Takahiro Higuchi

Colonel Takahiro Higuchi began his military career in 1986 as a commissioned officer in the JGSDF Central Band. His assignments as a band officer included commander of the 1st Combined Brigade Band (currently 15th Band, Okinawa), of the 12th Band (Gunma), of the Northern Army Band (Sapporo), of the Middle Army Band (Hyogo) and Chief of the Performance Division and Executive Officer of the Central Band. At the same time, he was enrolled at the Tokyo University of the Arts as an auditor.

As a conductor, he led the band for Special Guard of Honor Ceremonies to welcome state guests and official visitors at the State Guest House and the Imperial Palace. Colonel Higuchi was appointed as the 14th commander of the JGSDF Central Band in March 2017. He led the band at “The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo” in August 2017: the band consequently was awarded the honour of the Pooley Broadsword. Colonel Higuchi studied conducting under the instruction of Ichie Kamiya, Kenichiro Kobayashi, Kurt Redel, Yuji Yuasa, Hiroyuki Iwaki and Yutaka Sado. He represented Asia in the Romanian International Conducting Competition, and he joined the PMF Educational Seminar in Sapporo. He acted as a guest conductor for various military bands and orchestras, including “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band and Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa.

Colonel Takahiro Higuchi is a member of the Japanese Band Directors Association and the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE).