The Imperial Guard Band — the wind ensemble guarding Their Majesties and the Imperial Palace — gave a lunchtime concert on May 31 on the lawn at Honmaru in the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace. About 500 visitors and Palaceside Building workers listened intently.
Founded in 1952 (Showa 27), the band marks its 60th anniversary. Since 2006 it has performed on this lawn every one to two months; last year it also played in Kitaibaraki, Ibaraki, and Asahi, Chiba, after the earthquake.
Under cloudy skies it played "Ringo Oiwake," "Minato-machi Jusan-banchi," "Yawara," "Kanashii Sake," a Hibari Misora medley, "Doraemon no Uta," "Shiawase no Kiiroi Hankachi," and encore "Ii Hi Tabidachi." Tourists and office workers sat on the grass with lunch, relaxed, and applauded warmly.
The next concert is scheduled for June 21 (Thu.).