Cheerleaders from Mino Jiyu Gakuen Senior High School stack up for a three-tier formation at Pasadena City College on Tuesday, during the annual Bandfest, showcasing the marching bands that will perform in the 137th Tournament of Roses Parade on Jan. 1. (Photos by MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS / Rafu Shimpo)
By MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS
Rafu Staff Writer
The forecast for tomorrow’s Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena is anything but sunny, but the students from Mino Jiyu Gakuen Senior High School in Osaka were all smiles and excitement for a warmup performance on Tuesday.
The band of more than 200 musicians and cheerleaders were taking part in Bandfest, the annual pre-parade event that showcases marching units that will take part in the largest parade in all of North America.
One of the most elite bands in all of Japan, the “Golden Bears” are know for their high-energy, pinpoint precision and their renowned cheerleading squad, winners of no fewer than 40 national titles. Among the crowd at Bandfest on Tuesday, there were several audible gasps as the squad performed flying flips and a spectacular three-tier pyramid.
Conductor Daisuke Fukuzato is greeted by members of the Rose Court – from left, Riya Gupta, Keiko Rakin and Livia Amy de Paula.
“It’s a lot of practice, but I’m never scared, not at all,” said 17-year-old Rina Tanaka, who stands at just over four and half feet and weighs under 70 pounds. She was among the athletes soaring above the field at Pasadena City College during the band’s performance on Tuesday.
Conductor Daisuke Fukuzato said he’s having a tremendous time in his first trip to Pasadena, and he’s not discouraged by the soggy forecast. The National Weather Service has predicted a nearly 100 percent chance of rain overnight on New Year’s Eve and through the morning on Jan. 1. It would be the first time that rain has dampened the festivities since 2006, and only the 11th time since the parade began in 1890.
“Yarimasu – we’ll be okay,” he said with a broad smile. “We have covers for the instruments, and it rains often in Japan, so we have marched in the rain before, maybe three or four times.”
Saxophonist Hina Ikegami said the opportunity to perform in perhaps the world’s most prestigious gig for a marching band is all well and good, but her favorite part of the trip thus far has been the food, one local specialty in particular.
“In-and-Out! Mecha oishii – so delicious,” she barked, with nearby bandmates shouting in agreement.
Golden Bears saxophonist Hina Ikegami (center) trades souvenir Rose Parade pins with members of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Honor Band, Katsy Chappell, left, and Kevin Dang.
The band and their support staff spent the year raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to make the journey to Pasadena – by some estimates, upwards of $2,500 per band member. They are joining the parade through the coordination of the Green Band Association, a Japan-based nonprofit that has been sponsoring bands from that nation to perform in international venues since 2006, including the Rose Parade.
Each time a Green Band-sponsored group comes to perform, they also arrange for a concert to be held at a local performance arts center, and invite attendees to donate to a worthy charitable cause. Over the years, they have donated thousands of dollars to recipients including victims of wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters.
This year, the Golden Bears will have a charity benefit concert at John F. Kennedy High School in La Palma, set for 3 p.m. this Friday, Jan. 2. It is a vital part of the students’ experience, and an unforgettable performance.
Mino Jiyu Gakuen has also pledged $7,000 to be used toward recovery efforts for the victims of this year’s Eaton and Palisades Fires in Southern California.
Fukuzato said the excitement he and the band are feeling is being propelled by the enthusiasm – the “fever” – that American audiences express during a live performance.
“People here show their love and support in a big way here, more than in Japan, more than anywhere in the world.”
The skies were clear and sunny as Fukuzato directed the band on the Pasadena City College field during Bandfest.
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