糖心视频

On August 16th (Sat) and 17th (Sun), 2025, the 56th Yamano Big Band Jazz Contest (YBBJC), sponsored by Yamano Music Co., Ltd., was held at Culttz Kawasaki (Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture). Aoyama Gakuin University 's Royal Sounds Jazz Orchestra participated and won the top prize, achieving the first-ever consecutive victory for the group, following their win last year.

The Yamano Big Band Jazz Contest is a competition in which many student big bands and jazz orchestras from all over Japan participate. This year, with the theme of "The Flow of Water, the Beauty and Mystery of Nature," the members of the Royal Sounds Jazz Orchestra conceived a plan for a 15-minute performance consisting of three songs, and all members worked together to bring the musicality together. In particular, they aimed to express a "contrast of sound" woven from delicate sounds that evoke the breath of nature and magnificent sounds that stir the heart like a raging torrent, and practiced diligently every day, including a six-day training camp.

On the day of the contest, the results of their practice were brilliantly showcased, and following their excellent performances in the same contest, including winning the Grand Prize in 2022 and placing 6th in 2023, they won the Grand Prize again this year, achieving a two-year winning streak.

<Songs to be performed>
1. "ANB" Composer: James Francies, Arranger: Yoko Suzuki
2. "Flood" Composed by Michel League (Snarky Puppy), Arranged by Shohei Wani
3. “Cascating” Composition and arrangement: Shohei Wani

Comments from the award winners

Asami Matsuo (Bandmistress, 3rd year Department of Comparative Arts College of Literature)

In preparation for this contest, we practiced intensely for about a month starting in early July. While our desire to win for the second consecutive year, based on last year's achievement, grew stronger, there were moments when that became a source of pressure. However, the process of all the members working together to refine what we wanted to express and polishing our performance was truly enjoyable, and it was a very fulfilling period.

As a result, we are extremely happy and proud to have achieved our major goal of winning the top prize and achieving a second consecutive victory. We also received guidance from many instructors and alumni during practice and preparation, and received a lot of cooperation from our juniors. We would like to express our gratitude to all those who were involved with our group in preparing for this contest, including the members who performed with us. While this result is a major milestone, all of us will continue to strive to deliver the music of the Royal Sounds Jazz Orchestra to many people on various stages in the future.