MWE is the first amateur wind ensemble based in Japan to conduct its activities entirely in English. It serves as an accessible musical group both for foreigners residing in Japan and for Japanese citizens who wish to partake in musical activities in English as part of their language studies.

The group also welcomes the usage of Japanese during rehearsals and socialization to give those who cannot speak Japanese the opportunity to learn in an environment outside a classroom. However, the usage of English overall is strongly preferred to help those who cannot communicate effectively or entirely in Japanese.

MWE seeks to broaden the musical horizons of all its members, regardless of their residency status in Japan. It does so through regular and ad-hoc concerts, group practices, group socialization activities, collaborations with other groups, and travel.

MWE seeks to immerse its sound in different cultures and subgenres, through original compositions, published arrangements, and customized or “in-house” arrangements based on what is available to the group in terms of instrumentation and skill.

Music, both as a discipline and as a hobby, is a constant pursuit. Music is held to a higher standard than other arts because of its inability to hide its faults from the listener. Missed notes, bad pitches, unsynchronized rhythms, and the like can “disrupt” the experience for both the performer and the listener.

However, rather than succumbing to individual and collective failures, MWE seeks to rise above them. As individuals, we strive to improve our musicianship through practice, study, listening, lessons, and advice. As a group, we share our knowledge and contribute efforts to develop a sound of various stages of musical journeys coming together as one.

Failure is a part of human nature. Though Japanese culture is generally considered risk-averse and disdainful towards failure, MWE seeks to invert this assumption by forgiving and embracing failure as a source of learning and knowledge. All members of MWE are encouraged to learn from their mistakes and apply their learnings through future performances and actions.

MWE is not and is never to be restrictive of membership based on a person’s characteristics. It is welcoming to all residents of Japan regardless of residency, nationality, age, race or ethnicity, sex or gender, sexuality, employment status, disability, or personal opinions.

With so many different backgrounds come different ways of understanding on how to address problems. Members of MWE are expected or otherwise encouraged to set aside their differences and work together on behalf of the group and other members. Consultations for advice are welcomed and disagreements should be addressed in honesty and humility.