National High School Band Gathering! The 13th Toyosato Light Music Koshien Tournament is being held and bands are now accepting applications.
Toyosato Town Chamber of Commerce Press release: September 3, 2025 To Members of the Press National High School Band Gathering! The 13th Toyosato Light Music Koshien will be held and bands are now accepting applications. Sunday, November 23, 2025: The 13th Toyosato Light Music Koshien – Sponsored by: Toyosato Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/166315/2/166315-2-e8448ebbe49633a417098c7b0e919460-3072×2033.jpg Athletes’ Oath & Top Act: Yamato (Kochi Prefectural Ino Commercial High School)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/166315/2/166315-2-b305f380c50756c8bec0ddc4ab8baf4f-2485×1650.jpg AM 4:25 (Kanagawa Prefectural Ichigao High School) Toyosato Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Toyosato Town, Inukami District, Shiga Prefecture (Headquarters: 374-6 Ishihata, Toyosato Town, Inukami District, Shiga Prefecture; Chairman: Yasufumi Kitagawa) will hold the 13th Toyosato Light Music Koshien on Sunday, November 23, 2025, at the former Toyosato Elementary School buildings, renowned for their magnificent architectural beauty. This event aims to provide a forum for self-expression for aspiring light musicians, as well as promote culture through light music, and is open to high school bands from all over the country. Our goal is to promote culture, especially light music, by creating a place for self-expression. Background of the event This competition originated in 2009, when the broadcast of the anime “K-ON!” sparked interactions between tourists and local residents. It began in 2011 with the desire of local volunteers to “provide a place where high school students could shine.” Today, it has established itself as one of the few nationwide high school light music competitions, with the “Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award” awarded to the best band. The biggest feature of this competition is that many bands perform original songs, expressing their feelings through music. Up to 10 bands from across the country who pass the audio audition will perform live on a special stage: the auditorium of the former Toyosato Elementary School building complex, a nationally designated tangible cultural property for its Vories architecture. They will compete for the crown after a rigorous judging process by a panel of distinguished judges. The passion and culture of young people from all over Japan will be showcased in this small town in Shiga Prefecture.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/166315/2/166315-2-438acca54ea56e46e70f1752ca2c5d7e-3648×2432.jpg Entrance ceremony About Toyosato Town and the Former Toyosato Elementary School Buildings Toyosato Town, Inukami District, Shiga Prefecture, is the smallest town in Shiga Prefecture, with a population of approximately 7,400. The former Toyosato Elementary School buildings were completed in 1937 with personal funds from Tetsujiro Furukawa, executive director of Marubeni Shoten (now Marubeni Corporation), and are a nationally registered tangible cultural property. They are also known as a filming location for numerous movies, TV dramas, and anime, making them a special “holy land” for fans.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/166315/2/166315-2-46e845fc11c45781a20e00865adfa3d1-2560×1702.jpg Toyosato Elementary School Old School Buildings Auditorium Promoting Toyosato Light Music Koshien at the Osaka-Kansai Expo On Thursday, July 24, 2025, at the EXPO Hall “Shine Hut” at the Osaka Kansai Expo site, we collaborated with K-ON Street LIVE to liven up Shiga Day, a stage event showcasing the charms of Shiga Prefecture, held at Shiga Prefecture Day – Lake Biwa Summer Cruise!
