Multiple Sclerosis Fund for Naoki
Donation protected
Hi everyone, my name is Michael Ryan and I am the Membership Manager for the Hawthorne Caballeros Drum and Bugle Corps. Naoki Sato is from Japan and a member of the Caballeros in 2007, 2013 and 2014. Naoki has recently been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and needs our help. This is a medical fundraising campaign for our friend Naoki Sato. I am organizing the campaign to help him raise funds for his medical expenses.
1. Overview
Naoki Sato was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 2018. As you can imagine, the medical costs are high – especially the treatments necessary for this terrible disease. There is no cure, but there are treatments that can help with the symptoms. As of March 1, 2019, Naoki has spent $17,000 USD (¥1,850,000+ JPY) and the costs keep on going up. And the disease prevents Naoki from working. Naoki has asked for our financial assistance to help with the medical costs associated with his treatment.
2. His Story
In April 2018, Naoki felt something was wrong with his speech. He suddenly started to slur his words and was not able to say his own name. He went to the hospital at midnight to see what was going on with him. After a CT and an MRI scan of his head, the physicians suspected a stroke or brain tumor. Naoki was shocked and he could not believe his own ears. Naoki had to be hospitalized immediately that night. Sadly, he could not utter even a word by then … and he thought he had to be prepared for death.
Naoki went through extensive tests, including MRIs with contrast, evoked potentials, a lumbar puncture, and more. Then he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). As you are probably aware, MS is a progressive, potentially disabling disease of the central nervous system (CNS). MS can cause many symptoms, including blurred vision, loss of balance, poor coordination, slurred speech, tremors, numbness, extreme fatigue, problems with memory and concentration, paralysis, blindness, etc. The cause of MS is currently unknown and there is NO CURE for the disease. It is true that there are some available medical treatments for MS. However, all they can do is just to slow down MS progression. So, MS is known as one of the intractable diseases.
# Naoki was put on high-dose, intravenous corticosteroids to reduce MS symptoms.
MS symptoms can come and go over time – but it always comes back. When the MS symptoms occur is called an exacerbation. When they subside it is in remission. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, an exacerbation causes new MS symptoms or worsens old symptoms. Moreover, multiple exacerbations can even lead to disability. So, treating and preventing MS exacerbations is an important part of managing the disease. In the United States, MS is a well-known disease and we often hear of it on TV. In Japan, on the other hand, MS is not widely recognized at all. In fact, the number of MS patients in Japan is 12,000, which is only 0.01% of the total population of the country. That is, if you have 10,000 friends, Naoki is the only person who suffers from MS. In Japan, MS is that rare and no one around him knows the disease. Indeed, there is less social support he can rely on compared to other countries like the United States. Multiple Sclerosis FAQs - https://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS/MS-FAQ-s
Naoki left the hospital after a month of hospitalization and rehab. Thankfully, his speech problem and facial palsy, which are symptoms 25-40% of MS patients have, are mostly recovered. He can also perform most of the activities of daily living such as eating, bathing, dressing, etc on his own - for now. We do not know what may happen in the future. As MS causes damage to the central nervous system, nearly any function can be adversely affected. His current recovery does not mean he is doing fine all the time or for the rest of his life. He still suffers from one of the most common symptoms, “MS fatigue”. For your information, MS fatigue is another kind of fatigue that is unique to MS patients. This extreme physical and mental exhaustion generally occurs on a daily basis - easily and suddenly - and it lasts for hours, days, or even months. So, it significantly interferes with Naoki’s ability to function at home and everywhere else. MS fatigue sometimes disables him from completing everyday tasks, which makes him feel more weary and depressed. It is sad that he does not have as much energy as he used to and he has a tough time surviving even a day. For those of us who know and love Naoki, this is heartbreaking.
