The West Symphony was created under the guidance of Naoshi Yoshida, advisor to Ichikawa Nishi High School Wind Orchestra in Chiba, Japan. The work was executed over four years (2003-2006) with each movement written individually and premiered at the group's annual concert.

The theme of the symphony was conceived by Mr. Yoshida, whose expertise is in social studies. The first movement, "The Blue Wolf on the Plateau," symbolizes Genghis Khan, capturing his struggles and triumphs. It parallels the vastness of the Mongolian steppes with his valiant and glorious life.

The second movement, "Wahlstatt," also known as the Battle of Wahlstatt, depicts the encounter between the Mongol forces led by Batu, the grandson of Genghis Khan, and the German-Polish armies. The term "Wahlstatt" means "mountain of corpses," referring to the gruesome aftermath faced by the German-Polish forces.

The third movement, "The Lost Capital," draws on the mythical city "Sakuran" and the wandering lake "Lop Nor" in Central Asia, exploring themes of transformation and the elusive nature of these legendary locations.

The fourth movement, "Sunset Below the Horizon, Flaming Red," embodies the notion that "the sun and the earth have witnessed all of history." This significant movement consolidates the entire work, written enthusiastically in my early twenties, and remains one of my most memorable pieces.

Despite its focus on the East, the symphony is titled "The West Symphony" as a play on words, reflecting the school's name "Nishi," meaning "west" in Japanese, and the position of the Orient to the west of Japan.

(Satoshi Yagisawa)