known wind ensembles.

Purpose and Tradition[]

The JGSDF adopted a more western style military band, which originated in Japan during the Meiji Restoration, which saw the reform of the armed forces to the standards of Western armed services. The JGSDF's bands also carry on the practice of bugle call playing, with bugle platoons present in every unit in the JGSDF using G major bugles.

As a JSDF military band, the JGSDF Central Band often takes part in performances to welcome state guest and official visitors and at national events.[3][4]

Organization of the JGSDF Ground Forces Bands[]

The JGSDF Central Band, as the premier band of the service, is also the principal ensemble of the Ground Forces Bands Service, which is modeled on the United States Army Bands and the British Army Corps of Army Music. The other bands that compose the service are:

Army Bands[]

HAR 2967 R 自衛隊音楽まつり 112

JGSDF Central Army Band at the JSDF Marching Festival 2012

Division Bands and Brigade Bands[]

USMC-100918-M-9683P-081

JGSDF 15th Band and the USMC III MEF Band

Awards and Honours[]

  • April 2008 – The Central Band was awarded the 18th Academy Award of Band Performance by the Japan Musical Education and Culture Promotion Society.
  • 2009 - The Central Band was awarded the Colonel George S. Howard Citation of Musical Excellence for Military Concert Bands by the John Philip Sousa Foundation.
  • August 2017 - At the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2017 in Scotland, the Central Band was awarded the Polly Sword, the award to the best-performing band in the tattoo.[2]

Gallery of the Band[]

See also[]

References[]

External links[]

All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Central Band and the edit history here.
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