The prices of vital medications for MS continue to rise: As mentioned above, medical costs for MS are relatively high. In fact, the initial bill that Naoki received after a month of hospitalization was $10,000 USD, and the total cost he has paid so far is approximately $17,000 USD. His insurance covers some, but his continued treatments are $300-$500 USD a month. This is a heavy financial and mental burden for him. What is worse, the prices for MS medications have been escalating. In a survey of nearly 8,800 MS patients, 17% reported skipping doses or stopping treatments due to the high medical costs. For more information on the price of this disease, please visit: “MS Drugs: Expensive, Often Lifelong, and Not Cost Effective” https://www.managedcaremag.com/archives/2018/10/ms-drugs-expensive-often-lifelong-and-not-cost-effective
No one wants to let a disease ruin their lives. Naoki says he has tons of things that he wants to do before he completely loses the ability to speak, see, and walk (e.g., visiting as many friends as he can). He walks the long journey in the darkness of fears and anxiety. We know he is a strong man, but he feels weak and lonely right now. So, now is the time to help and support this young man that has made a difference in the life of many of us, and to show him that you care.
Naoki will be incredibly grateful if you could be a supporter and donate what you can. Raised funds will go towards his medical expenses for MS treatments, any other incurred expenses, and some financial breathing room during his long journey. Again, any amount you can extend will be highly appreciated. Let’s give him some light and hope so he can overcome this adversity.
3. Who is Naoki Sato?
Naoki Sato is a 32-year-old man living in Japan. He is the one and only Japanese in history who marched both with the Hawthorne Caballeros and the Madison Scouts. He is an honest, humorous, and passionate person loved by many of his friends across the world.
1. Overview
Naoki Sato was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 2018. As you can imagine, the medical costs are high – especially the treatments necessary for this terrible disease. There is no cure, but there are treatments that can help with the symptoms. As of March 1, 2019, Naoki has spent $17,000 USD (¥1,850,000+ JPY) and the costs keep on going up. And the disease prevents Naoki from working. Naoki has asked for our financial assistance to help with the medical costs associated with his treatment.
2. His Story
In April 2018, Naoki felt something was wrong with his speech. He suddenly started to slur his words and was not able to say his own name. He went to the hospital at midnight to see what was going on with him. After a CT and an MRI scan of his head, the physicians suspected a stroke or brain tumor. Naoki was shocked and he could not believe his own ears. Naoki had to be hospitalized immediately that night. Sadly, he could not utter even a word by then … and he thought he had to be prepared for death.
Naoki went through extensive tests, including MRIs with contrast, evoked potentials, a lumbar puncture, and more. Then he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). As you are probably aware, MS is a progressive, potentially disabling disease of the central nervous system (CNS). MS can cause many symptoms, including blurred vision, loss of balance, poor coordination, slurred speech, tremors, numbness, extreme fatigue, problems with memory and concentration, paralysis, blindness, etc. The cause of MS is currently unknown and there is NO CURE for the disease. It is true that there are some available medical treatments for MS. However, all they can do is just to slow down MS progression. So, MS is known as one of the intractable diseases.
# Naoki was put on high-dose, intravenous corticosteroids to reduce MS symptoms. MS symptoms can come and go over time – but it always comes back. When the MS symptoms occur is called an exacerbation. When they subside it is in remission. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, an exacerbation causes new MS symptoms or worsens old symptoms. Moreover, multiple exacerbations can even lead to disability. So, treating and preventing MS exacerbations is an important part of managing the disease. In the United States, MS is a well-known disease and we often hear of it on TV. In Japan, on the other hand, MS is not widely recognized at all. In fact, the number of MS patients in Japan is 12,000, which is only 0.01% of the total population of the country. That is, if you have 10,000 friends, Naoki is the only person who suffers from MS. In Japan, MS is that rare and no one around him knows the disease. Indeed, there is less social support he can rely on compared to other countries like the United States. Multiple Sclerosis FAQs - https://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS/MS-FAQ-s
Naoki left the hospital after a month of hospitalization and rehab. Thankfully, his speech problem and facial palsy, which are symptoms 25-40% of MS patients have, are mostly recovered. He can also perform most of the activities of daily living such as eating, bathing, dressing, etc on his own - for now. We do not know what may happen in the future. As MS causes damage to the central nervous system, nearly any function can be adversely affected. His current recovery does not mean he is doing fine all the time or for the rest of his life. He still suffers from one of the most common symptoms, “MS fatigue”. For your information, MS fatigue is another kind of fatigue that is unique to MS patients. This extreme physical and mental exhaustion generally occurs on a daily basis - easily and suddenly - and it lasts for hours, days, or even months. So, it significantly interferes with Naoki’s ability to function at home and everywhere else. MS fatigue sometimes disables him from completing everyday tasks, which makes him feel more weary and depressed. It is sad that he does not have as much energy as he used to and he has a tough time surviving even a day. For those of us who know and love Naoki, this is heartbreaking.
