Fukushima

We had the last concert for TKWO's northeastern tour today in Fukushima prefecture.

I drove to Fukushima last night. 

After the concert, I stopped at the Nasu highlands rest area on the highway.

There are farms near there, so you can buy milk, cheese, bacon, beef croquette, etc...

And I saw beautiful sunset!

Onsen!! (Hot Spring)

Dai Onsen in Hanamaki Iwate. I went there with my coworkers after a concert.

I like a rural hot spring resort like this.

The onsen was great!!

TKWO concert tour

I've returned from a concert tour of northeastern area last night.

We played in Hachinohe Aomori, Hanamaki Iwate, Kurihara Miyagi, Sendai Miyagi.

I thought it was colder than Tokyo, but it was hot there!

This is a road in Sendai. The main roads in Sendai are wide and there are a lot of zelkova trees on the both side of the roads. Those fresh green leaves were so beautiful.

BBQ~~~~~~~~~!!!

Yes! Texas=BBQ

It's overflowing...

Hotel at Austin

It was nice room!

The hotel is on the premises of the university, and the conference center which the CBDNA was held is in the same building.

that means I only was in the university for 4 days!

That was OK! because I went sightseeing for a few days after finished CBDNA:-)

By the way, we went to Austin right after Japan won the WBC final 

A big Ichiro's picture was on the USA TODAY that was reached my room. And the newspaper said [Congratulation the championship for Japanese team] in Japanese!

Austin Texas

CBDNA(College Band Directors National Association)was held in University of Texas from March 25 - 28.

My main purpose of my visit USA was participating CBDNA.

So I flew to Austin after adjusted my jet lag in NY and joined my colleagues.

What a huge university!!!

It's almost a town.

It's snow today

Asukayama Park is old beautiful park in my neighborhood.I took a walk in the park this morning.

The cherry blossoms are at their best now!

I went to there first time today.

I wonder why I didn't go there so far???

It was soooo beautiful!

It was pink snowing around the cherry blossoms when a lovely spring breeze.

Musical Carousel

I've played in this musical.

Here is my place. Do you know where are we?

We are on the stage set. The top of the wall.

So high! We walk up the narrow spiral staircase,and duck under the entrance of the orchestra pit.

This is the first time to play in the musical.

It's fun!

My friends in NY

I was also happy that I could see my friends in NY!

It was short of days to stay...

I wanted to spend more time with them.

I went to NY♪

She is a great soprano singer Natalie Dessay.

I went to see Met opera "LA SONNAMBULA".

These beautiful green shoes that Natalie is wearing were impressive in the opera.

Of course her voice were amazing!!!

NY Philharmonic, Broadway musical "In the Heights", and Blue Note..

I was happy that I could see many wonderful performances even though only 4 days stay.

JWECC 2009

JWECC 2009(Japan Wind Ensemble Conductors Conference) was held in Okazaki Aichi 3/13~3/15.

There were 6 concerts and many lectures.

Some Japan premieres and a world premiere was played in the concerts.

I played a piece that for four trumpet players and wind ensemble in gala concert.

This horn player is Maiko Momiyama. We used to play together in junior high school band!

She also became a professional and played in wind orchestra in the gala concert.

I was glad to play with her again.

  

Sunset? Sunrise?

The answer is...

Sunrise!

Our orchestra had a concert for a ceremony of our sponsor from 8:30 in the morning!!!

I woke up 5:30 and I saw this view from the veranda while I was eating breakfast.

Musicians (I hope not only me...) usually wake up late, so it was long time ago that I saw a sunrise last time.

I was standing on the expressway!

TKWO had a concert in Iida Nagano.

I returned to Tokyo in a highway bus after the concert, and the concert hall was near from a bus stop on the expressway.

I could see beautiful mountains and some of them were covered by snow.

Brass player's destiny

I had a recording in a studio yesterday and today.

We recorded Japanese anime Evangelion's music.

There were thick walls in front of the brass section :'-(

We usually play in the booth, but this time all booths were used by percussion and double bass and piano and drum, so we were in the main room. But we were isolated to avoid microphones for wood winds picking out our sound.

Yes, we are loud.....

Mt.Fuji from Shinkansen

You can see the Mt. Fuji from Shinkansen if it's clear.
Though there were clouds around the mountain,  it was beautiful!

I should've brought my digital camera!!

I took it by my cell phone camera...

N700 series

It was the 27th memorial service for my mother today.

My relatives gathered in temple which is in my hometown Nagoya.

I caught up with my mother's age this year. That's weird...

Anyway, I went to Nagoya in a Shinkansen (bullet train)

I took N700 series that is the newest series of Shinkansen!

Cool!!!

The 100th Regular Concert!

Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra is having the 100th regular concert on this Friday!

The rehearsal was started from today.

We are playing 5 pieces that our orchestra commissioned so far.

We will show TKWO's history and take a step to our future!

Noto Peninsula 2

Noto=Oyster!!

Ishikawa prefecture faces the Japan Sea, so you can eat fresh sea food♪

Mr.Nakahashi (right of the left picture) who runs a music shop "Winds Style" organized the lesson and wonderful dinner!!

Thank you soooooo much!

We grilled fresh oyster, opened the shell by ourselves and just ate with nothing.

We didn't need any sauce for them!

Noto Peninsula

I went to Noto Peninsula to teach.

The students were 15 junior high school boys & girls, and most of them had never taken any trumpet lessons. So they absorbed as if a sponge!

This picture is the view from a hotel that I stayed.

Noto people always look at such a beautiful view!

Noto suffered serious damage from a big earthquake which  happened a few years ago. However they reconstructed and got back their beautiful town.

Mr. Ichiro Saito

He is a conductor.

Our orchestra had a recording yesterday and today with him.

I've known him for a long time, because we studied in same university!

He is going to be a regular conductor of Central Aichi Symphony Orchestra which is in my hometown from this April.

Way to go!!!

I'm sure that he'll succeed:-)