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<\/p>\n
January 28: Elysion Philharmonic Orchestra concert<\/h3>\n
The Elysion Philharmonic Orchestra delivered the first concert of the 50th year at Kurume City Plaza in the southern prefecture of Fukuoka. Their playlist included selections from NHK historical dramas, Galaxy Express 999<\/em>, and Hiroshi Miyagawa’s 4-part Yamato<\/em> suite.<\/p>\n The photo at right was posted on Twitter by concert bass player Araki Takuto<\/a>, who said, “After the performance, with concertmaster Keiichi Asago [right]. Not only was I able to play some of my favorite songs, including Space Battleship Yamato<\/em>, but it was also great to learn that there are many bands in rural areas that enjoy the music I love, regardless of whether they are professionals or amateurs.”<\/p>\n Visit the orchestra’s Twitter page here<\/a> and see a Yamato<\/em> rehearsal video here<\/a><\/p>\n Wherever Yuka Ishimaru goes, Gatlantis is sure to follow. She shook the world again with a pipe organ rendition of the Comet Empire theme, this time in Kitakyushi City’s Soleil Hall.<\/p>\n Watch a 2021 performance by Yuka Ishimaru here<\/a><\/p>\n Another cool thing about Japan (like we needed one more) is the Film Score Philharmonic Orchestra, which is entirely devoted to performing music from movie and anime soundtracks. They belted out an all-anime concert on February 11 at the Muza Symphony Hall in Kawasaki in which Space Battleship Yamato<\/em> was heard alongside many other classics, new and old.<\/p>\n Visit their website (which includes video clips) here<\/a><\/p>\n Starting in July 2023, music journalist and producer Toshiaki Sato devoted his monthly column (titled Adult Popular Songs)<\/em> to famed songwriter Yu Aku. In case that name doesn’t ring a bell, he was the lyricist for almost every Yamato<\/em> song of the production years, from the original opening theme in 1974 all the way to last of the Final Yamato<\/em> single in 1983.<\/p>\n Sato’s 7th installment of Adult Popular Songs<\/em>, which is published on the Catalog House<\/em> website, reached the Yamato<\/em> phase of Yu Aku’s long and storied career.<\/p>\n Read it here<\/a><\/p>\n Winds Score WMS-00012<\/em><\/p>\n Winds Score has been a very prolific publisher of Yamato<\/em> sheet music since 2007. <\/p>\n Visit the Winds Score website’s Yamato<\/em> page here<\/a><\/p>\n Listen to a sample recording on Youtube here<\/a><\/p>\n When a 2023 performance of the Grand Symphony was released on CD, it was followed by a new analysis that appeared on Mikiki<\/em>, the website of Tower Records.<\/p>\n by Takuya Katagiri<\/em> (See the original post here<\/a>)<\/p>\n First of all, on a personal note, Space Battleship Yamato<\/em> was broadcast on TV the year I was preparing to take the university entrance exam. I didn’t watch it at the time, but later in life, when I became involved with an animation magazine and was assigned to interview the producers, I reviewed the TV series, the movie version, etc. <\/p>\n The first TV series was broadcast in 1974. The idea of sending the giant battleship Yamato<\/em> into space captured the hearts of the young people of that time. Each of the characters in the series had their own fans. “Push-activism” had already begun. As you all know, Yamato<\/em> was made into many movies and created a huge trend of SF anime in Japan.<\/p>\n The music was composed by Hiroshi Miyagawa (1931-2006). In 1984, the Yamato<\/em> Grand Symphony was written by Kentaro Haneda (1949-2007) and performed by the NHK Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Naoto Otomo. This masterpiece was based on various themes Miyagawa wrote for Yamato<\/em> and was performed again and again by Haneda, who was also known as a genius composer and arranger.<\/p>\n This new recording is a live performance from July 2023, conducted by Tatsuya Shimono, who has been discovering works by Japanese composers and featuring them in his concerts. It is performed by the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra with Fumiaki Miura (violin) and Ryoma Takagi (piano) as soloists who play important roles, plus Ayaka Oki (vocalist). This is the first time a recording other than those conducted by Otomo has been released. <\/p>\n The fourth movement, Hope for Tomorrow<\/em>, is a doppelconcerto (double concerto), a powerful work in which the soloists can demonstrate their abilities to the fullest. I feel that the passionate battle between the two soloists, combined with the passion of conductor Shimono, opens up a new world of Yamato<\/em> in this recording. This is a work that should be listened to not only by older fans, but also by the current generation of anime enthusiasts.