The prices of vital medications for MS continue to rise: As mentioned above, medical costs for MS are relatively high. In fact, the initial bill that Naoki received after a month of hospitalization was $10,000 USD, and the total cost he has paid so far is approximately $17,000 USD. His insurance covers some, but his continued treatments are $300-$500 USD a month. This is a heavy financial and mental burden for him. What is worse, the prices for MS medications have been escalating. In a survey of nearly 8,800 MS patients, 17% reported skipping doses or stopping treatments due to the high medical costs. For more information on the price of this disease, please visit: “MS Drugs: Expensive, Often Lifelong, and Not Cost Effective” https://www.managedcaremag.com/archives/2018/10/ms-drugs-expensive-often-lifelong-and-not-cost-effective
No one wants to let a disease ruin their lives. Naoki says he has tons of things that he wants to do before he completely loses the ability to speak, see, and walk (e.g., visiting as many friends as he can). He walks the long journey in the darkness of fears and anxiety. We know he is a strong man, but he feels weak and lonely right now. So, now is the time to help and support this young man that has made a difference in the life of many of us, and to show him that you care.
Naoki will be incredibly grateful if you could be a supporter and donate what you can. Raised funds will go towards his medical expenses for MS treatments, any other incurred expenses, and some financial breathing room during his long journey. Again, any amount you can extend will be highly appreciated. Let’s give him some light and hope so he can overcome this adversity.
3. Who is Naoki Sato?
Naoki Sato is a 32-year-old man living in Japan. He is the one and only Japanese in history who marched both with the Hawthorne Caballeros and the Madison Scouts. He is an honest, humorous, and passionate person loved by many of his friends across the world.
# Naoki and Michael Ryan have been friends for more than 10 years.
Naoki has been involved in the drum corps activity for 20+ years. He started his marching career as a baritone player when he was in elementary school. Back in 1995, his parents got a divorce. His mother Yumiko took her three kids to her hometown in Fukushima and started to raise them by herself. So, Naoki had to transfer to another school there. Then he found out that there was a marching band as an extracurricular activity at school. He was interested to join the band because he wanted to make new friends. Yumiko also wanted him not to go astray due to the family situation. So, she decided to let him join the band and it was definitely a win-win solution for both. At first, Naoki could not read music at all, but he just loved to play the instrument with his friends. When he was in sixth grade, he performed a Latin-themed show and the show music included España Cañí, Concierto de Aranjuez, and Malagueña, which later changed his whole life.
Naoki has been involved in the drum corps activity for 20+ years. He started his marching career as a baritone player when he was in elementary school. Back in 1995, his parents got a divorce. His mother Yumiko took her three kids to her hometown in Fukushima and started to raise them by herself. So, Naoki had to transfer to another school there. Then he found out that there was a marching band as an extracurricular activity at school. He was interested to join the band because he wanted to make new friends. Yumiko also wanted him not to go astray due to the family situation. So, she decided to let him join the band and it was definitely a win-win solution for both. At first, Naoki could not read music at all, but he just loved to play the instrument with his friends. When he was in sixth grade, he performed a Latin-themed show and the show music included España Cañí, Concierto de Aranjuez, and Malagueña, which later changed his whole life.
# Does this uniform look familiar? Back in 1998, Naoki was already meant to be in Hawthorne in the future!
Naoki left the activity for five years after graduating from elementary school, and he focused on his academic life until he graduated from high school. One day when he was in twelfth grade, he ran into his former band director at a local community center. Then the band director lent him a VHS tape. At first, Naoki did not know what the videotape was about, but it totally blew his mind after he got back home. Do you know why? Because the videotape he watched was the 1996 DCI World Championships Finals. As many of you will probably agree, 1996 was a great year for drum corps. Although every performance at DCI Finals that year was phenomenal, the corps who fascinated him most was the Madison Scouts. He was so impressed by their performance and compared the first time watching the Scouts to getting struck by lightning. Needless to say, the show was strong enough to motivate him for wanting to be part of the Men of Madison.