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/166315/2/166315-2-386c790e8686df226192e12cafa6638a-1477×1108.jpg Scenes from Shiga Prefecture Day – Lake Biwa Summer Cruise https://img.youtube.com/vi/m1LR_AJ3nvc/sddefault.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1LR_AJ3nvc Event details Venue Toyosato Elementary School Old Buildings Auditorium (518 Ishihata, Toyosato-cho, Inukami-gun, Shiga Prefecture) Event date and time Sunday, November 23, 2025 Participation fee Free (free admission) Examination method – First round of judging… Audio review by a professional music director – Public judging… Professional judges including Mito (Clammbon) Awards Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award (Best Band), Shiga Prefecture Governor’s Award, NHK Otsu Broadcasting Station Director’s Award, Toyosato Town Mayor’s Award, Toyosato Town Chamber of Commerce Chairman’s Award
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/166315/2/166315-2-907f49f44a20729c26f0033bd0e5716c-3900×2600.jpg 12th Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award: Floating on Wisteria Flowers. (Nagoya Municipal Meito High School Light Music Club)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/166315/2/166315-2-10f44602e76dc287ad9658972167e8a8-2320×1469.jpg 12th Shiga Prefectural Governor’s Award: Vanity (Kokusai Gakuin High School Light Music Club) Schedule First round of applications (audio review) Tuesday, July 22nd – Tuesday, September 30th Announcement of the results of the first selection round Friday, October 24th Finals (Public Performance Review) Sunday, November 23 Final tournament program/content Opening 13:00～ Opening ceremony/opening ceremony 13:30～ Judges’ Announcement and Award Ceremony After 5:15 PM Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/166315/2/166315-2-805a19ff9013a27fc5f36e2dd901034d-3648×2432.jpg Performance stage
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/166315/2/166315-2-8d37b9dee63e4998b6266ca1b6328725-3648×2432.jpg Interview at the award ceremony Application requirements/application method Application Requirements – All members must be enrolled in high school. – There must be a chaperone (20 years of age or older) who can accompany the team to the finals. How to Apply Mail (postmark due on the same day) or Email (Email: info@toyosatocho-shokokai.net) Required Documents, etc. – Application form (1 sheet) – Media or data containing audio (1 song) – Lyrics (1 song, if original) – Photo or data showing all members’ faces (1 sheet) Reception deadline Until Tuesday, September 30, 2025 *Application details and application forms can be found on the special website below. Download the entry form here↓↓↓ [Official Website] Toyosato Light Music Koshien.com
https://xn--48jubb0km96rflf1x1abnv476cpzs.com/subscribe/ Toyosato Light Music Koshien YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@とよさと軽音楽甲子園 Toyosato Light Music Koshien YouTube Contact for inquiries regarding this matter Toyosato Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry Public Relations Officer: Ukai Address: 529-1169 374-6 Ishihata, Toyosato-cho, Inukami-gun, Shiga Prefecture tel:
0749-35-2022 E-mail: info@toyosatocho-shokokai.net Gallery (Previous Finalist Contestants and Competition Scenes)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/166315/2/166315-2-7dd1aace8d3beef9eb2661755b885b88-3900×2600.jpg THE 11 OCEAN (Higashiosaka Municipal Nisshin High School) Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/166315/2/166315-2-9b6c608f4f4bad6045efa88d2e5f10b4-3900×2906.jpg LiLi (Kanagawa Prefectural Yokohama Ryokuen High School)
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/166315/2/166315-2-25cea73f85f8ca9abcd165ed6e7e3feb-2808×1933.jpg nos felt (Tosa High School)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/166315/2/166315-2-99129d9051ce5effe0ffe942819f2eeb-3900×2560.jpg Beat/Music (Shiga Prefectural Otsu High School)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/166315/2/166315-2-9bfb17dd79ff48a54c544878856a7e94-3900×2133.jpg Edge of dimension (Hyogo Prefectural Ono High School)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/166315/2/166315-2-c9ed346b82a006339d546770db632717-3900×2600.jpg Main gate of the former Toyosato Town Elementary School buildings
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/166315/2/166315-2-5a86a296f9b99d259d5b7a58eaaa0c77-1108×1477.jpg Toyosato Town Chamber of Commerce Toyosato Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Public Relations Officer / Ukai This competition began as a way for anime fans to interact with local businesses. Thanks to the generous support of local government offices, residents, businesses, teachers, and school officials from across the country, this year marks the 13th anniversary of the event. Even though the participants are high school students, they perform at a professional level, gathering from all over the country, creating a fierce battle every year. We’re looking for audio recordings!!! automatically, so please do not reply. Press release attachments
