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Band of the Pacific-Asia creates friendship through music at Japan-U.S. Joint Concert

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Josh Voyles
  • Band of the Pacific-Asia
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  For the past three years, the Band of the Pacific-Asia has supported the annual Japan-U.S. Joint Concert sponsored by the North Kanto Defense Bureau for the six municipalities surrounding Yokota Air Base.

On Jan 28, the band continued the tradition, sending jazz trio Final Approach to the concert in Hamura City, Japan.

"We have hosted U.S.-Japan Joint Concerts since 2008 to encourage deeper exchange among U.S. service members, their families, and people living around Yokota Air Base," stated Kazuto Tsutsui, NKDB director general. "This concert [was] a wonderful opportunity to deepen exchange and develop a trusting relationship among local residents living around Yokota Air base, U.S. service members and their families."

The trio performed at the Yutorogi Learning Center for an audience of more than 500 from the local community. They played a variety of music including "Fly Me to the Moon," by Bart Howard; "Ugetsu," by Cedar Walton; and "Spain," by Chick Corea. Additionally, they provided accompaniment for other performances throughout the day.

"The audience really enjoyed the performance," stated Kikumi Nozaki, Hamura City Board of Education president. "Final Approach's selections were reminiscent of times past for many people."

The Japan-U.S. Joint Concert includes included school bands, orchestras, and other performing groups from the local community and Yokota Air Base. This year saw performances by the Hamura Higashi Junior Orchestra, the Hamura Dai-ichi Junior High School Wind Orchestra Club, the Hamura Wind Orchestra, OZK24, Yokota Middle School, Yokota West Elementary School, and the USAF Band of the Pacific-Asia.

The performance "allows [the musicians] to communicate and build bridges that, in a way, will only enhance our two nations' ability to work together," stated Colonel Otto Feather, 374th Airlift Wing commander.

For band members, this concert was another piece of their mission - bridging cultures and creating friendship through music.

"It was great getting to see students from all nationalities sharing the stage," said Staff Sgt. Steve Helfand, Band of the Pacific-Asia's drummer. "It's important that we continue to participate in these events, raising future generations in a culture-rich world of possibilities.