However, it was not easy for Naoki to make that happen. As mentioned above, he only had two years of experience in marching and playing with a five-year-gap. In addition, he hardly understood English at that time. So, he started to practice his instrument and study English all on his own while doing a part-time job after graduating from high school. In November 2005, he flew into Wisconsin to try out for the Madison Scouts. Although he worked hard to improve his playing and language skills for six months, it was obviously premature and he was not good enough to make the world-class corps. In fact, the judges cut off his playing after the first few majors of the etude. He got back to Japan and then trained himself for another year. In November 2006, he flew into the United States two weeks in a row for the auditions. He got a call back in Texas, but after all, he got cut in Wisconsin. Although he literally spent the whole his time and money on his dream to be a Madison Scout for those two years, he was still far away from making it. He knew he had to admit the fact, but he was devastated because he only had one more chance left.
Naoki put his thinking cap on. He tried to figure out what’s missing to fully understand what he had to do towards his dream. One day he got a clue from a conversation with his friend. He came to know that another big drum corps competition existed in the United States and there was a crowd favorite corps playing Latin music - Yes, DCA World Championships and the Hawthorne Caballeros. He watched their performances on all the websites available on the Internet and then it rang a bell. “This is it. I am going to march with the Hawthorne Caballeros … and find the answer.”
It is always easier said than done. It is true that DCI and DCA are very similar in terms of drum corps competitions, but the daily activities and lifestyles are not so much. If a non-local member like Naoki wants to march with all-age corps, she or he has to secure housing site(s) for the summer. In the past, the Hawthorne Caballeros had two Japanese members already living and working in the United States, but it was unprecedented for the corps to accept a member hailing from Japan only for marching. In fact, the recruiter of the Caballeros had to tell Naoki that it was challenging for him to march with the corps when he first contacted the Caballeros because of not having a place to live. Naoki understood it would be challenging but he never gave up. He told the recruiter the whole story and explained how much he wanted to march with the Caballeros. Then the recruiter took the time to negotiate with his friends in the corps, and a few months later Naoki got the good news. One man in the Caballeros stepped forward to host him. Can you guess what kind of men offered him a place to stay...? A Madison Scouts alumnus!
Thus, Naoki got the opportunity to march with the Hawthorne Caballeros in 2007. He lived with a Madison Scouts alumnus Michael Ferreira (aka Gordito) and a few other people in the Caballeros. In the first few weeks or so, he really had a rough time and even got homesick because he could not speak any English. All he could speak was some basics like “Yes”, “No”, “Thanks”, “Sorry”, and “Cool”. He learned English words and phrases in everyday life and gradually adapted to the new environment. After all, he relished every single moment with his roommates and with his brothers and sisters in the corps. He knew that the season was going to be a life-changing experience for him. So, he kept a journal every day and wrote down everything he learned and thought while he was staying in the United States.
Naoki left the activity for five years after graduating from elementary school, and he focused on his academic life until he graduated from high school. One day when he was in twelfth grade, he ran into his former band director at a local community center. Then the band director lent him a VHS tape. At first, Naoki did not know what the videotape was about, but it totally blew his mind after he got back home. Do you know why? Because the videotape he watched was the 1996 DCI World Championships Finals. As many of you will probably agree, 1996 was a great year for drum corps. Although every performance at DCI Finals that year was phenomenal, the corps who fascinated him most was the Madison Scouts. He was so impressed by their performance and compared the first time watching the Scouts to getting struck by lightning. Needless to say, the show was strong enough to motivate him for wanting to be part of the Men of Madison.
However, it was not easy for Naoki to make that happen. As mentioned above, he only had two years of experience in marching and playing with a five-year-gap. In addition, he hardly understood English at that time. So, he started to practice his instrument and study English all on his own while doing a part-time job after graduating from high school. In November 2005, he flew into Wisconsin to try out for the Madison Scouts. Although he worked hard to improve his playing and language skills for six months, it was obviously premature and he was not good enough to make the world-class corps. In fact, the judges cut off his playing after the first few majors of the etude. He got back to Japan and then trained himself for another year. In November 2006, he flew into the United States two weeks in a row for the auditions. He got a call back in Texas, but after all, he got cut in Wisconsin. Although he literally spent the whole his time and money on his dream to be a Madison Scout for those two years, he was still far away from making it. He knew he had to admit the fact, but he was devastated because he only had one more chance left.
