“New Piece Michiru” by Mitsuru Ishizuka
“Kodo One Earth Tour: Eternity” New Piece Michiru
On our current tour, we have performed on Sado Island, and in Nagaoka, Nagoya, Osaka, Okayama, Hiroshima and Fukuoka.
Right now, we are in Tokyo.
In this production, we play my brand new piece Michiru.
When I first heard that the theme of this performance would be “Eternity,” for me it conjured the image of something “revolving.” I don’t know what is revolving exactly.
Perhaps it is like Sun or Moon orbiting, or the Earth revolving, or the hands of time turning over and over again. It could be the spirals and cycles of people’s everyday lives…
I took that image of “turning around” and worked to create a new piece in my favorite “taiko-meets-dance” style.
The title “Michiru” means “to be full.” It came from the words of our choreographer, Ms. Kawahara, who said “As the piece goes on, the power increases little by little until it is full like a full moon. (My name, Mitsuru, is similar to the name of this piece, but I didn’t name it after myself!)
Please come to see us play it live in Tokyo or Niigata!
Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Eternity
Dec. 19 (Fri)–23 (Tue/Public Hol.) Bunkyo Civic Hall, Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo
Dec. 25 (Thu) Niigata Prefectural Civic Center, Niigata City
CD Kodo “Mystery” Now on Sale!
Our brand new album, “Mystery,” was released today! It is now available at our performance venues in Japan and from the Kodo Online Store.
The first 300 customers to purchase it will receive a special gift: an original Kodo “Mystery” sticker. We hope you’ll add it to your album collection.
Kodo “Mystery”
http://kodo.shop.multilingualcart.com/goods_en_jpy_77.html
Kodo Online Store
http://kodo.shop.multilingualcart.com/index_en_jpy.html
“Appearance in December Kabuki Program” by Yoshikazu Fujimoto
On Dec. 2, it was the opening night of the December Kabuki Program at Kabukiza Theatre in Tokyo. It was my debut taiko performance in a Kabuki play and it went well.
After the performance, I practiced with Eiichi Saito and former Kodo member Kazunari Abe in the hall where our taiko is kept. As a triple cast, we are taking turns to perform at the climax of the play everyday until December 26.
Kazunari came all the way from Shikoku to join us. It’s so good to see him again.
Kodo’s Debut Kabuki Appearance
Kabukiza Theatre December Kabuki Program (Evening Programme)
“Narukami Fudo Kitayama Zakura” (Saint Narukami and Deity Fudo)
Dates: Dec. 2 (Tue)–Dec. 26 (Fri), 2014
Appearing: Ebizo Ichikawa, Ainosuke Kataoka, Shido Nakamura, Tamasaburo Bando, & others.
Taiko Performers (triple cast): Yoshikazu Fujimoto (Kodo), Eiichi Saito (Kodo) and Kazunari Abe (former Kodo member)
Kabukibito | December Kabuki Program http://www.kabuki-bito.jp/theaters/kabukiza/2014/12/post_82.html (in Japanese)
For details & ticket orders in English, please visit Shochiku Ticket Web http://www1.ticket-web-shochiku.com/en/info/schedule.html#1
Popular New “Eternity” Tour Merchandise!
Brand new t-shirts and tenugui towels featuring “Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Eternity”-inspired motifs are on sale now at our performance venues in Japan.
Left: Masayuki Sakamoto & Mariko Omi model the new “Eternity” t-shirts.
Right: Shogo Komatsuzaki shows the new “Eternity” tenugui towel. Traditional Japanese tenugui are thin cotton towels which are great as a sports towel, bandana, or even wall hanging.
*Also available from the Kodo Online Store
[T-shirt] Kodo Tour T-shirt “Eternity”
http://www.kodo.or.jp/store/38.html
[Tenugui Towel] “Eternity”
http://www.kodo.or.jp/store/24_1455.html
For orders in English, please contact the Store by email.
Kodo Online Store (Japanese) http://www.kodo.or.jp/store/
Kodo Online Store (English) http://kodo.shop.multilingualcart.com/
Email: store.eng@kodo.or.jp
“Motofumi Yamaguchi’s New Piece Ameyo Kazeyo” by Mitsunaga Matsuura
Dec. 18 Gin-iro no Kaze (Silver Wind) Song & Bamboo Flute Concert
Here is a new piece by Motofumi Yamaguchi, which he will play during the second part of tomorrow’s Gin-iro no Kaze (Silver Wind) Song & Bamboo Flute Concert at Kunitachi Geijutsu Sho-Hall, Kunitachi, Tokyo. He will perform it with Kosuke Urushikubo.
Click below to listen to a sample of it:
And here is a sample of a beautiful piece from Yoko Fujimoto’s latest album “Yamazu Megurumo,” which will feature in the first part of the concert:
December is a busy month, but we hope you will take the time to relax with us to the sounds of soothing vocals and melodic bamboo flutes. We are all waiting for you tomorrow in Kunitachi!
