Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Music Corps

The Music Corps (Japanese: 音楽隊, romanized: Ongakutai) is a department of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force that is tasked with presiding over military bands in the JGSDF. Similarly, the Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Air Self Defense Force each have a music corps. JGSDF military bands regularly participate in international festivals and take part in national and branch-related events. It is roughly the equivalent to the Corps of Army Music (CAMUS) in the British Army and the Music Branch (Canadian Forces).

JGSDF Central Army Band at the JSDF Marching Festival 2012

Purpose and traditions

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 frequently renders honors in national and local performances, including events for honoured imperial guests and official dignitaries.[1][2] It is the main sponsor for the JSDF Marching Festival.

Organization

The JGSDF Music Corps consists of the Central Band, five army bands, nine division bands and six brigade bands.

Central Band
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Central Band
陸上自衛隊中央音楽隊
JGSDF Central Band at Camp Narashino in 2008
ActiveJune 1951 – present
Country Japan
Branch Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
TypeMilitary band
SizeAbout 100 personnel
Garrison/HQCamp Asaka, Nerima, Tokyo
Commanders
Current
commander		Colonel Takahiro Higuchi[3][4]

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 premier military band of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Its more senior activities consist of national ceremonies, military parades, and symphonic concerts taking place in the capital of Tokyo Metropolis. It also performs at events that also includes joint service concerts alongside other Japanese military bands such as the Maritime and Air Self-Defense Forces Central Bands. The Central Band also presides over all military bands of the Ground Self-Defense Force and is modeled on its military counterparts in the United States and the United Kingdom. The band is a directly reporting unit of the Ministry of Defense.

History
The band in Russia in 2019.

The JGSDF Band was created in the summer of 1951 under the as part of the National Police Reserve (formerly the National Safety Force), the predecessor agency of the JGSDF. With the NPR only being an armed national police force rather than a national military, the JGSDF Band was the first military band to form in modern Japan. Its history is rooted in the long heritage of Japanese military music, and more specifically the Imperial Japanese Army Band beginning in the 1880s. In the last half-century, the JGSDF Band has gained the nobility of being the senior most ground force and self-defence force wind band, serving as one of many ceremonial military and paramilitary units that serve the Emperor and the Imperial Family during state visits and other official functions.[5] Musicians of the band have since 2015 taught personnel of the Papua New Guinea Defence Forces Band.[6] It participated in the 2019 edition of the Spasskaya Tower Military Music Festival and Tattoo.[7]

Awards and honours

Army bands

Division bands and brigade bands
15th Band and the USMC III MEF Band
  • Eastern Army Band at Camp Asaka in 2008
  • Eastern Army Band at JSDF Marching Festival 2012
  • The Central Band inspected by Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and Japanese Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya
  • The Central Band in Korea in 2011
  • North Eastern Army Band in their camaflouge uniform
  • North Eastern Army Band playing for the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami evacuees

See also

References
  1. "JGSDF Central Band profile". mod.go.jp. Retrieved 2018-08-08.
  2. "Crunchyroll - Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Central Band Covers Your Favorite Anime and Game Songs". crunchyroll.com. Retrieved 2018-08-08.
  3. "隊長紹介 - 陸上自衛隊中央音楽隊". mod.go.jp. Retrieved 2018-08-08.
  4. "陸上自衛隊中央音楽隊海外演奏の成果について". mod.go.jp. Retrieved 2018-08-08.
  5. https://spasstower.ru/en/participants/japan-ground-self-defense-force-central-band/
  6. https://www.mod.go.jp/e/d_act/exc/cap_b/papua/20180117.html
  7. https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2019082400392/japan-gsdf-band-joins-military-music-festival-in-moscow.html
  8. "RECIPIENTS AND CONDUCTORS" (PDF). Sousa Foundation. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
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