Naoki put his thinking cap on. He tried to figure out what’s missing to fully understand what he had to do towards his dream. One day he got a clue from a conversation with his friend. He came to know that another big drum corps competition existed in the United States and there was a crowd favorite corps playing Latin music - Yes, DCA World Championships and the Hawthorne Caballeros. He watched their performances on all the websites available on the Internet and then it rang a bell. “This is it. I am going to march with the Hawthorne Caballeros … and find the answer.”
It is always easier said than done. It is true that DCI and DCA are very similar in terms of drum corps competitions, but the daily activities and lifestyles are not so much. If a non-local member like Naoki wants to march with all-age corps, she or he has to secure housing site(s) for the summer. In the past, the Hawthorne Caballeros had two Japanese members already living and working in the United States, but it was unprecedented for the corps to accept a member hailing from Japan only for marching. In fact, the recruiter of the Caballeros had to tell Naoki that it was challenging for him to march with the corps when he first contacted the Caballeros because of not having a place to live. Naoki understood it would be challenging but he never gave up. He told the recruiter the whole story and explained how much he wanted to march with the Caballeros. Then the recruiter took the time to negotiate with his friends in the corps, and a few months later Naoki got the good news. One man in the Caballeros stepped forward to host him. Can you guess what kind of men offered him a place to stay...? A Madison Scouts alumnus!
Thus, Naoki got the opportunity to march with the Hawthorne Caballeros in 2007. He lived with a Madison Scouts alumnus Michael Ferreira (aka Gordito) and a few other people in the Caballeros. In the first few weeks or so, he really had a rough time and even got homesick because he could not speak any English. All he could speak was some basics like “Yes”, “No”, “Thanks”, “Sorry”, and “Cool”. He learned English words and phrases in everyday life and gradually adapted to the new environment. After all, he relished every single moment with his roommates and with his brothers and sisters in the corps. He knew that the season was going to be a life-changing experience for him. So, he kept a journal every day and wrote down everything he learned and thought while he was staying in the United States.
# Michael Ferreira (Gordito) is a forever hero and a great mentor for Naoki.
Naoki joined the Hawthorne Caballeros as the very first horn player from Japan. At first, he had almost no skill in marching and playing, but he strived to get better each day. In fact, he spent his free time on individual training all summer long. For example, he did visual basics outside the house and also practiced the instrument in the basement on weekdays. One day at rehearsal, Naoki won the march-off during a visual basics block. He had been asked to give visual demonstrations to other members ever since. After all, he received the “Marching Member of the Year” award at the end of the season. It describes that his strong work ethic and passion for drum corps was real and universally admired. This is how Naoki learned all the fundamentals of how to march, how to play, and how to survive in an English-speaking country. The Caballeros taught him many things he needed on and off the field, and helped him grow not only as a musician but also as a person. And … he finally found the answer to make another crowd favorite corps in DCI.
# “Marching Member of the Year” award given to Naoki in his rookie year with the Caballeros.
# The Caballeros Honor Guard holding a flag of Japan for Naoki at 2007 DCA Finals.
Naoki got back home in Japan after the 2007 season, and two months later he returned to the United States on the Thanksgiving weekend. Yes, he was there to try out for the Madison Scouts one last time. Indeed, he was not the same person he was a year ago. He was a skilled performer who was trained in the tradition and the excellence of the Hawthorne Caballeros. He also knew he had many brothers and sisters rooting for him from the East coast. So, he was determined to make the Scouts no matter what. For the music audition, he decided to play the same etude that he played at his very first audition in 2005. It was the one the judges cut off after he played the first few majors. He chose to play it because he wanted to prove his improvement to the judges and himself. He did his best. This time … he finished playing the whole etude. One of the judges gave him feedback saying, “Very nice. You sound like a lead baritone.” Naoki later found out that the judge who praised him was Mr. Clay Wachholz, the baritone soloist for Malagueña in 1988 Madison Scouts. Thus, Naoki got a spot! He finally did it … and the day he made the Scouts was his mother’s birthday.
