U.S. Army Japan Band - 在日米陸軍軍楽隊

On Friday, August 23, we will be turning our social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, and X, formerly Twitter) into legacy accounts, managed by our parent organization, U.S. Army Japan. We are doing this to comply with Department of Defense instructions. This means that everyone will still be able to view the memories we’ve shared after we finish departing Japan. After August 23, we will not be able to reply to any messages or comments.

Once again from the bottom of our hearts, thank you all so much for the love and support during our time in Japan!

U.S. Army large format film photo by Sergeant Nicholas Smith

Today, we cased our unit guidon in an inactivation ceremony to mark the completion of our mission in Japan. During the ceremony, we celebrated the rich heritage of our unit and the countless accomplishments of the Soldiers who have served in the U.S. Army Japan Band, each contributing to the unbreakable bond between Japan and the United States.

While casing our unit guidon, it remained on its staff, signifying that the U.S. Army Japan Band can be re-activated once again in the future, ready to answer America's call to service.

Since the U.S. Army Japan Band activated for the first time in 1941 and once again in 1955, we have had the privilege of using music as a strategic asset in Japan and throughout the Indo-Pacific Region, building lasting relationships with local communities through good times and in times of great tragedy.

Prior to the ceremony, General Morish*ta Yasunori, Chief of Staff of the 陸上自衛隊 Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, presented us with a certificate, thanking the past and current members of the U.S. Army Japan Band for their contributions to the Japan-U.S. strategic partnership.

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank everyone for attending the ceremony to say "sayonara" to us before our departure. We are also incredibly grateful to Zama City and Sagamihara City for accepting us into their communities during the 79 years we have called Japan home.

We will leave Japan holding our heads high, knowing that we have successfully accomplished our part of the U.S. Army's mission in Japan because the relationship between Japan and the United States is stronger today than ever before.

Although we will soon physically leave Japan, our hearts shall forever remain with the wonderful people of Japan.

U.S. Army Photos by Sergeant Nicholas Smith

United States Army Garrison Japan | U.S. Army Japan
U.S. Army Pacific | U.S. Forces Japan (在日米軍司令部)
U.S. Army School of Music

It was quite difficult to say “sayonara” after Zama City Mayor Sato Mito presented a certificate of appreciation to each remaining member of the U.S. Army Japan Band. Since moving to Japan in 1955, we have had the privilege of being part of a wonderful, supporting community that has helped us accomplish our strategic mission.

Over the sixty-nine years that we have been part of U.S. Army Japan, our unique mission capabilities as a strategic asset has allowed us to represent not only the U.S. and the U.S. Army, but also Zama City, our home in Japan.

U.S. Army photos by Sergeant Nicholas Smith

U.S. Army Japan | U.S. Army Pacific
U.S. Army School of Music

On July 18, 2012, the U.S. Army granted the 296th Army Band the official designation of United States Army Japan Band. While we still retain the original 296th Army Band designation, our current designation makes our mission in Japan more clear to those that hear our music.

Each day that we have, we use music in our responsibility of strengthening the U.S./Japan partnership, bringing people together.

United States Army Garrison Japan | U.S. Army Japan
U.S. Army Pacific
U.S. Army School of Music

Over the past two days, the U.S. Army Japan Brass Band traveled to Kyoto Prefecture to be a part of two local community events.

We first went to Camp Fukuchiyama, home of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s (JGSDF) 7th Infantry Regiment. At Camp Fukuchiyama, we joined JGSDF Sergeant First Class Masahiro Yamash*ta and Sergeant Ichiro Okamura onstage as the installation held its monthly fellowship event, an opportunity for everyone to come together as a community.

The next day, we went to the 2024 Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) Air Festival. Because of the heavy rain, the festival was relocated to JASDF Kyogamisaki Sub Base, a close partner of the nearby U.S. Army 14th Missile Defense Battery.

We would also like to congratulate Sergeant First Class Alexi Agosto (featured in the first photo), who gave his last musical performance in a U.S. Army uniform as he will soon retire after twenty years of faithful service to the United States of America.

Although these were the last public performances we will ever give, our hearts are full of gratitude for the decades of support from both our fellow Americans and the countless friends we have made during our time in Japan. Through each musical performance, we’ve shown the world that the partnership between Japan and the United States is unbreakable and that music brings us all together as fellow humans.

The U.S. Army Japan Brass Quartet and Quintet will be performing ceremonial duties at a few local military events later this month, which will be the final notes we play.