<\/p>\n This event was sponsored by the Kobe City PTA Council featuring Akira Miyagawa conducting the Osaka Shion Wind Orchestra at Kobe Bunka Hall. And wherever Akira goes, he brings Yamato<\/em> along for the ride. The set for this performance added the 4-part Yamato Suite<\/em> to a host of other Miyagawa favorites.<\/p>\n 2024 was Isao Sasaki’s 65th year as a professional singer, and he still hadn’t retired yet. April ended with Sasaki appearing on the 553rd episode of Premium Songs<\/em><\/a> and performing the Yamato<\/em> theme, Galaxy Express 999<\/em>, an Elvis medley, and more.<\/p>\n BKM Records (BSXDG9176)<\/em><\/p>\n What on Earth do we have here? An American CD with Japanese Yamato<\/em> themes on it, that’s what. Here’s the scoop: Bukimisha is a choral group that covers compositions from live-action kaiju films and other sources. They teamed up with baritone singer Tetsuro Kitamura on two tracks of this 14-track tour de force. The other 12 tracks came directly from Kitamura’s 2021 album Departing Ship<\/em>. The vocal performances are in Japanese with piano accompaniment, and cover every song originally sung by Isao Sasaki for the classic catalog. The liner notes book is in English and contains a remarkably accurate description of Yamato\/Star Blazers<\/em> history; whoever wrote it knew their stuff!<\/p>\n Hear Tetsuro Kitamura’s rendition of The Scarlet Scarf<\/em> here<\/a>.<\/p>\n You can purchase this album on Apple Music now, and buy the CD online (along with other Bukimisha discs) here<\/a>.<\/p>\n A spry, energetic, freshly-82-year-old Isao Sasaki made another broadcast appearance, and sang exactly what the fans wanted to hear. Here’s a description from entertainment website Iza<\/a>…<\/p>\n Singer and voice actor Isao Sasaki appeared live as a guest on NHK’s Nodo Jiman<\/em> broadcast on the 19th. At the end of the show, he entertained his fans when he enthusiastically sang his signature song, the theme for the anime Space Battleship Yamato<\/em>.”<\/span><\/p>\n Sasaki appeared on the live broadcast from Kashima City, Saga Prefecture, with enka singer Fuyumi Sakamoto. Born on May 16, 1942, he had just celebrated his 82nd birthday three days earlier, but he sang the full chorus with a voice that didn’t make him seem his age. The powerful performance surprised many viewers, and after the broadcast, “Isao Sasaki” trended on Twitter.<\/span><\/p>\n Fans commented, “The great king of anime songs is on Nodo Jiman<\/em>.”<\/span><\/p>\n “I was shocked by his powerful singing voice, I can’t believe he’s 82!”<\/span><\/p>\n “His voice is the same as always, and I can only say that it’s amazing.”<\/span><\/p>\n “Cool! I got goosebumps.”<\/span><\/p>\n “I’m so excited.”<\/span><\/p>\n “It’s been 50 years since this song was released. I was so moved I started crying.”<\/span><\/p>\n “I hope he stays healthy forever.”<\/span><\/p>\n Comments like these were posted one after another, creating great excitement.<\/span><\/p>\n Propelled by Sasaki’s May 19 TV performance, a blogger named Mieko decided to dig up some history and unearthed quite a bit that should be new to his international fans.<\/p>\n Read Mieko’s blog entry here<\/a><\/p>\n The 2024 Award for Extreme Cleverness (which wasn’t a thing before, but it is now) goes to the Oyama City Symphonic Wind Orchestra, who came up with a flawless title for their 44th concert, half of which was filled with Yamato<\/em> music. Soprano Akiko Nishiguchi contributed vocals. Above and beyond this, the event was packaged up in ways that earned instant fan approval.<\/p>\n It started with very deliberate color choices on the ticket and banner…<\/p>\n …and continued with same for their program book. Twitter comments were as follows:<\/p>\n “Both the tickets and signs are in Yamato<\/em> colors, which really conveys the enthusiasm of the band members.” – Miyuki0107 <\/p>\n “This ticket, this pamphlet, this lobby, our friends are in every corner, how can we not be excited?” – AnalyzerAU09<\/p>\n “In the second part, suites and other Yamato<\/em>-related songs were performed. I’m from the Yamato<\/em> generation, so I was super excited. Kodai-kun! Yuki! The Gamilas fleet! Starsha! The images came back to life with the music, and it made me want to watch the anime again.” – rdk_iroha<\/a><\/p>\n “It was a warm concert with a homey, handmade