In the following year, Naoki marched with the Madison Scouts as a lead baritone. Before the spring training, he stayed with a Madison Scouts alumnus Mr. Dennis Stone for two months. Dennis always cared about Naoki and treated him like his real son. Dennis took Naoki everywhere so he could experience new things, meet new people, and have a lot of fun time in the United States. Since Naoki did not have a good memory with his biological father, living with Dennis was one of the happiest days in his life. Dennis showered Naoki with love, and always made him feel special and valued. Family is not always blood - that is what Dennis demonstrated by his action. One day they had an opportunity to talk about the tragic war between the United States and Japan. As Dennis served in the United States military back in the days, the conversation made Naoki appreciate the current relationships between the two nations. They once battled against each other, but now they have come to close over the past decades. Naoki is very grateful to the United States for giving him the great opportunities to have the extended families and grow through the drum corps activity. In honor and gratitude for the United States, he put a patch of the Stars and Stripes above a patch of the Circle of the Sun on his corps jackets.
# Dennis Stone is Naoki's American Dad.
# Naoki hanging out with Dennis, Mr. Scott Stewart and his wife Junko in Madison, WI.
Naoki developed his skills and personality during his time with the Madison Scouts. Now that you know what kind of person Naoki is by now, you will probably be able to easily imagine he worked hard every day while he was on tour. In fact, he always did push-ups or sit-ups if his performance, which was even a note or a step, was not good enough to meet his standards to convince himself. His marching techniques and its quality notably amazed the staff and the members all the time. Interestingly, Naoki won the march-off during a visual basics block (again). It means that he was the number one marcher out of 72 hornline members in the world-class corps. In the Scouts, his nickname was “the translator” and he helped other rookies from Japan understand the instructions and the conversations better on a daily basis. From his own experience the year before, he knew the terrible feelings of loneliness about not being able to understand English. So, it was quite natural for him to help others like that. He did the best he could not only for being a better version of himself but also for helping others have nice learnings and memories each day.
It was Naoki’s long-time dream to march with the Madison Scouts and he is still a huge fan of them even after he became, with no doubt, a Madison Scout. It was not always easy on the road towards and during the dream, but he reveled in every aspect of striving to improve his life. At long last ... in August 2008, Naoki stood on the field at DCI World Championships Finals. When he looked up at the stands, what came to his mind were the faces of his friends who helped him make this happen. He was not alone because he knew everyone he loved was on the same field with him in spirit for sure. He was there in a green jacket performing a Latin-themed show just like when he watched the Scouts for the first time a few years ago. Indeed, he left it all on the field and praised the crowd with his brothers. Afterward, he proudly went back home to Japan as a Madison Scout.
# Naoki and his fellow Scouts at the 2008 DCI Finals Awards Ceremony.
Naoki applied for a university in Tokyo when he was 24 years old. Although it is one of the most competitive universities in Japan, he passed the admission tests. Then he focused on his academic life. His GPA was almost straight A’s. So, he got on the Dean’s list and they awarded him scholarships. In his junior and senior year, which were in 2013 and 2014, respectively, he went back to “the East” during his summer breaks using the money - He was there to march with the Hawthorne Caballeros again. This time, he decided to go back because he wanted to return the favor to the corps - for what they did for him in 2007. As mentioned earlier, he learned all the fundamentals in his first season with the Caballeros. So, he attributes his successful seasons to those who helped him grow in many ways. When he was back with the corps for those seasons, he literally applied all the skills and the mindset he had through his journey to his everyday words and actions. In 2014, He learned the entire show the day after landing in the United States and marched the show that night. He also made a great effort to make the seasons of others extra special just like his friends did for him in the past.
# Naoki and the legendary soprano soloist Frank Ponzo.
# Naoki, and the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame members, George Hayek and Louis Storck.
Naoki has played a significant role in the drum corps community. Ever since he knocked the door of the Hawthorne Caballeros in 2007, there have been 12 members in total who hailed from Japan and marched with the corps. That is extremely rare in DCA. As mentioned earlier, Naoki never gave up on marching with the Caballeros when his application was turned down at his first contact. If he had not been passionate enough to open the door, it would have stayed closed for a long time … perhaps even until today. He paved the way for the new relationship between the Caballeros and Japan and has dedicated himself to keeping the tradition continue in a meaningful way.
