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“School Workshop Performance at Tawara Elementary School in Asakusa” by Mariko Omi


June 18 School Workshop Performance at Tawara Elementary School in Asakusa

Photo: Takashi Okamoto

In the middle of “Kodo One Earth Tour: Mystery,” we gave two School Workshop Performances in Asakusa, Tokyo, in hopes that everyone in Asakusa would get to know Kodo better.

The programme and pieces are different to the “Mystery” performance, so we have been making good use of our spare time on the One Earth Tour to practise and prepare for these school performances. There are a lot of young newcomers on this tour and surprisingly more than half our cast has never been on a Kodo School Workshop Performance tour. During our rehearsals, we had to make sure that our facial expressions and movements, which usually aim to reach the furtherest parts of large theaters, were adjusted to suit an audience of children sitting right in front of us. We also had to check that the sound of the taiko and many other things were just right for the kids’ programme.

Photo: Takashi OkamotoPhoto: Takashi OkamotoPhoto: Takashi Okamoto

Once the performance began, the 60 minutes went by in a flash! We received a lot of laughs and some unexpected reactions!

Photo: Takashi OkamotoPhoto: Takashi Okamoto

When we rolled out the biggest taiko (o-daiko), there were some kids squealing in anticipation, like they were at the top of a roller coaster just before a big drop!

Photo: Takashi Okamoto

For me, the impressions of a pupil, who spoke on behalf of her peers, were particularly memorable. She looked us all in the eyes while she told us the characteristics of each piece we had played and how each one made her feel with great frankness. It really made us take note of how your true feelings can have such power of persuasion.

Photo: Takashi Okamoto

As the children left the hall, one of the little girls gave me a keyring. She said, “It’s handmade. Thank you!” and with that simple act, all of my tiredness disappeared!

Photo: Takashi OkamotoPhoto: Takashi Okamoto

We will use the all the smiles and cheer that we received from these school performances as energy for our five days of performances at Asakusa Public Hall.

Photo: Takashi OkamotoPhotos: Takashi Okamoto

 

About Kodo’s School Workshop Performances
http://www.kodo.or.jp/koryu/index_en.html
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