Tachibana is invited to Taiwan for the third time!
It has been announced by General Association of Chinese Culture (GACC) that Tachibana and “Emerald Knights” (the brass band from the Second High School of Tokyo University of Agriculture) have been invited to perform in Taiwan on December 18-21, 2025. Memorably Tachibana appeared in the 111th Taiwan National Day Ceremonies in 2022 as the first overseas group, whereas Emerald Knights participated in the 112th Taiwan National Day Ceremonies in 2023. This will be the third Taiwan expedition for Tachibana, and second for the Emerald Knights.
Tachibana will be led by the 122nd Class band members who were first-year students during the band’s second Taiwan expedition in 2023. They also participated in the band’s third Rose Parade expedition earlier in 2025.
The bands will perform in Taipei (both bands), Pingtung (Tachibana only), Kaohsiung (Tachibana only) and Chiayi (Emerald Knights only) and meet also with several Taiwanese bands. Introduction of those bands is here, in Chinese.
Official schedule of the expedition is here, in Chinese.
Sponsors of this expedition:
Official expedition badge
Events after the expedition:
– Summary media after the expedition:
Click picture to watch video
Tachibana digest video by GACC was published on January 1, 2026 (see above). The text part to the video is here, in Chinese. Corresponding Emerald Knights digest is here.
GACC published a thank you message for the audience of the expedition events on December 27, 2025, click here.
Note on the expedition on December 25, 2025 on the School’s Official Homepage is here, in Japanese.
– Emerald Knights received congratulatory flowers:
On December 26, 2025 the Emerald Knights received congratulatory flowers from Lee-san ahead of their 68th Regular Concert to be held on December 27 and 28, 2025. Click here.
– Umemoto-sensei interviewed by Radio Taiwan International:
Umemoto-sensei was interviewed by Radio Taiwan International on December 24, 2025, click here. Relevant parts of his interview is translated to English here.
Events in Taiwan on December 23 (Tachibana leaving home):
– Band at Taoyuan International Airport leaving home:
Click picture to watch video
In the morning of December 23, 2025 Tachibana flew home from Taoyuan International Airport (video by Formosa TV). Clearly the band had done a lot of shopping at Carrefour… (click here for their update on the bands’ visits)
Note on the Official Instagram of GACC is here, in Chinese. Farewell comments by Lee-san, click here (in Chinese). A short video of Lee-san bidding farewell to the band members, click here.
– Lee-san receives early Christmas present from Tachibana:
Before leaving Tachibana band members gave Lee-san an early Christmas present, a Sun•Chlorella T-shirt signed with messages! Best Christmas present ever, said Lee-san! Click here.
Lee-san was perfectly portrayed in the commemorative plaque:
Events in Taiwan on December 22 (Tachibana Visits Kaohsiung Girls’ Senior High School):
– Sightseeing in Blueprint Cultural and Creative Park:
Later on December 22, 2025 Tachibana band members put their civvies on and went for sightseeing and shopping at the Blueprint Cultural and Creative Park in Tainan. Note on the Official Instagram of GACC is here, in Chinese.
– Tachibana visits Kaohsiung Girls’ Senior High School:
Continuing their stay in Kaohsiung Tachibana visited Kaohsiung Girls’ Senior High School on December 22, 2025. Note on the Official Instagram of GACC is here, in Chinese. Note on the Official Facebook of KGHS is here, in Chinese. Tachibana has met them during the parade and field show in Kaohsiung which was part of the 2023 Taiwan Expedition.
– Emerald Knights leave Taiwan:
Click picture to watch video
Emerald Knights left Taiwan on December 22, 2025 (video by TTV News). Note on the Official Instagram of GACC is here, in Chinese.
Events in Taiwan on December 21 (Tachibana Concert in Kaohsiung):
– Tachibana evening snack:
Returning to the hotel in Kaohsiung Tachibana found an evening snack of candied fried rice cakes and bubble milk tea, courtesy of the Mayor of Kaohsiung Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁, Pinyin: Chén Qímài). Reference is here, in Chinese.
– Fruits from the Ministry of Agriculture:
After the performances of the day the Ministry of Agriculture gave both bands a selection of Taiwanese fruits to refresh themselves. Fruits were greatly appreciated! Click here.