Naoki serves as a sterling example for all wherever he goes. He demonstrates a high level of professionalism and his positive attitude inspires his fellow members and friends all the time. Above all, he cares for others so they do not have to walk alone. Naoki knows that is the right thing to do and the most important lesson he has learned from his drum corps career. He always tries to exemplify what it means to be a Hawthorne Caballero and a Madison Scout. Naoki is a gentleman, a scholar, a true friend to all who know him, a Hawthorne Caballero and a Madison Scout. And to many of us, a brother.
Naoki would be extremely grateful if you could be a supporter and donate what you can. The funds raised will go towards his medical expenses for MS treatments, any other incurred expenses. This fund will give him some financial breathing room during his long journey. Any amount you can extend will be highly appreciated. The sooner we can raise the funds, the easier it will be for him to feel relieved. If you can help, please donate today. If you cannot help financially, please share this campaign with your friends and spread the word.
Thank you,
Michael
Organizer: Michael Ryan
Editor: Marianne Kerr
Naoki joined the Hawthorne Caballeros as the very first horn player from Japan. At first, he had almost no skill in marching and playing, but he strived to get better each day. In fact, he spent his free time on individual training all summer long. For example, he did visual basics outside the house and also practiced the instrument in the basement on weekdays. One day at rehearsal, Naoki won the march-off during a visual basics block. He had been asked to give visual demonstrations to other members ever since. After all, he received the “Marching Member of the Year” award at the end of the season. It describes that his strong work ethic and passion for drum corps was real and universally admired. This is how Naoki learned all the fundamentals of how to march, how to play, and how to survive in an English-speaking country. The Caballeros taught him many things he needed on and off the field, and helped him grow not only as a musician but also as a person. And … he finally found the answer to make another crowd favorite corps in DCI.
# “Marching Member of the Year” award given to Naoki in his rookie year with the Caballeros.# The Caballeros Honor Guard holding a flag of Japan for Naoki at 2007 DCA Finals.Naoki got back home in Japan after the 2007 season, and two months later he returned to the United States on the Thanksgiving weekend. Yes, he was there to try out for the Madison Scouts one last time. Indeed, he was not the same person he was a year ago. He was a skilled performer who was trained in the tradition and the excellence of the Hawthorne Caballeros. He also knew he had many brothers and sisters rooting for him from the East coast. So, he was determined to make the Scouts no matter what. For the music audition, he decided to play the same etude that he played at his very first audition in 2005. It was the one the judges cut off after he played the first few majors. He chose to play it because he wanted to prove his improvement to the judges and himself. He did his best. This time … he finished playing the whole etude. One of the judges gave him feedback saying, “Very nice. You sound like a lead baritone.” Naoki later found out that the judge who praised him was Mr. Clay Wachholz, the baritone soloist for Malagueña in 1988 Madison Scouts. Thus, Naoki got a spot! He finally did it … and the day he made the Scouts was his mother’s birthday.
In the following year, Naoki marched with the Madison Scouts as a lead baritone. Before the spring training, he stayed with a Madison Scouts alumnus Mr. Dennis Stone for two months. Dennis always cared about Naoki and treated him like his real son. Dennis took Naoki everywhere so he could experience new things, meet new people, and have a lot of fun time in the United States. Since Naoki did not have a good memory with his biological father, living with Dennis was one of the happiest days in his life. Dennis showered Naoki with love, and always made him feel special and valued. Family is not always blood - that is what Dennis demonstrated by his action. One day they had an opportunity to talk about the tragic war between the United States and Japan. As Dennis served in the United States military back in the days, the conversation made Naoki appreciate the current relationships between the two nations. They once battled against each other, but now they have come to close over the past decades. Naoki is very grateful to the United States for giving him the great opportunities to have the extended families and grow through the drum corps activity. In honor and gratitude for the United States, he put a patch of the Stars and Stripes above a patch of the Circle of the Sun on his corps jackets.