feel. It’s very helpful that the song titles and other information were displayed on a monitor on the right side of the stage. During the drum solo, the message ‘congratulations on your marriage’ was displayed to the drummer, which is nice. In the second part, famous pieces from Yamato<\/em> were played one after another. It was also fun to hear the host tell stories and introduce the pieces. The first encore song was the theme for Yamato<\/em> (only the first verse) followed by a male choir (4 people) and Nishiguchi’s scat. The audience clapped and sang along.” – aoi2199<\/a><\/p>\n This concert was not the first of its kind; under the baton of Akira Miyagawa, Osaka Shion has played Yamato<\/em> music enough times for the orchestra to have favorite tracks. But there was something special about this one. Could it have been the presence of Isao Sasaki to sing the classic theme songs? Could it have been the sight of Akira and his daughter playing the White Comet theme on pipe organ (which, if you know your history, carries special meaning)? Could it have been the simple fact that it was the first official 50th anniversary concert? Probably all of this and more.<\/p>\n It was certainly the most viewed concert in years, given that it was live-streamed to anyone who could pay to watch it online in Japan (and outside, if you had the digital kung fu skills to tap in), and it was the subject of more SM posts than just about any Yamato<\/em> concert of the last ten years.<\/p>\n Click here<\/a> to read all about it!<\/p>\n Still out there, still lit at 82 years old. On June 18 he sang the most famous anime theme again, this time on an NHK music program named Utacon.<\/em><\/p>\n From the Japanese website Daily<\/em><\/a>…<\/p>\n The score for Symphonic Suite Space Battleship Yamato<\/em> by composer Hiroshi Miyagawa (who passed away in 2006), a pioneer of Japanese pop music with many hits, was recently discovered. It has been decided that the piece will premiere at the GalaxCity Nishiarai Cultural Hall in Tokyo on October 6, the 50th anniversary of the monumental sci-fi anime Space Battleship Yamato<\/em>. <\/p>\n Symphonic Suite<\/em> is a 1977 work in which Miyagawa scaled up the soundtrack of Yamato<\/em> to include a full orchestra. The LP was a big hit, but the sheet music was lost and the piece was never performed live. Instead, only a 10-minute Yamato<\/em> Suite and a few tracks from the Symphonic Suite<\/em> were performed.<\/p>\n Recently, Kaito Ikeda, the leader and conductor of Orchestra Pitore-za and a second generation Yamato<\/em> fan, appealed to Miyagawa’s son Akira. The first draft of the score was discovered, and the entire score was recreated under Akira’s supervision.<\/p>\n Participating in the premiere will be Akira, Ikeda, Orchestra Pitore-za, and the Pitore-za Chorus, as well as Yuuki (scat), Takayuki Emori (guitar), Tetsushi Shiota (bass), and Hikaru Kanza (drums). The piano will be played by Hiroshi Miyagawa’s grandson Daisuke.<\/p>\n The original idol voice actress Yoko Asagami, who played the heroine Yuki Mori (now a storyteller at 71 named Ichiryusai Shunsui), shared her memories of Yamato<\/em>. She pointed out the relationship between Yamato<\/em> and music, saying, “Space Battleship Yamato<\/em> is a very important work in my voice acting career. A work that was created with such care for the music was not seen in other programs at the time. The various scenes set in space were sometimes gentle, sometimes thrilling, and sometimes majestic and profound, and I was moved as my imagination was expanded.”<\/p>\n “I never had a chance to talk to Mr. Miyagawa, but I saw him from afar, and his easy-going and cheerful demeanor, and it felt like I was getting a glimpse into the source of Yamato<\/em>‘s music,” she recalled.<\/p>\n She added, “A voice actor only encounters music after recording their lines and when they are broadcast. But when I was working on the radio drama, I was able to enjoy the sound effects and music together and further expand on my imagination as I acted. It’s a happy and fond memory.”<\/p>\n As a voice actress, she gained idol-like popularity for her roles as Yuki in Yamato<\/em>, Claire in Galaxy Express 999<\/em>, Mrs. Hudson in Famous Detective Holmes<\/em>, and Nogami Saeko in City Hunter<\/em>. As a storyteller, she was a student of the living national treasure Ichiryusai Teimizu, and was promoted in 2004 under the name Ichiryusai Shunsui. Since 2012, she has used that stage name as both a voice actor and storyteller.