Band builds international relations through music

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. A.C. Eggman
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TSUGARU-CITY, Japan (AFPN) --  Japanese and U.S. military bands performed here Sept. 9, building good community relations between U.S. Forces Japan and this town in the northwestern corner of mainland Japan that is home to a new military radar site.

"The way they joined together is a perfect example of the great relationship between the militaries of our two countries," Col. Joel Malone, 35th Fighter Wing vice commander, told the audience. "It is very important that we work on relationships between our communities near our bases that we live and work at. It is very important to us to earn your support, your cooperation and your respect."

Three members of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Northern Air Defense Force band joined 17 members of Pacific Showcase, the U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific-Asia, stationed at Yokota Air Base, for the concert. The U.S. band performs throughout the region at military and civilian events.

U.S. Band Commander Maj. Dan Price said music cuts across cultural and language barriers. Music is "an expression of our united commitment of Japan and the United States to a world that is peaceful and harmonious. We perform to strengthen feelings of neighborhood, to show we are all in it together. We do it to show there's a bond there and that we are brothers in freedom and in protecting that freedom."

Tsugaru Mayor Hiroyoshi Fukushima thanked the band members and local organizers of the concert, which attracted more than 350 people from the community of about 40,000 residents.

The forward-based X-band transportable radar site began operating at the JASDF's Shariki Air Station near here in July. The radar system is designed to detect and track ballistic missiles and was placed at Shariki for the mutual defense of Japan and the United States.