TAIPEI (TVBS News) — In a first-of-its-kind event, the Kyoto Tachibana High School Band (日本京都橘高校吹奏樂部) and the Tokyo University of Agriculture Second High School Band (東京農業大學第二高等學校吹奏樂部) will perform together in Taiwan this December. The two school bands, representing Japan's Kansai and Kanto regions, will join forces with over 250 performers under the banner "2025 Taiwan Expedition: Sounding Friendship, Dancing Youth."
According to a Facebook post released on Monday (Oct. 13), the General Association of Chinese Culture (GACC, 文化總會) has facilitated this unique collaboration. Hou-ching Lee (李厚慶), secretary-general of GACC, noted that the bands' impressive performances in Taiwan during the 2022 and 2023 National Day celebrations left a deep impression on Taiwanese audiences. E.SUN Bank (玉山銀行), E.SUN Foundation (玉山文教基金會), and GACC will host the events.
The events will feature three ticketed performances. The bands will perform together at Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium (台北和平籃球館) on Dec. 19. Kyoto Tachibana will hold a solo performance at the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts Weiwuying Concert Hall (高雄衛武營音樂廳) on Dec. 21, and the Tokyo University of Agriculture Second High School Band will perform at Chiayi City Concert Hall (嘉義市文化局音樂廳). GACC will release ticket information and event details on its Facebook page in the coming weeks.
In addition to the concerts, the bands will engage in cultural exchanges with local schools, including Juang Jing Vocational High School (莊敬高職), Kaohsiung Municipal Kaohsiung Girls' Senior High School (高雄女中), National Pingtung Girls' Senior High School (屏東女中), NanJung Junior High School (南榮國中), and Meiho University (美和科技大學). Lee mentioned that students eagerly anticipate meeting each other and experiencing cultural exchanges, adding that a "secret itinerary" is in the works.