<\/p>\n This was a smaller event with less fan coverage on social media, but it got at least one positive review from Twitter user aoi2199:<\/p>\n “I went to the 66th concert of the Kashiwa City Wind Orchestra. It is an amateur brass band, so the concert had a handmade feel to it. Right from the first part, the energetic and lively performance was enjoyable!”<\/p>\n The playlist included pieces from John Williams, David Holsinger, and Philip Sparke, then gave way to Hiroshi Miyagawa’s 10-minute Yamato<\/em> Suite and several pieces from Galaxy Express 999<\/em> (hence the program book cover).<\/p>\n If one concert in a weekend wasn’t enough, you had another option on Sunday when the Asao Philharmonic, a community orchestra in Kawasaki City, closed with the Yamato<\/em> theme as its second encore.<\/p>\n Visit their Twitter page here<\/a><\/p>\n The name of this unusual concert was The Ultimate Titanic<\/em>, since it consisted entirely of film music (starting with that one). Others included The Terminator, Mission Impossible, Godzilla<\/em>, and Galaxy Express 999<\/em>. The thing tying them together was the presentation. All were performed on the impressive pipe organ in Osaka Symphony Hall<\/a> (played by organist Mari Ohki), and accompanied by a projection-mapped light show.<\/p>\n The Space Battleship Yamato<\/em> theme was the closer, and not for the first time; Akira Miyagawa has conducted the Osaka Shion Orchestra in this same space – but not with projection mapping. That’s something to watch for in future concerts.<\/p>\n The Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra teamed up with conductor Akira Miyagawa for a summer festival concert at the Tokyo Electron Hall in Miyagi Prefecture. It brought together all of his best hits, culminating with the Yamato<\/em> theme. It was the first of two concerts for Miyagawa in August.<\/p>\n There’s a delightful annual tradition in which a group called Anime Japan Fes stages a theme song concert just around the corner from Comiket on its closing day.<\/p>\n And despite continuing to hint that he’s about to retire, Isao Sasaki still turns up every time. You can probably guess which of his songs brings the house down at the end of the show.<\/p>\n By all accounts, the Space Battleship Yamato<\/em> Strings Concert (performed as part of the Mt. Fuji Kawaguchiko Music Festival) was something very special, even among Yamato<\/em> concerts. It was the first of its kind, an open air experience that allowed nature itself in on the act\u2026and nature obliged!<\/p>\n Read a full account, with comments from both musicians and attendees, here<\/a><\/p>\n Among the products for sale at the strings concert was a new pair of scores from Hustle Copy, the company that publishes Miyagawa family sheet music. The new editions published on this day were both piano arrangements of the Yamato<\/em> theme, one for solo<\/a> and one for duet<\/a>. Click on each to order them from the Hustle Copy website (to Japanese addresses only).<\/p>\n Composer\/conductor Akira Miyagawa continued to be the busiest of musical bees when he turned up at the 70th anniversary concert for Kansai University (in Osaka) and ran them through their paces. The set list included his best-known pieces and his father Hiroshi’s 4-part Yamato<\/em> Suite.<\/p>\n Fans swarmed in from across the country for what may be their only chance to hear this most famous of all Yamato<\/em> scores in a live concert: the 1977 Symphonic Suite Yamato<\/em>, played end to end under the baton of Kaito Ikeda. The ensemble was a young one, mostly in their 30s, which meant they were born a good twenty years after Yamato<\/em> began. <\/p>\n Click here<\/a> to read all about it in the special report for October 6.<\/p>\n Yuya Hoshino is the composer\/performer of Crimson Red<\/em>, the hardest-rocking end title song from Yamato 2202<\/em>. If you’ve wondered what he’d sound like covering some other songs, wonder no longer; he released a live cover of From Yamato With Love<\/em> (1978) on Youtube.<\/p>\n See it here<\/a><\/p>\n Winds Score WSBF-00045<\/em><\/p>\n Official description: “Since the first Space Battleship Yamato<\/em> series premiered in 1974, the theme song has been rearranged for each broadcast and film, and sung by various artists. This Flex Band (small bands of 20 or less) arrangement is reminiscent of the original Isao Sasaki\/Royal Knights version, delivering a sound that truly embodies Yamato!<\/em>”<\/p>\n Visit the Winds Score website’s Yamato<\/em> page here<\/a><\/p>\n Listen to a sample recording on Youtube ![](\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar24\/913a04.JPG\")
