A Song For Japan - Great Eastern Japan Earthquake Ten Year Rememberance

[harrisonreed]

The United States Army Japan Band trombone quartet has recorded Steven Verhelst's "A Song For Japan" to honor the ten year mark since the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake. This will premiere and be available to watch on 11 March at 8:00 AM, Japan time.



I toured Sendai last year and we were shown a middle school that is still destroyed and abandoned on the coast. We met with people who were trapped on the roof and rescued by US Army helicopter crews. It was a sobering experience. This project has been one of the most meaningful for me. I hope you all watch it and enjoy it!

[Fujiifilm17]

Thanks for posting this Harrison, looking forward to watching it!

During a trip to Japan in 2019 I made a point to visit an elementary school near the coast that's been preserved as a museum when I was in Sendai. It was, as you said, sobering to be there in person, having seen the aerial views of the tsunami that were broadcast on the news back then.

[harrisonreed]

Thanks for posting this Harrison, looking forward to watching it!

During a trip to Japan in 2019 I made a point to visit an elementary school near the coast that's been preserved as a museum when I was in Sendai. It was, as you said, sobering to be there in person, having seen the aerial views of the tsunami that were broadcast on the news back then.

I think that is the same school. You're right, it wasn't abandoned, but was just left as is and preserved as a museum. There was a tall statue of Buddha just down the road, facing away from the ocean.

[Fujiifilm17]

I think that is the same school. You're right, it wasn't abandoned, but was just left as is and preserved as a museum. There was a tall statue of Buddha just down the road, facing away from the ocean.

I think the school was called Arahama Elementary? I remember it being fairly accessible via bus from the nearby train station.

[Posaunus]

Just watched this. Twice.

Congratulations Harrison and colleagues. Excellent performance. Fine tribute. Domo arigato.

[MrHCinDE]

Beautiful playing and a very fitting tribute. Thanks for sharing.

[AndrewMeronek]

Very nice.

[CalgaryTbone]

Nice playing and slide show! Hard to believe it's been 10 years - thanks for doing this and for posting it.

Jim Scott

[afugate]

Beautiful! Thank you, Harrison.

--Andy in OKC

[harrisonreed]

Thank you for watching it! This project meant a lot to many people who were involved. The videographer, my friend SSG Villanueva, was the one who really pushed for it, as he was present for the relief effort and knew nearly all of the service members in the photographs.

Each year our Band tours Tohoku and we try to keep our relationship with that region very close but COVID made it impossible this past year.

[bwanamfupi]

This was very well done, Harrison. Thanks for posting. I appreciated the introduction in both languages at the beginning.

[Arrowhead]

I was there when it happened. I'm in one of the photos. Crazy times.
I still have photos of the area before the recovery was done.

[harrisonreed]

I was there when it happened. I'm in one of the photos. Crazy times.
I still have photos of the area before the recovery was done.

Thanks for what you did. We do a tour in the area every year with the help of a gentleman who you played for after his house and some of his family vanished. You had a huge impact on his life.

[Arrowhead]

I appreciate the support!
Everyday for about a month, we would get on the bus and go to a different shelter. It was difficult seeing all these families who were living in various facilities, with living spaces often just separated by a piece of cardboard. We had to really think on our feet. We would put on a one hour show that had a festive vibe to it, and sometimes pass out backpacks. After doing this for serveral weeks, we returned to Camp Zama. A lot of us felt like we would more than likely never be part of something that impactful, ever again.