– Pop-up performance of the Emerald Knights:
Click picture to watch video
In the evening of December 21, 2025 the Emerald Knights held a pop-up performance at the Main Pavilion of the 320+1 Chiayi City Urban Expo, Chiayi (site of the future North Building of the Chiayi City Hall) (video by Cloud with Wind).
– Tachibana concert at Weiwuying, Kaohsiung:
Blue-gold uniforms were worn first time in Taiwan
(rotated video of the Stage Show is here)
Tachibana returned to Kaohsiung to have a sold-out concert in National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying) on December 21, 2025. The concert followed the familiar pattern starting with seated session, followed by energetic Stage Show (first introducing blue-gold uniforms to Taiwan, and then continuing with the trade-mark orange uniforms).
Program of the event is here, in Japanese and Chinese. The encore of the Stage Show was “Your Song” by Elton John and Bernie Taupin.
Note on Tachibana’s Official Instagram is here, in Japanese.
Click picture to watch video
During the rehearsals of the concert the leader of a music ensemble “A Root” and avid Tachibana fan Yang Chih-Po (楊智博, Pinyin: Yáng Zhìbó) fulfilled his dream and played “Sing, Sing, Sing” with the band using sheng (traditional Chinese instrument), click here. Lee-san recorded the unique performance, click here. Video above by Liberty Taiwan News.
– Emerald Knights concert in Chiayi:
While Tachibana was in Kaohsiung, Emerald Knights traveled to Chiayi on December 21, 2025 for a sold-out concert at Chiayi City Cultural Affairs Bureau Music Hall, Chiayi (this concert was part of the program of the 33th Chiayi City International Band Festival). Program of the concert is here, in Chinese. Reference is here, in Chinese.
Events in Taiwan on December 20 (Tachibana Field Show in Pingtung):
– Tachibana travels to Kaohsiung:
After the show in Pingtung Tachibana traveled to Kaohsiung for the next event. At the hotel the Mayor of Kaohsiung Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁, Pinyin: Chén Qímài) provided them with a sweet late-night snack, click here.
Event the Tachibana tour buses sported the appropriate color:
– Tachibana field show at Pingtung International Roller Skating Rink:
Click picture to watch video
The Pingtung International Roller Skating Rink, nearby street and hills were full of people when Tachibana traveled to Pingtung County on December 20, 2025 (video of the complete event above by Kai-Chiang Chuang, video on Tachibana performance by 慶次郎前田 is here). After long speeches and drills by local talent, sporting their brand-new T-shirts from the band’s sponsor Sun•Chlorella Tachibana went for a mini-parade and field show, followed by a balloon shower enjoyed also by Pingtung County Mayor Chou Chun-mi (周春米, Pinyin: Zhōu Chūnmǐ) (picture below).
At the beginning of the event Tachibana received a Taiwan-shaped commemorative gift made of glass beads, traditional craft of the indigenous Paiwan people of southern Taiwan:
Note on the event on Tachibana’s Official Instagram is here, in Japanese. Note by DJ Tongtong (one of the MCs of the event) is here. Official digest videos of the event are here and here.
Earlier the day Tachibana was leaving Taipei with Taiwan High Speed Rail (click here)…
…and arriving in warm but slightly rainy Chaozhou in Pingtung where the Rink is located (video below by wallace0935 瓦樂斯). Security was strengthened due to the stabbing incident in Taipei day before, click here for an article by FTV News.
Click picture to watch video
Tachibana met with many new friends in Pingtung:
– Emerald Knights travel to Chiayi:
While Tachibana went to Pingtung, Emerald Knights traveled to Chiayi on December 20, 2025 to prepare for the events in the following day. After nutritious lunch (picture above) they rehearsed their drill at Chiayi City Cultural Affairs Bureau Music Hall.
Events in Taiwan on December 19 (Joint Concert in Taipei):
– Joint Concert at Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium:
Click picture to watch video
(Tachibana performance in bilibili is here)
The sold-out Joint Concert of Tachibana and Emerald Knights took place on December 19, 2025 at Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium, Taipei. After both bands played their drills they joined forces at the end for “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire and “Takarajima” by T-Square (video by Rui above). 4500 fans in the audience were treated with unique experience! Among the audience were also Chief Representative of the Japan–Taiwan Exchange Association, Taipei Office Kazuyuki Katayama (片山和之) (Japan’s de facto ambassador to Taiwan) and his wife, click here.