Gin-iro no Kaze (Silver Wind) Song & Bamboo Flute Concert
Date: Dec. 18 (Thu), 2014
Venue: Kunitachi Geijutsu Sho-Hall, Kunitachi, Tokyo
Doors Open: 18:30 Start: 19:00
Advance: 3,800 yen
At-the-door: 4,300 yen
Seating Details: All seats reserved. Please refrain from bringing preschoolers (ages 5 & under).
Event URL: http://www.kuzaidan.com/hall/e?2533
Ticket Outlets: Kunitachi Geijutsu Sho-Hall, Hakujuji (Coffee & Cake) Kunitachi Stn. South Exit Store, Shimada Stationery Store, Marronnier Kunitachi Stn. North Exit Store.
Inquiries: Kunitachi Geijutsu Sho-Hall Tel. 042-574-1515
http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20141218kodo3days_en.html
“Autumn ‘Kiyohime’ Photo Shoot on Sado Island” by Chieko Kojima
Hi, everyone! How are you? It’s Chieko here. I’d like to tell you about the “Kiyohime Picture Scroll” project I am currently working on.
“Kiyohime” is a profound work that I perform as part of my solo Yukiai performances, which is based on the female protagonist, Kiyohime, from the Dojoji Tales. For a year now, I have let that character loose on Sado Island to take photographs backed by the distinct four seasons for a Kiyohime photo book. Photographer Maiko Miyagawa, who is also an official photographer at Earth Celebration, is taking the photos for this project. This work is a collabration between the two of us.
Kiyohime standing in a freezing cold blizzard…
reaching out to a subtle color or fragrance…
basking in the light refracted from the summer sea…
making leaves fall all around with the resonating sound of her taiko playing…
We have captured a special story of Kiyohime through the camera lens as the seasons perpetually change.
Snow, wind, sea, flames, forest, flowers… everything was beautiful…
This photo book is also a collaboration with beautiful Sado Island.
It will be printed on traditional Japanese paper. So, no two will be the same.
Our book will go on sale in Spring 2015. I’m so excited.
For those of you who can’t wait, here are just a few of Kiyohime’s autumn scenes.
I hope you will enjoy the seasons of beautiful Sado with Kiyohime once our work is complete!
With photographer Maiko Miyagawa
Message from the Cast of the December Kodo Workshop Performance Tour
Kodo Workshop Performance Tour
The current Kodo Workshop Performance Tour has a brand new cast and programme!
Here’s a message from first-time programme director Eri Uchida and the cast. They’re looking forward to seeing everyone on their tour for some fun with taiko!
Next Public Performance:
Taiko Experience Corner during a School Workshop Performance
“Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Eternity” in Osaka!
On Dec. 6 & 7, we gave performances of “Eternity” in Osaka. Behind the cast, you can see Osaka Castle in all its glory through the lobby window at NHK Osaka Hall. Thank you to everyone who came along!
Upcoming Performances:
Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Eternity
Dec. 15 (Mon) & 16 (Tue) Hakataza Theater, Fukuoka City
Dec. 19 (Fri)–23 (Tue/Public Hol.) Bunkyo Civic Hall, Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo
Dec. 25 (Thu) Niigata Prefectural Civic Center, Niigata City
▶Schedule & Box Office Details
“Performance in Doha, Qatar” by Jun Akimoto
Dec. 7 Special Ensemble Performance in Doha, Qatar
Kodo’s First Appearance in Qatar Marks the 47th Country Kodo Has Visited!
On Dec. 7, a special Kodo cast performed at “Golden Jubilee: The TOYOTA Gala Event presented by Abdullah AbdulGhani & Bros. Company” in Doha, Qatar.
This trip was Kodo’s first ever visit to the Arab world. A traditional music and dance group from Qatar performed with Kodo at this commemorative event.
It was a valuable opportunity for us to experience the rapidly changing nation and region right now, as well as Islamic culture and the daily life and views of the people there.
Kodo Cast: Eiichi Saito, Tomohiro Mitome, Kenzo Abe, Maya Minowa
“Kodo & Sado Featured on JNTO Website” by Kodo Cultural Foundation
On March 14, 2015, the new Hokuriku Shinkansen (bullet train) will open for travel between Kanazawa, Toyama and Nagano.
To promote this new route to Niigata and Sado to foreign tourists, a PR article in English about Sado Island is now featured on the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) website.
http://www.japantravelinfo.com/blog/japanese-time-travel-in-sado/
The writer introduces Kodo, saying “If you have the opportunity to attend one of these (Kodo) performances in your area, I highly recommend it to experience the timeless quality of the island’s continuing creative spirit.”