# Dennis Stone is Naoki's American Dad.# Naoki hanging out with Dennis, Mr. Scott Stewart and his wife Junko in Madison, WI.Naoki developed his skills and personality during his time with the Madison Scouts. Now that you know what kind of person Naoki is by now, you will probably be able to easily imagine he worked hard every day while he was on tour. In fact, he always did push-ups or sit-ups if his performance, which was even a note or a step, was not good enough to meet his standards to convince himself. His marching techniques and its quality notably amazed the staff and the members all the time. Interestingly, Naoki won the march-off during a visual basics block (again). It means that he was the number one marcher out of 72 hornline members in the world-class corps. In the Scouts, his nickname was “the translator” and he helped other rookies from Japan understand the instructions and the conversations better on a daily basis. From his own experience the year before, he knew the terrible feelings of loneliness about not being able to understand English. So, it was quite natural for him to help others like that. He did the best he could not only for being a better version of himself but also for helping others have nice learnings and memories each day.
It was Naoki’s long-time dream to march with the Madison Scouts and he is still a huge fan of them even after he became, with no doubt, a Madison Scout. It was not always easy on the road towards and during the dream, but he reveled in every aspect of striving to improve his life. At long last ... in August 2008, Naoki stood on the field at DCI World Championships Finals. When he looked up at the stands, what came to his mind were the faces of his friends who helped him make this happen. He was not alone because he knew everyone he loved was on the same field with him in spirit for sure. He was there in a green jacket performing a Latin-themed show just like when he watched the Scouts for the first time a few years ago. Indeed, he left it all on the field and praised the crowd with his brothers. Afterward, he proudly went back home to Japan as a Madison Scout.
# Naoki and his fellow Scouts at the 2008 DCI Finals Awards Ceremony.Naoki applied for a university in Tokyo when he was 24 years old. Although it is one of the most competitive universities in Japan, he passed the admission tests. Then he focused on his academic life. His GPA was almost straight A’s. So, he got on the Dean’s list and they awarded him scholarships. In his junior and senior year, which were in 2013 and 2014, respectively, he went back to “the East” during his summer breaks using the money - He was there to march with the Hawthorne Caballeros again. This time, he decided to go back because he wanted to return the favor to the corps - for what they did for him in 2007. As mentioned earlier, he learned all the fundamentals in his first season with the Caballeros. So, he attributes his successful seasons to those who helped him grow in many ways. When he was back with the corps for those seasons, he literally applied all the skills and the mindset he had through his journey to his everyday words and actions. In 2014, He learned the entire show the day after landing in the United States and marched the show that night. He also made a great effort to make the seasons of others extra special just like his friends did for him in the past.
# Naoki and the legendary soprano soloist Frank Ponzo.# Naoki, and the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame members, George Hayek and Louis Storck.Naoki has played a significant role in the drum corps community. Ever since he knocked the door of the Hawthorne Caballeros in 2007, there have been 12 members in total who hailed from Japan and marched with the corps. That is extremely rare in DCA. As mentioned earlier, Naoki never gave up on marching with the Caballeros when his application was turned down at his first contact. If he had not been passionate enough to open the door, it would have stayed closed for a long time … perhaps even until today. He paved the way for the new relationship between the Caballeros and Japan and has dedicated himself to keeping the tradition continue in a meaningful way.
Naoki serves as a sterling example for all wherever he goes. He demonstrates a high level of professionalism and his positive attitude inspires his fellow members and friends all the time. Above all, he cares for others so they do not have to walk alone. Naoki knows that is the right thing to do and the most important lesson he has learned from his drum corps career. He always tries to exemplify what it means to be a Hawthorne Caballero and a Madison Scout. Naoki is a gentleman, a scholar, a true friend to all who know him, a Hawthorne Caballero and a Madison Scout. And to many of us, a brother.
Naoki would be extremely grateful if you could be a supporter and donate what you can. The funds raised will go towards his medical expenses for MS treatments, any other incurred expenses. This fund will give him some financial breathing room during his long journey. Any amount you can extend will be highly appreciated. The sooner we can raise the funds, the easier it will be for him to feel relieved. If you can help, please donate today. If you cannot help financially, please share this campaign with your friends and spread the word.
Thank you,
Michael
Organizer: Michael Ryan
Editor: Marianne Kerr
Fundraising team: Team Naoki (2)
Michael Ryan
Organizer
Rutherford, NJ
Marianne Kerr
Team member