U.S. Army photos by Sergeant Nicholas Smith

U.S. Army Japan | U.S. Army Pacific
14th Missile Defense Battery, KCS, 米陸軍経ヶ岬通信所, 第14ミサイル防衛中隊
陸上自衛隊 Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
航空自衛隊 Japan Air Self-Defense Force
U.S. Army School of Music

This week, the U.S. Army Japan Band Woodwind Quintet and Brass Band traveled throughout the Tokyo Metropolitan Area to participate in the Tokyo Lunchtime Series.

Each summer, the 陸上自衛隊 Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's Eastern Army hosts a series of outdoor concerts in the Tokyo Area. At each concert, those that are out and about stop by to listen to the performances while enjoying their lunch, enabling us to represent U.S. Army Japan as members of the community.

We've been a part of the concert series rotation over the past two decades, using each opportunity to strengthen the partnership between the U.S. Army and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force while connecting with the audiences that attend each performance.

This year's Tokyo Lunchtime Series was also the final performance of the U.S. Army Japan Band Woodwind Quintet before our upcoming inactivation. You'll hear more from the Brass Band as they travel to Kyoto Prefecture for the 2024 Japan Air Self-Defense Force Air Festival, so please stay tuned!

U.S. Army photos by Sergeant Nicholas Smith

U.S. Army Japan | U.S. Army Pacific
U.S. Army School of Music
陸上自衛隊 東部方面隊

On July 4, 1776, fifty-six brave men risked everything, including their very lives, to sign the Declaration of Independence, proclaiming to the world that the American colonies would no longer be ruled by tyranny, but would instead be a free and independent nation, paving the way for our Constitutional Republic form of government.

Freedom always comes with great cost and many have given their lives so that we can enjoy our American way of life. Throughout the years, millions from around the world have come to America to live in the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave.

As Americans, we are proud to be citizens of the nation that is the beacon of freedom for all. As American Soldiers, we are proud to defend the Constitution of the United States, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.

Happy 248th American Independence Day!

More than 16,000 people from the local area joined us at the 2024 United States Army Garrison Japan American Independence Day Celebration. The U.S. Army Japan Brass Band greeted the guests as they began to arrive with traditional New Orleans jazz and other unique American music.

The 防衛省　海上自衛隊　(Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force)’s Tokyo Band joined us during the main concert in a display of the interoperability between the U.S. and Japan. Although the general public does not get to see U.S. and Japanese Forces working together on a day-to-day basis, they are able to see us representing those forces each time we perform alongside the musicians of the Japan Self-Defense Force.

This year’s American Independence Day Celebration was also the final open-post event that we will participate in before we case our colors in our upcoming inactivation ceremony in August. It was truly difficult to say goodbye to everyone as they went home knowing we won’t be able to share any more music with them.

However, we do have a few more public performance coming up later this month, so please stay tuned to hear from us!

U.S. Army photos by Sergeant Nicholas Smith

U.S. Army Japan | U.S. Army Pacific
U.S. Army School of Music

Our final open-post performances are coming up very soon! Please join us this Saturday afternoon to see us perform under the fireworks as Camp Zama celebrates 248 years of American Independence!

If you have any questions that the poster below doesn’t answer, please message us. We hope to see you there!

Today, we celebrated our relationship with Sagamihara City as we bid farewell in a special concert. During the concert, Sagamihara City Mayor Motomura Kentaro joined us to sing “Ue O Muite Aruko,” a well-known folk song about looking up in life.

Throughout the years, the citizens of Sagamihara City have welcomed us with open arms as members of the local community, a testament to the strong partnership between the United States and Japan.

We will be forever grateful to all of the wonderful people of Sagamihara City for the many years of trust in the U.S. Army to help keep the Indo-Pacific region free and open for all.

We would also like to thank Masaki Kayoko, a local percussionist, for joining us in many performances over the past eight years.

During the U.S. Army Japan Band’s eight decades of service, we have been honored to use music to bring joy to those in grief, peace to those in turmoil, and hope to those in despair.

U.S. Army photos by Sergeant Nicholas Smith

United States Army Garrison Japan | U.S. Army Japan
U.S. Army Pacific
U.S. Army School of Music

Daisen City, located in Akita Prefecture, is celebrating its 20th anniversary and is also celebrating its 10th anniversary of being a sister city with Zama City, our home in Japan.

Along with the Daisen City Fire Brigade Band and the Nakasen Junior High School Band, the U.S. Army Japan Brass Band commemorated the historic occasion by presenting a joint musical performance.