<\/p>\nFebruary 4: Soleil Pipe Organ Concert<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/mar24\/913a07.JPG\")
<\/p>\nFebruary 11: Filmscore concert<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nFebruary 16: Music history<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/sep25\/WS2024a.JPG\")
<\/p>\nFebruary 23: Yamato<\/em> theme sheet music for alto sax and piano<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/apr24\/926a15.JPG\")
\nConductor Tatsuya Shimono, Composer Kentaro Haneda<\/em><\/p>\nMarch 27: Mikiki<\/em> article<\/h3>\n
40 years after the premiere – Tatsuya Shimono opens a new world of Yamato<\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nApril 7: Family Concert ~ Addicted to Brass<\/em>, Kobe City<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/may24\/940a18.JPG\")
<\/p>\nApril 29: Isao Sasaki on TV<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nMay 3: Star Blazing<\/em> cover album<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nMay 19: Isao Sasaki on TV<\/h3>\n
Fans are moved by Isao Sasaki’s live singing of Space Battleship Yamato<\/em>!<\/span><\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/jun24\/941a39x.JPG\")
<\/span><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/jun24\/954a03.JPG\")
<\/p>\nMay 24: Isao Sasaki profile<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/jul24\/958a01.JPG\")
\nRehearsal photos posted on Twitter by Oyama Shikyo<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nJune 2: Concert in Oyama<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/jul24\/958a02.JPG\")
\nPhotos posted on Twitter by Miyuki0107<\/a> and aoi2199<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/jul24\/958a03.JPG\")
\nPhotos posted on Twitter by AnalyzerAU09<\/a> and aoi2199<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/jul24\/958a04.JPG\")
<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/jul24\/958a12.JPG\")
<\/p>\nJune 8: Osaka Shion Wind Orchestra 155th concert<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/jul24\/958a22.JPG\")
\nphoto posted on Twitter by sokuhou_music<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nJune 18: Isao Sasaki on TV<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/jul24\/958a23.JPG\")
<\/p>\nJune 22: Anniversary concert announced<\/h3>\n
The original idol voice actress who played Yuki Mori in Space Battleship Yamato<\/em> shares her memories; the legendary Symphonic Suite<\/em> to be premiered<\/span><\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/jul24\/958a24.JPG\")
<\/span><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/jul24\/958a25.JPG\")
\nPhotos posted on Twitter by aoi2199<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nJune 23: Kashiwa City Wind Orchestra concert<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/aug24\/967a03.JPG\")
<\/p>\nJuly 7: Asao Philharmonic Family Concert<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nJuly 26: Osaka Concert<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/sep24\/975a04.JPG\")
\nPhoto at right posted on Twitter by the Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nAugust 3: Concert performance<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/sep24\/975a15.JPG\")
\nPhoto posted on Twitter by birthdaysong5<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nAugust 11: Super Anime Song Spirits 2024<\/em><\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/sep24\/975a16.JPG\")
\nPhoto posted on Twitter by chun78<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/sep24\/975a22.JPG\")
\nPhoto posted on Twitter by kotori2co<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nAugust 24: Space Battleship Yamato<\/em> Strings concert<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/jun25\/Hustle2024.JPG\")
<\/p>\nAugust 24: Space Battleship Yamato<\/em> sheet music<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nSeptember 15: Kansai University Symphonic Band Concert<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/oct24\/989a06.JPG\")
\nPhoto posted by Fukapon<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nOctober 6: Symphonic Suite Yamato<\/em> concert<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/nov24\/992a43x.JPG\")
<\/p>\nOctober 14: Yuya Hoshino on Youtube<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nNovember 1: Yamato<\/em> theme sheet music, “flex band” version<\/h3>\n