1. Summary

In July 2025, the quartet Vagabonds and the chorus The Lockers became the first groups from Japan to perform in competition at the Barbershop Harmony Society’s International Convention, held in Denver, Colorado, USA.

Their participation marked a milestone for Japan’s barbershop community, made possible through the support of both the domestic and international barbershop family.

2. Background

Vagabonds and The Lockers earned their place as Japan’s representatives by winning their respective categories at the Japan Barbershop Convention 2024 (JBC2024) in Yokohama.

Ordinarily, ensembles from Japan are not eligible to compete at the BHS International Convention. This year, however, a special invitation was extended thanks to the cooperation and goodwill of BHS leadership and music staff.

3. At the Convention

Both groups received warm applause from the audience and engaged with singers from many countries, building connections that went beyond language and culture.

Their presence in Denver sparked genuine curiosity and appreciation, with many attendees expressing their hopes to see more from Japan in the future.

4. Acknowledgements

We wish to express our sincere thanks to:

• Steve Denino, Interim CEO of the Barbershop Harmony Society, for extending the invitation to Japan’s champions to appear on the international stage

• Steve Scott, Music Education Specialist and JBC2024 judge, for his tireless support and advocacy within BHS, helping to make this unprecedented participation a reality

• Dan Wessler and Blair Brown, JBC2024 judges, for their expert coaching and guidance in preparing our singers for the international stage

• Roger Ross and Sean Devine, performance coaches, for their invaluable artistic direction and encouragement throughout the journey

We are also deeply grateful to everyone in Japan and abroad who encouraged and supported our singers throughout their journey.

5. Looking Ahead

Inspired by this historic debut, we hope to see more Japanese groups take the International stage in years to come.

To help future champions of the Japan Barbershop Convention (JBC) represent Japan abroad, a dedicated initiative—the Tsubasa Fund—has been established.

The fund aims to ensure that no singer has to give up the opportunity to perform internationally due to financial constraints.

👉️ [Learn more about the Tsubasa Fund]