We are incredibly grateful to have represented Zama City in addition to the Soldiers, families, and civilians of U.S. Army Japan. Using music to bring people together is our part of the U.S. Army’s mission of keeping the Indo-Pacific region free and open for all.

U.S. Army photos by Sergeant Nicholas Smith

United States Army Garrison Japan | U.S. Army Japan

Before the United States became an independent nation, the United States Army, America’s first institution was and still is a beacon of freedom and liberty for all the world.

Along with the original formations of Soldiers established on June 14, 1775, Army musicians were right beside them, crucial for relaying orders in the chaos of the open battlefields and helped ensure victory to secure our Independence.

We are proud to continue defending the U.S. Constitution and bringing people together in peace and harmony in order to help maintain stability and to prevent conflict, regardless of culture, language, or creed.

This We’ll Defend!

U.S. Army Japan
U.S. Army Pacific
U.S. Army

Since making Camp Zama our home in 1955, we have had a strong relationship with the nearby city of Sagamihara, regularly and often participating in community events and using music to build trust in the U.S. Army while representing the Soldiers, families, and civilians of U.S. Army Japan.

In recognition of the nearly 70 years of friendship between the U.S. Army Japan Band and Sagamihara City, Motomura Kentaro and Asana Okawa, the mayor and vice-mayor of Sagamihara City, respectively, presented each member of the U.S. Army Japan Band with a certificate of appreciation.

Although the U.S. Army Japan Band will soon be inactivated and we will leave Japan, our hearts will always remain with the wonderful people of Japan and Sagamihara City.

U.S. Army photos by Sergeant Nicholas Smith

United States Army Garrison Japan | U.S. Army Japan

The U.S. Army Japan Brass Band recently partnered with the Kyotango City International Association to give the city residents a chance to interact with U.S. Army Soldiers. Kyotango City is also home to the 14th Missile Defense Battery, KCS, 米陸軍経ヶ岬通信所, 第14ミサイル防衛中隊, who recently celebrated its tenth anniversary of operations.

While the public generally does not get to see U.S. Army Soldiers in action, the U.S. Army Japan Band proudly represents those Soldiers who work behind the scenes with the Japan Self-Defense Forces to help keep Japan and the Indo-Pacific region safe and secure.

U.S. Army photos by Sergeant Nicholas Smith

U.S. Army Japan | U.S. Army Pacific

On the final Monday of the month of May each year, we are reminded of the immense cost of the freedom that we all too often take for granted: those who selflessly gave their lives in defense of our Nation. Because of those who made the ultimate sacrifice, many around the world are free to live their lives in peace. We are thankful that we as Americans can enjoy our liberties because of those who sacrificed everything. Freedom is never free.

While in Izumo City, we were invited by a local hospital to use music to help lift the spirits of patients who don’t receive many visitors. Normally, those patients watch concerts together on a TV or listen to orchestras on the radio, but we were delighted to use this chance perform live music for them.

Later in the day, we went to two nearby high school bands who are preparing for an upcoming regional competition. While working with the talented students, we helped them become more proficient with their musical skills while building personal connections with them.

We are grateful to be able to travel across Japan and throughout the Indo-Pacific region because we can use music to speak and connect with the hearts of those we encounter, making positive changes in unique and powerful ways.

U.S. Army photos by Sergeant Nicholas Smith and Corporal Karyann Mitchell

U.S. Army Japan | U.S. Army Pacific
U.S. Army School of Music

The U.S. Army Japan Band and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force 13th Band commemorated the thirteenth anniversary of the Great East Earthquake and Operaration Tomodachi. The joint concert in Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture celebrated the resilience of the Japanese people and the collaborative efforts between the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and the U.S. Army.

Through the tragedy, the interoperability between the United States and Japan has shown the world that we stand ready to respond at a moment’s notice in order to help keep Japan and the Indo-Pacific region free and open for all.

U.S. Army photos by Sergeant Nicholas Smith

U.S. Army Japan U.S. Army Pacific
U.S. Army School of Music
陸上自衛隊 Japan Ground Self-Defense Force

The U.S. Army Japan and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Co-operation Program is an integral part of the bi-lateral partnership between the United States and Japan.

We recently had the opportunity to demonstrate and discuss our part of the U.S. Army Japan’s mission with several Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Soldiers in order to help them understand why the U.S. Army has musicians within its ranks in their homeland.

