Yamato is an open class drum and bugle corps

Drum and bugle corps (modern)

A drum and bugle corps, also known as a drum corps, is a musical marching unit consisting of brass instruments, percussion instruments, and color guard. Typically operating as independent non-profit organizations, drum corps perform in competitions, parades, festivals, and other civic functions...

 that competes in the Drum Corps International

Drum Corps International

Drum Corps International , formed in 1972, is the non-profit governing body operating the North American drum and bugle corps circuit for junior corps, whose members are between the ages of 14 and 21. It is the counterpart of Drum Corps Associates which governs senior or all-age drum corps...

 circuit. Yamato was founded in 1995 and fielded its first corps in 1997. It is based in both Kyoto-Osaka, Japan and Riverside, California

Riverside, California

Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...

. Yamato is Drum Corps International

Drum Corps International

Drum Corps International , formed in 1972, is the non-profit governing body operating the North American drum and bugle corps circuit for junior corps, whose members are between the ages of 14 and 21. It is the counterpart of Drum Corps Associates which governs senior or all-age drum corps...

's only multi-ethnic corps.

History

Yamato was originally founded in Kyoto, Japan in 1995 as a way for young Japanese performing artists to perform and gain a first hand experience of the drum and bugle corps

Drum and bugle corps (modern)

A drum and bugle corps, also known as a drum corps, is a musical marching unit consisting of brass instruments, percussion instruments, and color guard. Typically operating as independent non-profit organizations, drum corps perform in competitions, parades, festivals, and other civic functions...

 activity in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. Yamato's first corps took the field in 1997 and completed its first North American

North American

North American generally refers to an entity, people, group, or attribute of North America, especially of the United States and Canada together.-Culture:*North American English, a collective term used to describe American English and Canadian English...

 tour with a mixture of both Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

ese and American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 performers. In 1998 Yamato achieved finalist status in Drum Corps International

Drum Corps International

Drum Corps International , formed in 1972, is the non-profit governing body operating the North American drum and bugle corps circuit for junior corps, whose members are between the ages of 14 and 21. It is the counterpart of Drum Corps Associates which governs senior or all-age drum corps...

 Division II & III finals. This prompted Yamato to file for 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

under the name "Yamato Youth Arts Organization."http://www.yamatodrumcorps.org/about.php In its comeback year in 2008, Yamato made finals in the open class division with their show entitled MYTHOS.

Mission

According to the Yamato website, Yamato's mission is,"To instill life skills in cultural awareness, dedication, teamwork and musicianship in young performing artists of Japan and the United States through various performing arts groups."http://www.yamatodrumcorps.org/about.php

Vision

According to the Yamato website, Yamato's vision is,"To give both American and Japanese musicians and performers a venue to express themselves in a group environment while traveling and performing in both North America and Japan. We see our organization not only as competitive, but educational as well. We believe members will gain an understanding and respect for each others' cultures as well as for themselves. Yamato continues to cater to young musicians and performers under the age of 22, from various regions in Japan and North America."http://www.yamatodrumcorps.org/about.php