Animal band brings joy to all ages
By Keiji Saito / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer
Animals including an Indian lion and a polar bear are on stage, producing fascinating sounds with brass instruments. An okapi, a rare animal from Africa, is wielding the baton.
This is Zoorasian Brass, a unique band of classical musicians who wear animal masks.
“They’re not meant simply to entertain children, they’re a group of artists who offer music that touches the hearts of children and adults alike,” said Haruyuki Otsuka, the head of the band and president of the event firm Superkids Co. in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Otsuka came up with the idea to form the band in 2000, when his company was commissioned to organize events at the Zoorasia Yokohama Zoological Gardens in Yokohama, in the hope of getting people interested in endangered species at the zoo.
Zoorasian Band members
“Even if you’re reading some difficult content, it’s easy to understand if it’s in the form of a picture book,” he said. “Similarly, it’s possible to get people interested in classical music by adding visual attractions to it. So, this is a sort of music-picture book.”