U.S. Army photos by Sergeant Nicholas Smith

U.S. Army Japan | U.S. Army Pacific
U.S. Army School of Music

Since the 1830s, the cities of Zama and Sagamihara have held festivals to showcase giant kites made of locally-sourced paper and bamboo, weighing up to 2,000 pounds! To celebrate the accomplishments of those that built and flew the large kites during the two-day festival, the U.S. Army Japan Brass Band brought an upbeat American spirit along with exciting music.

During the festivities, the Brass Band also joined the festival participants in a special festival dance. To thank the organizers and the local police and fire departments for the years of support, the Brass Band gave a special performance after the festival ended.

Over the past several decades, the U.S. Army Japan Band has used the festival to connect with the local community and to show them that U.S. Army Japan loves being part of the local community.

U.S. Army photos by Sergeant Nicholas Smith

U.S. Army Japan
U.S. Army School of Music

Officially known as the Yokohama International Costume Parade, the annual Yokohama Super Parade was first held in 1952 to celebrate the opening of the Port of Yokohama following the end of the U.S. Military’s occupation of Japan.

Along with our friends from the 721st Army Band who are completing their annual Army National Guard training, we marched the 2-mile parade, playing some of our favorite marches.

Participating in community events shows the Japanese public the U.S. Army is truly dedicated to the defense of Japan and it also gives the opportunity for the Japanese public to see the U.S. Army in action in their homeland.

U.S. Army photos by Sergeant Nicholas Smith

U.S. Army Japan | U.S. Army Pacific
U.S. Army School of Music

We’re excited for tomorrow’s annual Yokohama Super Parade! The U.S. Army Japan Band and Guam’s own 721st Army Band will be marching the streets of Yokohama, the second-largest city in Japan.

U.S. Army photos by Sergeant Nicholas Smith

U.S. Army Japan
U.S. Army School of Music

The port city of Kure holds an annual festival every April 29th to begin Golden Week, a week of public holidays in Japan. To begin the festival, the U.S. Army Japan Band, the 721st Army Band, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Kure Band gave a joint performance.

Having three military bands from two nations performing together demonstrates how powerful music is because it gives the people of Japan a way to see the U.S.-Japan partnership becoming stronger in person, rather than reading a headline.

As musical ambassadors representing the U.S. Army in Japan, we look forward to each opportunity to help keep the Indo-Pacific region free and open.

U.S. Army photos by Sergeant Nicholas Smith

United States Army Garrison Japan | U.S. Army Japan
U.S. Army Pacific
U.S. Army School of Music
防衛省　海上自衛隊　(Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force)

We’re in Hiroshima Prefecture making final preparations for tomorrow’s Kure Port Festival! In addition to performing alongside the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Kure Band, we’ve teamed up with members of Guam’s own 721st Army Band.

U.S. Army Japan | U.S. Army Pacific
U.S. Army School of Music

U.S. Army photos by Sergeant Nicholas Smith

It’s spring, which means it’s also finally time for the cherry blossoms to bloom! There are a few hundred cherry blossom trees right here on Camp Zama, filling the installation with beautiful flowery scenery.

U.S. Army photos by Sergeant Nicholas Smith

United States Army Garrison Japan | U.S. Army Japan

In preparation for upcoming performances, the U.S. Army Japan Band held an open rehearsal at DODEA Zama Middle High School.

In addition to using the rehearsal to fine-tune the music, it also gave the music students at Zama Middle High School the opportunity to see how a professional ensemble conducts rehearsals.

Working with the next generation of American and Japanese musicians ensures that our culture is well-preserved and is a key tool in maintaining good international relations.

U.S. Army photos by Sergeant Nicholas Smith

At a recent community event, the U.S. Army Japan Rock Band connected with the residents of Sagamihara City while sharing musical culture together.

We are privileged to make new friends as we travel throughout Japan and beyond while using music to help enable the U.S. Army to become closer with the people of Japan, maintaining the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific Region.

U.S. Army photos by Sergeant Nicholas Smith

U.S. Army Japan | U.S. Army Pacific
U.S. Army School of Music

One of the greatest privileges of serving as a U.S. Army Musician is building relationships with communities all around the world. Yesterday, we celebrated the beginning of Japan’s cherry blossom season with the Araisono Community Development Center.

We are committed to our part of the U.S. Army’s mission in Japan—using music to break down barriers and build up strong relationships between the people of Japan and the United States Army.

U.S. Army photos by Sergeant Nicholas Smith

U.S. Army Japan