None SPECIAL FEATURE | JDF - Japan Defense Focus (No.116) | Japan Ministry of Defense

Japan Defense Focus No.116 Oct. 2019

SPECIAL FEATURE

JGSDF Central Band Takes Part in the International Military Tattoo “Spasskaya Tower” in Russia

JGSDF Central Band Takes Part in the  International Military Tattoo “Spasskaya Tower” in Russia
JGSDF Central Band Takes Part in the  International Military Tattoo “Spasskaya Tower” in Russia
JGSDF Central Band Takes Part in the  International Military Tattoo “Spasskaya Tower” in RussiaJGSDF Central Band Takes Part in the  International Military Tattoo “Spasskaya Tower” in Russia
JGSDF Central Band Takes Part in the  International Military Tattoo “Spasskaya Tower” in RussiaJGSDF Central Band Takes Part in the  International Military Tattoo “Spasskaya Tower” in Russia

From August 23rd to September 1st, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) Central Band appeared in the International Military Tattoo “Spasskaya Tower” in Moscow, Russia. The Tattoo is an annual event held in Moscow from late August to early September, and is a large-scale military music festival attended by over 100,000 spectators during the Tattoo.

The name “Spasskaya Tower” originates from the name of the clock tower on the wall of the Kremlin, a world heritage site in Moscow City where the Tattoo is held. During the event, the Red Square, which is also a world heritage site, bustles with many people.

Performances in this year’s Tattoo started on August 23rd, and the JGSDF Central Band performed in a total of 11 shows until September 1st. The solo performance of the JGSDF Central Band began loudly, starting with the Japanese Army March, followed by “Sharaku”, a wind-instrument song inspired by ukiyoe and kabuki, and “The Firebird” by Russian composer Stravinsky. In addition, Sergeant Matsunaga sang a Russian folk song “By the long road” (known in the West as “Those Were the Days”). Moreover, reverberating sound of wadaiko (Japanese drum) communicated the tone of the Japan’s traditional musical instrument to the people of Russia. At the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games, the JGSDF Central Band performed the fanfare and the entrance march, and in this performance as well, they performed the Tokyo Olympic Games Fanfare and March 1964.

For the finale, the JGSDF Central Band gave a joint performance with the Russian military bands, in which they performed “Farewell of Slavianka” and “1812 overture”, etc. with the historical wall of the Kremlin behind the band.

During the Tattoo, the JGSDF Central Band performed the Russian folk songs such as “Katyusha,” not only in the Red Square, but also in public places in the city, such as Alexander Garden on August 28th and Krasnaya Presnya Park on August 31st.

On August 24th, the JGSDF Central Band also participated in a parade in the city and received a warm welcome from the citizens of Moscow. Also, on August 25th the band performed in a special concert held in the Embassy of Japan in Russia. They performed the Tokyo Olympic Games Fanfare and March 1964, a Japanese folk song medley, and a Russian folk song medley. In addition, they performed the song “Sampo” from the movie “My Neighbor Totoro” with the participation of children as the conductors, received a lot of applause from the audience.

The Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) Bands are highly praised for their discipline, beautiful uniforms, and earnest training, and in addition to that, for their beautiful fusion of the Japanese culture with the military music of Japan. The JGSDF Central Band presented its outstanding repertoire and demonstrated the results of its training in the “Spasskaya Tower”. Furthermore, it successfully introduced some aspects of the Japanese culture through the performance by Sergeant Matsunaga, who sang songs while wearing a traditional Japanese kimono, and the Japanese wadaiko performance, etc.

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