Note by the bilingual MC Liu “Haruka” Yutong, click here (in Chinese). Note on Tachibana’s Official Instagram is here, in Japanese.
Before the show Tachibana prepared themselves by enjoying the famous Hung Rui Chen -sandwiches:
Emerald Knights and Tachibana were exploring at the Grand Hotel, click here.
– Bands rehearsing at Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium:
In the afternoon of December 19, 2025 the bands were rehearsing at Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium prior to the joint concert in the evening, click here.
Okazaki-sensei, Shima-coach and Suzuki-sensei were also warming up:
Also Lee-san met with Suzuki-sensei and discussed about future wind band collaboration, click here:
Also a surprise guest arrived during the bands’ rehearsals: President of Taiwan Lai Ching-te (賴清德, Pinyin: Lài Qīngdé) met the bands with greetings and Taiwanese pineapple cake! Reference is here, in Chinese.
President Lai speaking
– Emerald Knights at everrich:
Emerald Knights went to everrich for lunch, bubble tea and souvenirs on December 19, 2025, click here.
Events in Taiwan on December 18 (Ximending Night Parade):
– Night parade and stage show in Ximending:
Click picture to watch video
The legendary night parade in Ximending took place in the balmy evening of December 18, 2025 (video above is the Tachibana specific segment from the livestream by Formosa TV News Network). Streets were packed with more than 30’000 fans when the bands marched from in89 Cinemax Taipei Ximending to Rainbow Six (click here for the detailed route map).
For the true fans, here is Tachibana Tension at the start of the parade!
Emerald Knights paraded as well (video by the Official YouTube-account of GACC):
Click picture to watch video
After the parade Emerald Knights and Tachibana had a stage show at the plaza in front of Zhongshan Hall.
Another take of the events by 慶次郎前田 is here (parade) and here (stage show).
Note on the Official Instagram of Tachibana is here, in Japanese. Articles on Storm Media on the event are here and here, in Chinese. Article on Tokyo Shimbun is here, in Japanese.
And the long day ended with a well-earned dinner of braised pork rice and three kinds of soup at Grand Hotel (click here). Menu in detail is described here.
– Tachibana arrives at Taoyuan International Airport:
Click picture to watch video
Tachibana arrived at Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan in the afternoon of December 18, 2025 (video above is the livestream by Formosa TV News Network, shorter arrival video is here). Immediately after arrival they headed to Ximending, click here.
Welcome shout at the airport, click here. Note on the band’s arrival on the Official Instagram of GACC is here. Article on SET News, click here.
– Tachibana departs from Japan:
Tachibana leaving from Kansai International Airport, Osaka on December 18, 2025 (click here).
Events in Taiwan on December 17 (Emerald Knights arrive):
– Emerald Knights arrive and go to a late-night snack:
Click picture to watch video
Emerald Knights arrived at Taipei Songshan Airport, Taiwan in the evening of December 17, 2025 (video above is the livestream by Formosa TV News Network). Short videoclip of the band’s arrival on the Official Instagram of GACC is here. News report by TTV News, click here.
Straight after the arrival and interviews they went to their hotel (Grand Hotel in Taipei which plans to treat the students luxuriously!) for a late-night snack of famous Taiwanese meatballs (bah-oân) from Chuan Yeh (century-old eatery in Wanhua District, Taipei) and Joy Red Bean Cakes as dessert. The snack was clearly highly appreciated (click here)!
Events before the expedition:
– Tachibana received expedition merchandise:
Couple of days before the departure Tachibana received expedition merchandise. Note on the Instagram of GACC on December 16, 2025 is here, in Chinese.
– Pingtung Town News writes about upcoming Tachibana visit:
Pingtung Town News wrote about the upcoming Tachibana visit on December 10, 2025. Reference is here, in Chinese. Similar article with promotional video was published at the Facebook of Pingtung Performing Arts, click here.
– Emerald Knights win Gold at the 53rd JMBA National Championships:
At the 53rd JMBA National Championships held on December 7, 2025 in Saitama Super Arena Emerald Knights won Gold, and received immediate congratulations from Taiwan, click here and here (in Chinese). Note on the Band’s Official Twitter-account is here, in Japanese.
Official results are here, in Japanese.
