THE PNG Defence Force (PNGDF) and the Japanese Ground Self Defence Force completed the implementation of a Military Band Cooperation Projection on Monday 9th of September, 2024.
The project saw the establishment of PNGDF Military Brass Band and the training of 37 band members as well as training and guidance on performance technique for five leadership candidates.
In addition, two members of the band will also travel to Tokyo next month to get training on composing music.
On behalf of the Acting Chief of Defence Force Commodore Philip Polewara, Colonel Bruno Malau extended gratitude to the Government of Japan, the Japanese Ministry of Defence and the Japanese Ground Self Defence Force during a small closing ceremony in Murray Barracks.
“The formation of the PNGDF Military Brass Band with the assistance of the Government of Japan and its people is a success story,” Col Malau said.
He said the establishmentof the PNGDF Military Brass Band was initiated by former Chief of Defence Force Major General Gilbert Toropo, who requested Japan in 2014, through the Department of Foreign Affairs,to form, train and equip a new PNGDF Military Brass Band. Following the request from Maj-Gen Toropo, the Japanese Ground Self Defence Force sent a
fact-finding team to PNG and began the work on the formation ofthe band.
Col Malau said, the PNGDF Military Band stood as a distinguished part of the force under its Protocol Directorate and was equipped with the tools and skills to function.He said the band had taken part in high level engagements such as the APEC 2018, the military band display in Sydney, and recently in receiving and farewelling His Holiness Pope Francis over the weekend.
Saying thank you; project manager Lieutenant Colonel Shinobu Takahashi of the Japanese Ministry of Defence said the people-to-people connection and communication were key elements and thanked the PNGDF side for their support in implementing the project.
Japan’s Ambassador to PNG His Excellency Nobuyuki Watanabe, who was also present to witness the closing, congratulated the band members and officers on the completion of the project and reiterated Japan’s commitment to work closely with the force and PNG.
