Japan Youth Wind Orchestra was formed with the aim of nurturing excellent students who will play an active role internationally, promoting international musical exchange through wind orchestra music, and developing arts and cultural education in Japan. The band is made up of outstanding performers selected by the Japan High School Wind Orchestra Federation from high school wind orchestra clubs, university students, and other groups from all over Japan. Starting with a concert at the Vienna Philharmonic Hall as part of the first international music exchange project, the band has held concerts at numerous world-famous music halls (Berlin Philharmonic Hall, Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House, Santa Cecilia Hall in Rome, Vienna State Opera, Mozarteum Hall in Salzburg, Victoria Hall in Geneva, etc.).
Takao Hatakeda
Born in Hokkaido in 1971, Takao graduated from the faculty of engineering of Waseda university in 1993, before joining Takanawadai High School in 1994 as a science teacher and taking up the role of conductor of the wind orchestra ensemble. This year will be Takao’s 30th year in the role of conductor. Between 2002 and 2023, as the conductor for both the Takanawadai Senior High School Wind Orchestra, and the Tokyo Ryusei Wind Orchestra, Takao has entered the All-Japan Wind Orchestra Competition a total of 29 times with 22 gold medals won. At the 2019 event Takao was awarded the lifetime achievement award for his continued service in promoting wind orchestra ensembles.
Takumi Tamura
Born in 1989 in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Completed the Wind Instrument Course as a Trumpet Major, Department of Music, Faculty of Music, Senzoku Gakuen College of Music. Taught at Ome City Daini and Dairoku Junior High School. Since 2022, has been serving as a music teacher at Komazawa University High School and has taken on the role of advisor to the school band. Starting from their second year as the band’s advisor, the band was selected to represent the school at the Tokyo High School Band Competition, where they won the gold prize at the Tokyo Wind Orchestra Competition. The band performs two self-produced concerts annually, engages in community performances, and participates in events organized by the Tokyo General Band Association. The teacher, who has a stronger passion for sound than anyone else, provides instruction that is sometimes strict and sometimes gentle. At the same time, they have a childlike side and create music while playfully interacting with the students.