[Japanese Military Songs and Marches] A collection of famous Japanese pieces deeply etched in the hearts of the Showa and wartime generations

March “Warship Flag”Saitō Ushimatsu

March “The Naval Ensign”

This celebrated piece, emblematic of the naval band tradition, opens with a stately and imposing brass fanfare before unfolding into a valiant march.

Composed in October 1938 by Uimatsu Saito, a leading composer for the Imperial Japanese Navy Band, it was crafted to align with the disciplined performance style of military bands.

The trio section skillfully weaves in a song written to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the naval ensign.

Included on the album “Walking with the Military Band… Japanese Wind Music 3: Works of Uimatsu Saito,” the piece has a track record of performances at numerous official events, such as fleet reviews and navy-related ceremonies.

With its powerful wind ensemble sonorities and solemn character, it evokes the history of prewar military music and remains enduringly popular among today’s wind band enthusiasts.

March “Patriotism”Saitō Ushimatsu

March “Patriotism” / Patriotic March

This march, with a powerful wind band melody ringing out, was composed by Ushimatsu Saito in December 1937 for the Navy Band.

Its dignified, weighty atmosphere and the solemn lyrical melody of the middle section are beautifully balanced, and its high level of craftsmanship led to its selection as an official piece jointly adopted by the Navy and Army.

An SP record was released at the time by Polydor, featuring a performance by the Imperial Japanese Navy Band under the baton of Seigo Naitō.

From the wartime period through the postwar years, it was widely performed at ceremonies and events throughout the Asia-Pacific region and became familiar to local audiences in places like Indonesia and Palau.

The trio section incorporates Tokichi Setoguchi’s nationally beloved song “Aikoku Koshinkyoku” (Patriotic March), the composer also known for “Gunkan March.” This is a must-hear for those who wish to savor the rich sonorities and solemn melodic beauty of wind band music, as well as for anyone interested in the history of Japanese military music.

Funeral MarchSetoguchi Fujikichi

Funeral March

A dignified and ceremonious masterpiece of wind band music takes on a splendid form at the hands of Tokichi Setoguchi, a leading military musician of Japan’s Meiji era.

Elevating the familiar melody of “Auld Lang Syne” into a solemn march, this work was included on an SP record introduced as a new release at the main Tenshodo store in 1897.

Performed by the German Polydor Military Band, it unfolds in a powerful Western-style three-part structure tinged with melancholy, fully drawing out the virtues of the graded wind band instrumentation—from 12 to 45 players—that Setoguchi valued.

To this day, it retains an undimmed allure as a piece that resonates in the heart during ceremonies and formal occasions where an atmosphere of gravitas is desired.

Grand Naval March (Big March)kaigun gungakutai

[March: Big Navy March (Big March)] Conducted by Music Director Genji Fujisaki, Yokosuka Naval Training Division Band, recorded in October, Showa 8 (1933)

A certain rousing march by the Naval Band brims with a power that stirs the listener’s heart.

Its allure lies in its vigorous rhythm and inspiring melody, and within a brief 2 minutes and 36 seconds it unfolds with superb craftsmanship—from the prelude to the main section and on to a brilliant trio.

First released as an SP record in October 1933, the piece transcended its era and drew renewed attention when it was included in albums such as “Masterpieces of Prewar Japanese Marches: Naval Band Edition” in 1995.

It has also been performed at official occasions such as the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Fleet Review, attesting to its dignified character.

This is a work I recommend to anyone interested in the history of Japanese wind music or in stirring, heroic compositions.

Month Month Fire Water Wood Gold GoldKasuga Hachirō

Month Month Fire Water Wood Gold Gold

When it comes to Japanese military songs, “Getsu-Getsu-Ka-Sui-Moku-Kin-Kin” (Monday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Friday) rivals “Warship March,” composed by Tokichi Setoguchi, in name recognition.

The title phrase “Getsu-Getsu-Ka-Sui-Moku-Kin-Kin” is said to have spread from a remark by Yuzo Tsuru, who, observing that the Imperial Japanese Navy trained without taking days off, complained to a colleague, “At this rate, it’s like Monday-Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday-Friday-Friday,” and it eventually became the basis for the song.

Thereafter, it came to be used among the public as a phrase praising tireless work, reflecting the diligence of the Japanese even back then.

The melody is, of course, martial and spirited, but it also has a bright character—perhaps intentionally, so that ordinary citizens could sing it—and it’s the kind of tune you might even hear on variety shows.

It is especially familiar to the generation of grandparents who lived through the Showa era and the war.

Trois morceaux pour soldats (1944)Ifukube Akira

Akira Ifukube: Prélude du Soldat (1944)

Composed by Akira Ifukube in 1944 at the age of 30, this piece is a valiant march that opens with a powerful fanfare.

Although it was created at the request of the military, the distinctly Ifukube-esque Eastern melodies and dynamic orchestral sonorities are sure to stir the listener’s spirit.

Long regarded as a “phantom work,” it gained wider recognition when it was included on the 1995 album The Art of Akira Ifukube 3: Dance.

This work is recommended for those interested in Japanese music history, or for anyone who wants to experience the origins of the Ifukube sound that would later inform his film scores.

You’ll surely be moved by the strength born in a time of hardship.

Song of the Greater East Asia Decisive Battlekaigun gungakutai

Military Song: Song of the Greater East Asia Decisive Battle (Color Version)

This is a passionate brass band piece reminiscent of a wartime national anime.

The powerful performance by the Navy Band is arranged in a march style that combines dignity and grandeur.

The work was released simultaneously by Nippon Columbia and Victor Records in March 1942, and a promotional film was also produced.

The film features top-tier actors, including kabuki performers Ennosuke Ichikawa, Yaōzō Ichikawa, and Danshirō Ichikawa, and even includes choreographed dance scenes.

Numerous wind band arrangements exist, making it well-suited for performances by choirs and brass bands.

It’s a must-listen for those who want to experience a commanding wind ensemble sound that evokes a sense of national history.