“Kodo’s Taiko Clinic” by Mitsunaga Matsuura

Kodo’s “Taiko Clinic” at Tokai City Bunka Center Hall on May 24

On May 24, we had Kodo’s Taiko Clinic workshops at Tokai City Bunka Center Hall in Aichi Prefecture.

Kenta Nakagome led the basics session in the morning. The participants were able to experience something very important to the Kodo members: ippatsu uchi, which means singular beats of the drum. A series of single sounds becomes a song, so he let the participants feel how big the sound gets when they relax their bodies to drum.

 

Mitsuru Ishizuka led the practical session in the afternoon, which focused on playing taiko as an ensemble. The participants were individuals who gathered for the workshop, but by following the shouts that Mitsuru used to lead them, their sound united and turned into a feel good rhythm.