Is "jazz = adult music" true? I asked a young man who is devoted to Kobe, what is its charm?
Kobe is said to be the birthplace of jazz in Japan.
It is said to have originated from the fact that in 1923, the first Japanese professional jazz band played jazz at the former Kobe Oriental Hotel.
In this column, I have delivered several articles about jazz.
The more I deal with jazz in my articles, the more I have a simple question in my head, "What kind of music is jazz in the first place?"
I understand that it is different from classical music. But it's hard to put into words...... As I researched, I met young people who were devoting themselves to jazz in Kobe.
What kind of music is "jazz"?
If you search for "what is jazz" on the Internet, you will get the following answer.
Hmm....... The definition may be like that, but it's a little out of place. I want more answers that fall into my heart!
Therefore, we asked Mr. Takanashi of the "Jazz City Kobe" Promotion Council, which promotes jazz in "All Kobe", where the public and private sectors are united.
――What kind of music do you think jazz is?
Takanashi 特別な知識がなくても、演奏を聞いて思わず体が揺れてしまうような、自然に楽しめる音楽だと思っています。
Last year, at a jazz event held at Higashi Amusement Park, small children were flickering their buttocks to the music. When I saw that, I felt like I was hitting my knees, saying, "This is jazz!"
On top of that, the biggest feature of jazz is the freedom and live feeling that improvises the music through the atmosphere of the place and the communication between the performers, even though it has a common foundation of musical notation.
――Certainly, I often hear that improvisation is a characteristic.
Takanashi ジャズ関係者の方と話していても、みなさん「もっと自由に楽しんだらいいんだよ」と仰います。格式ばらなくていいというか、気負わずに楽しめる音楽だと感じています。
Is jazz for mature adults?
――So you also have a side that you can enjoy without being overwhelmed. Many people who play and listen to jazz are middle-aged or older, and I thought that it was music that only mature adults could understand.
Takanashi わかります。私も仕事で担当するまでは、そのイメージが強かったです。でも実は、ジャズに打ち込む若者もたくさんいるんですよ。
The Japan Student Jazz Festival is held every August at Kobe Bunka Hall, and it will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2025. In other words, it is "Jazz Koshien".
It seems that Mirai Hirose, a jazz trumpet player who is currently active as a professional, and Chitomo Takahashi, a jazz saxophonist, also met when they were in high school when they participated in this jazz festival.
He talks about the excitement of that time on the 50th anniversary of Kobe Cultural Hall "Tomobi Radio".
――Mr. Takahashi, who came out of Hiroshima, saw Mr. Hirose in Kobe and said, "It's Hirose! It's like the youth of a high school student, and it's exciting just to listen to it.
Takanashi そうでしょう？ 実は「ジャズの街神戸」推進協議会は、ジャズに打ち込む若者たちを応援しようと、「神戸ユースジャズオーケストラ」を結成しているんです。
Just for the next concert, junior high and high school students are practicing at the cultural center in Chuo Ward, so please go see it.
What is the Kobe Youth Jazz Orchestra?
So, I came to the practice venue of the Kobe Youth Jazz Orchestra, which Mr. Takanashi taught me.
The Kobe Youth Jazz Orchestra is a band for 5th graders ~ 3rd graders of high school living in the suburbs of Kobe City. Under the guidance of professionals such as the aforementioned Mr. Hirose and Mr. Takahashi, he actively participates in jazz events in Kobe and its suburbs.
There are currently 21 members, but more than 10 instructors are taking turns involved, and on this day, 6 instructors were teaching each instrument.
This generous system with a lesson fee of 5000 yen per month! I was impressed by the attitude of "All Kobe" to liven up jazz.
We asked two of the members of Youth Jazz, who are in the third year of junior high school, how they started jazz and what the appeal of jazz is.
■How did you start jazz?
Mr. Mori 小学生の頃に住んでいた京都で、消防音楽隊の「追っかけ」をしてたんです。その頃からサックスに憧れていて、人に勧められたこともあり始めました。
When I was in the sixth grade, my mother told me about the Kobe Youth Jazz recruitment. At first, I thought, "What is jazz?", but when I tried it, I found it very fun.
Mr. Sotoma 小学生のとき、ゲーム「太鼓の達人」がきっかけで打楽器を始めました。新型コロナウイルスの流行中で、他の人と楽器を合わせる機会がなかったから、ユースジャズの募集を見て入りたいと思いました。ジャズを始めたのは加入がきっかけです。
■The charm and fun of jazz
Mr. Mori 演奏するたびに、毎回楽譜通りじゃなくて途中でアドリブを入れたりして、即興性があるところが好きです。
Mr. Sotoma メンバー全員で、音を合わせて1曲を作り上げるところです。
■Favorite jazz number
Mr. Mori After You’ve Gone
Mr. Sotoma Swingin’ At The Haven
The two of them started the jazz genre when they joined the band, but now they enjoy listening to jazz and playing it. Even if he goes to high school, he wants to continue playing jazz!
＊神戸ユースジャズオーケストラは、Recruiting membersです！
The city of spring with light music
Jazz is music that can be enjoyed freely by mature and cool adults as well as young people! Now that you know that, we will guide you to an event where you can easily experience jazz.
On the afternoon of Sunday, April 5th, KOBE JAZZ DAY 2026 will be held in front of the Kobe Sales Department of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation in the former settlement!
Starting with the Kobe Youth Jazz Orchestra introduced above, four bands play jazz from 13 to 17 o'clock.
You don't have to go to concerts or live houses, but you can easily enjoy jazz while shopping.
昼間にジャズを聴いたら、続いて夕方からはバーに繰り出す休日にしてはいかがでしょう？ その際には、KOBE BAR MAPや本コラムの過去記事も参考にしてくださいね。
I was impressed by what Mr. Takanashi of the "Jazz City Kobe" Promotion Council said.
"In order to pass on not only jazz but also culture to the next generation, I feel that it is important to provide comprehensive support, not only for players, but also for the performance venue and the presence of listeners."
Well, I think I realized that enjoying jazz to the fullest as "cultural recipients" is the best way to support us. On April 5th, why don't you take a stroll through the former settlement invited by the spring breeze?
INFORMATIONInformation
| "Jazz City Kobe" Promotion Council | |
|---|---|
| KOBE JAZZ DAY 2026 | https://event.city.kobe.lg.jp/event/9n5yS0GjlQYsOcqcxgc5 April 5 (Sun) 13:00~17:00 ＠三井住友銀行神戸営業部前 |
【ライタープロフィール】
合楽 仁美（ごうらく ひとみ）
神戸出身＆在住のライター。経済メディアNewsPicksなどで活動。
2025年3月まで神戸市公式noteのライターを務めた。
お酒は弱いが酒場の雰囲気が好きで、数年前からバー巡りに凝っている。
My dream is to live in a house with a veranda and a view of the sea.