No Surprises, Few Upsets At Kanto Regional

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The 41st annual Japan Marching Band & Baton Twirling Association’s Kanto Contest was held at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan this past weekend. Over 180 units ranging from elementary school bands to independent drum corps took part in one of Japan’s oldest and largest pageantry contests for a chance at a spot in the All-Japan Nationals this December. On Sunday, 11 drum corps and marching bands from Eastern Japan competed in the independent marching band class. It was no surprise that the Soka Renaissance Vanguard took first with their 2006 program, "Excelsior ~ Dream of Flight," with arrangements by the who’s who of North American drum corps, including Wayne Downey, Ralph Hardiman, Karl Lowe and various others. Yokohama Robins followed in second with their production of Twilight Fantasy, with the DCJ drum corps Yokohama Inspires, Yokohama Scouts and Tokyo Phoenix taking the 3rd, 4th and 5th spots. Utsunomiya Sound Company, a participant in the 2005 All-Japan Nationals, fell short of making it this year by only a few 10ths of a point.

In order to advance to the All-Japan Nationals, units must receive a gold rating (score of 90 or higher) at a regional contest sanctioned by the Japan Marching Band & Baton Twirling Association.

Complete Results:

1st – (L) Soka Renaissance Vanguard*
2nd – (L) Yokohama Robins*
3rd – (L) Yokohama Inspires Drum & Bugle Corps*
4th – (L) Yokohama Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps*
5th – (L) Tokyo Phoenix Drum & Bugle Corps*
6th – (S) Utsunomiya Sound Company
7th – (S) Genesis
8th – (S) Marching band Courage
9th – (S) Cycle
10th – (S) Sonic Lancers Drum & Bugle Corps
11th – (S) Cherry Blossoms Drum & Bugle CorpsK/p>

(L) – Large Unit Category (S) – Small Unit Category * – advances to All-Japan Nationals

The 34th Annual All japan Marching Band & Baton Twirling Championships will take place on December 16 and 17 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, and January 13 and 14 at the Japan Budokan in Tokyo. Independent Class groups will be competing on January 14.

Japan Marching band & Baton Twirling Association – http://www.ajmba.org
Kanto Marching Band & Baton Twirling Regional Contest – http://www.mb-kanto.org

Posted by on Tuesday, November 7th, 2006. Filed under Drum Corps Japan.