The Land of the Rising Sun - revisited!

When the Grimethorpe Colliery RJB Band left Tokyo in February 1999, little did we realise we would be returning so soon. As we travelled to Heathrow airport on the 26th of May there was less of a feeling of the unknown than last year but still a sense of anticipation. After the M25 had conspired to delay us to the point of panic, we boarded JAL flight 421 bound for Tokyo Narita airport.

12 hours and a couple of dodgy economy class meals later we emerged into the urban sprawl of Tokyo. A city of 12 million people and a growing brass band fraternity. When we visited Tokyo last year it boasted three British style brass bands, it now has seven! Upon arrival we were transferred to the gleaming new Excel Hotel Tokyu, a fantastic 25 storey luxury hotel in the centre of Tokyo's nightlife district. We didn't have time for anything other than a quick shower as we were to be welcomed at an official reception provided by the Japanese Brass Band Association. There were representatives there from 11 bands from around the Tokyo area, a great way to start the trip.

Sunday was a day off, and with jet-lag receding we prepared for the first concert on Monday. The first two concerts were in the Orchard Hall, part of the huge Bunkamura complex conveniently situated next to our hotel. This is a hall to rival any in the U.K. and we had an audience in the region of 2000 for each concert.

On our final day in Tokyo we were given the honour of visiting a school in the suburbs of Tokyo. Although primarily for the teachers in the band around ten of the players and conductor Garry Cutt headed off on the train for Jumonji Junior High School. This was it - Grimey at a girl's school! We watched a class music lesson and at times were asked to assist in marking by the music teacher, and then we were taken to see the school band. It was a wind band, modelled on the American system, but what a high standard! They played for us and then we sat in to play with them in an arrangement of high school songs. After much excitement and autograph hunting we left back to the hotel and our second Tokyo concert.

Michael Dodd impressing the locals with his Richard Clayderman impression!

We were very lucky, as last year, to have the backing of International Concert Attractions and the Tate Corporation for this tour. Their organisational skills are second to none and we did not want for anything for the entire trip. We left Tokyo for Japan's second city Osaka, travelling on the famous Shinkansen or Bullet Train. Upon arrival in Osaka (where it was pouring with rain) we were met by a fleet of pre-booked taxis who drove us to the Rhiga Grand Hotel. The hotel was linked by a walkway directly to the Osaka Festival Hall where we gave that night's concert to around 2200 people, who, incidentally had paid £58 per ticket. Who says there isn't an audience for brass bands any more?

From Osaka we travelled by train to Nagoya. For those interested in how a full brass band travels by train, all the instruments were left at the side of the stage each night and a crew run by Masi our Japanese stage manager loaded them onto a truck and drove them through the night to our next venue, where we picked them up at the side of the stage. Fantastic!

From Nagoya we flew to Niigata in the north of Japan where we found yet another appreciative audience in a fantastic modern concert hall. We found a bit of time after the concert for some ten-pin bowling where we stayed until the alley ran out of beer!

We then travelled by coach to Sendai where we met up with the world famous Eastman Wind Ensemble from the United States. They were touring Japan and played a concert in Sendai the same day we were there, as well as staying in the same hotel as us. Thankfully our audience was not affected and we played to more than twice the number of people they did! After the concert the Sendai British Brass Band treated us to a night in a German Bar (yes, in Japan!) followed by that most traditional of Japanese pastimes - Karaoke. After much Tom Jones, Frank Sinatra and even a little Bee Gees we crept back to the hotel for a short night's sleep.

Gary Cutt and Colin Brook meet Ochiro Ando and his wife from the Sendai British Brass Band (in the German Bar

Our last stop was Kobe and we flew from Sendai to Osaka for a short bus transfer to the New Otani Hotel, a fabulous new 5-star hotel on Kobe's Harborland. Kobe is a magnificent city, the centre of which has been completely rebuilt since the dreadful earthquake five years ago. Our final concert was in the new Kobe International Hall, and, of course another sell-out audience of 2300 gave us our seventh standing ovation in a row.

This tour was hard work. After our initial day off in Tokyo it was seven concerts in seven days, most with travelling on top. Garry had chosen a gruelling programme including such classics as 'Force of Destiny' and, appropriately, 'Year of the Dragon' (for which principal trombone Jonathan Beatty wishes to record his thanks!). There was of course some music from 'Brassed Off', some solos and a couple of new arrangements. We ended up playing three encores per concert before the audience would let us leave.

The band enjoy a well earned party after the final concert

All in all, a great trip. Top hotels, top concert halls, fantastic professionals organising, but perhaps just a little too much raw fish!

Written by Andrew Snell