Aimachi
Encyclopedia
Aimachi is a Tenrikyo
church based in Nagoya, Japan. Outside of Japan, Aimachi is most known for its marching music and color guard ensembles. A selection from their 130 member marching band compete internationally as an indoor percussion ensembles, indoor marching ensembles, Baton twirling, and Winter guard
s. The group rehearses outside of Nagoya in Handa City.
Since 1990, Americans on Aimachi's instructional and design staff have included Gordon Henderson (Band Director)
, Mitch Rogers, Michael Gaines, Jim Campbell, Tim Fairbanks, Erik Johnson, Scott Kretzer, Brett Kuhn, Jim Moore, Marty Rhees, Dean Westman and William Plenk.
In July 2011, the Aimachi Band traveled to Switzerland to perform at the Basel Tattoo.
championships, and other exhibition performances throughout Asia. At WGI Percussion, they placed 3rd in 2000, 2006 and 2008 in the Independent World Division. A group celebrating their cultural origins, they deviate from conventional battery percussion by adding taiko
drums, shime-daiko
drums, and the odaiko drum to a traditionally western activity. They add many elements from their award winning Winter Guard into their performances, including flags, rifles, sabres, batons, and dance sections to offer a visual package unique in the percussion circuit.
Tenrikyo
Tenrikyo is a monotheistic religion originating in revelations to a 19th-century Japanese woman named Nakayama Miki, known as Oyasama by followers...
church based in Nagoya, Japan. Outside of Japan, Aimachi is most known for its marching music and color guard ensembles. A selection from their 130 member marching band compete internationally as an indoor percussion ensembles, indoor marching ensembles, Baton twirling, and Winter guard
Winter guard
Winter guard is an indoor color guard activity, derived from marching band or drum & bugle corps. Unlike traditional color guard, winter guard is performed indoors, usually in a gymnasium or an indoor arena...
s. The group rehearses outside of Nagoya in Handa City.
History
Aimachi was started in 1962 with four members. The Founder of the Band, Kiyokazu Sekine, is the son of Aimachi's founder and continues to serve as the group's Director. In 1996, the Aimachi winterguard performed in WGI for the first time, placing 18th in the Independent World division. In 1998, the Aimachi marching band became the All-Japan National Champion in the All-Japan Marching and Baton Twirling championships for the first time in their history. They have gone on to win in 1998, 2000, 2005, and 2006, performing in exhibition in 2007. They also won the WAMSB World Championship for Marching Showbands in 2002. The percussion ensemble performed in the 2000, 2003, 2006, and 2008 WGI Independent World championships receiving the bronze medal in their last two appearances.Since 1990, Americans on Aimachi's instructional and design staff have included Gordon Henderson (Band Director)
Gordon Henderson (Band Director)
Gordon Henderson is the Director of the UCLA Bruin Marching Band. He is also Associate Director of Bands and Vice Chair of the Department of Music at UCLA...
, Mitch Rogers, Michael Gaines, Jim Campbell, Tim Fairbanks, Erik Johnson, Scott Kretzer, Brett Kuhn, Jim Moore, Marty Rhees, Dean Westman and William Plenk.
In July 2011, the Aimachi Band traveled to Switzerland to perform at the Basel Tattoo.
Indoor Percussion
This group performs in many competitions across Japan, the Winter Guard InternationalWinter Guard International
Spawning from the organization Drum Corps International , Winter Guard International was founded in 1977. WGI is a visual performing arts organization that hosts regional and national competitions for color guard and indoor percussion ensembles. Contests are held in the U.S...
championships, and other exhibition performances throughout Asia. At WGI Percussion, they placed 3rd in 2000, 2006 and 2008 in the Independent World Division. A group celebrating their cultural origins, they deviate from conventional battery percussion by adding taiko
Taiko
means "drum" in Japanese . Outside Japan, the word is often used to refer to any of the various Japanese drums and to the relatively recent art-form of ensemble taiko drumming...
drums, shime-daiko
Shime-Daiko
]The shime-daiko is a small Japanese drum. The word "shime-daiko" comes from a larger word "tsukeshime-daiko" often shortened to simply, "shime-daiko" or "shime." It has a short but wide body with animal skin drumheads on both its upper and bottom sides. The hide is first stretched on metal...
drums, and the odaiko drum to a traditionally western activity. They add many elements from their award winning Winter Guard into their performances, including flags, rifles, sabres, batons, and dance sections to offer a visual package unique in the percussion circuit.