– Merchandise sales at Wanhua Grand Festival:
The expedition merchandise was sold at GACC booth at the Wanhua Grand Festival in Wanhua District, Taipei on December 6, 2025. Reference is here, in Chinese.
– Video greeting by Emerald Knights:
Video greeting by Emerald Knights was published on the Facebook of the Chiayi City International Band Festival on November 27, 2025, click here.
– Congratulations from Taiwan after the 38th All-Japan Marching Contest:
After the 38th All-Japan Marching Contest on November 23, 2025 the bands immediately received congratulations from Taiwan, click here and here. Tachibana won Gold for the fifth consecutive year, Emerald Knights won Silver. The result was also reported in an article on November 24, 2025 on the website of SET News, click here (in Chinese).
The response to the congratulations by Emerald Knights is here, in Chinese.
– National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) of Taiwan welcomes Tachibana to Taiwan:
In its Facebook post on November 11, 2025 National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) of Taiwan reminisces about their concert in Osaka on June 1, 2025 attended by Tachibana band members, and extends a warm welcome for the band’s upcoming visit to Taiwan (click here).
– Merchandise sales at Huashan 1914 Creative Park:
The expedition merchandise was sold at GACC booth at Huashan 1914 Creative Park, Taipei as part of the “Good Friends Hong Kong-Style Festival” over the weekend November 8-9, 2025. Video on the booth and merchandise is here.
– Official merchandise of the expedition launched:
General Association of Chinese Culture (GACC) launched the official merchandise of the expedition on October 21, 2025, click here. The items are designed by Taiwanese comic artist Monday Recover (星期一回收日), and they are on sale here (opens October 27, 2025 at 11am Taiwan Standard Time).
Detailed description of the merchandise with impressions by Monday Recover is here, and of the limited edition gift box here (both in Chinese). Also Lee-san provided details of the gift box with promotional video, click here.
Limited edition gift box
– Press coverage of the expedition announcement:
Article on October 13, 2025 on the website of NOWnews is here, in Chinese.
Article on October 13, 2025 on the website of Radio Taiwan International (RTI) is here, in Chinese.
Article on October 13, 2025 on the website of Central News Agency (CNA) is here, in Japanese.
Article on October 13, 2025 on the website of Taiwan Television (TTV) is here, in Chinese.
Article on October 13, 2025 on the website of SET News is here, in Chinese.
Article on October 13, 2025 on the website of Central News Agency (CNA) is here, in Chinese.
Article on October 12, 2025 on Mirror Media (mnews) website is here, in Chinese.
– Official announcements:
Announcement by the Emerald Knights on October 14, 2025 is here, in Japanese.
Official expedition announcement on October 13, 2025 by General Association of Chinese Culture (GACC) is here, in Chinese. The same announcement by Mr Lee Hou-ching (李厚庆, Pinyin: Lǐ Hòuqìng), Secretary-General of General Association of Chinese Culture (GACC) is here, in Chinese.
Bookmark the permalink.7 thoughts on “ Tachibana is invited to Taiwan for the third time! ”
Kyoto Tachibana Senior High School Band on their way to the buses after their performance in Pingtung to return to the hotel. A slightly longer video Like Like
That’s great news. Because on previous trips. They’ve been welcomed,and looked after well. A great experience for the members of the band. Who haven’t enjoyed this before. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😊😊😊😊😊 Like Like
Congratulations Tachibana on a third visit to Taiwan. This is such a wonderful experience for the band and school. I have followed you from way back to 2012 and I am so very proud of your success. Like Like
Would be cool to go and see them perform there. (coming from the Netherlands.) But how to know if one can even attend those performances. (tickets, venues etc.) Cheers. Like Like
Tickets will be on sale: October 28 (Tachibana+Emerald Knights in Taipei) November 3 (Tachibana in Kaohsiung) early December (Emerald Knights in Chiayi) If you manage to buy one you know you can attend! Like Like
Conway ShenSend your request to Mr. Lee Hou-ching, or ask the Dutch Representitive in Taiwan to transfer you request to him! For Dutch people KT shared the SAME NAME WITH YOUR ROYALTY, why not ask your Crown Princess to invite these princess to your country? Like Like
Conway ShenDon’t you think KT joins Andre Rieu’s orchestra in a performance in Maastricht is even better! Like Like
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