Posts by Staff
“Power from the Students” by Mitsunaga Matsuura
Kodo School Workshop Performance in Yawatahama
Every three years, we are invited to perform at schools in Yawatahama, Ehime. This year, after our performance at Aoishi Junior High, one of the students stood up and said to all of his fellow students, “Let’s cheer for Kodo!!!”
Suddenly, all the students leapt to their feet and gave us a massive cheer. It was so unexpected! We were so surprised and really moved!
We would never have this kind of experience at one of our theater concerts. We will use the power & energy they gave us to fuel our future performances! We hope our performances will make a lasting impression on all of the students we encounter on our tours, too.
▶About Kodo School Workshop Performances
“Rehearsals for ‘Kodo Special Performances on Sado Island'” by Tsugumi Yamanaka
Rehearsals for ‘Kodo Special Performances on Sado Island 2014: Autumn’
We had rehearsals at Shukunegi Community Hall to prepare for the “Kodo Special Performances” centered around Kodo’s distinguished members. Yoshie Abe will sing a charming rendition of Isobushi. In Kawasaki, Chieko and Yoshie will dance to an accompaniment by the male performers. Ryosuke will give an energetic, youthful performance of Onidaiko (demon drumming dance).
One of the highlights is O-daiko, which will be performed by Yoshikazu Fujimoto, Eiichi Saito, and Tomohiro Mitome.
Don’t miss it! We are really looking forward to seeing everyone there!
Kodo Special Performances on Sado Island 2014: Autumn
Oct. 2 (Thu)–Oct. 5 (Sun), 2014 Shukunegi Community Hall, Ogi Peninsula, Sado Island, Niigata
Appearing: Kodo (Yoshikazu Fujimoto, Chieko Kojima, Motofumi Yamaguchi, Eiichi Saito, Tomohiro Mitome, Ryosuke Inada)
Special Appearance: Yoshie Abe
Times: Oct. 2 (Thu) 15:00, Oct. 3 (Fri) 15:00, Oct. 4 (Sat) 11:00, 15:00, Oct. 5 (Sun) 11:00, 15:00
Inquiries:
Kodo Cultural Foundation Tel. 0259-81-4100 (Mon–Fri, 9:30 – 17:00)
Sado Island Taiko Centre Tel. 0259-86-2320 (Tue–Sun, 9:00 – 17:00)
“My Appearance in ‘Kodo Special Performances on Sado Island 2014: Autumn'” by Yoshie Abe
Hello, everyone! This is Yoshie Abe.
In August, I returned to the stage for Earth Celebration’s “EC Theatre.” This month, I will take the stage again to appear in the “Kodo Special Performances on Sado Island 2014: Autumn.” I will join Chieko Kojima to perform one of her signature pieces…can you guess which one? Please come along and find out!
The performances started today. I look forward to seeing everyone at the venue over the next three days, too!
Kodo Special Performances on Sado Island 2014: Autumn
Oct. 2 (Thu)–Oct. 5 (Sun), 2014 Shukunegi Community Hall, Ogi Peninsula, Sado Island, Niigata
Appearing: Kodo (Yoshikazu Fujimoto, Chieko Kojima, Motofumi Yamaguchi, Eiichi Saito, Tomohiro Mitome, Ryosuke Inada)
Special Appearance: Yoshie Abe
Times: Oct. 2 (Thu) 15:00, Oct. 3 (Fri) 15:00, Oct. 4 (Sat) 11:00, 15:00, Oct. 5 (Sun) 11:00, 15:00
Inquiries:
Kodo Cultural Foundation Tel. 0259-81-4100 (Mon–Fri, 9:30 – 17:00)
Sado Island Taiko Centre Tel. 0259-86-2320 (Tue–Sun, 9:00 – 17:00)
“Sightseeing at Abashiri Prison Museum” by Narumi Matsuda
We went out sightseeing during our Hokkaido Tour and paid a visit to Abashiri Prison Museum. It was very interesting to see their informative exhibition. We spent about 2 hours there, engrossed in the displays.
Looking at farming tools, the Kodo members, who were all formerly apprentices, said:
“We used to use that, didn’t we?”
“Yeah, we did, but it was hard to use.”
“The best way to use it is…”
They talked about the equipment with such familiarity.
I admired them for their life skills and knowledge, which they had obviously acquired during their apprenticeship.
“‘Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery’ in Tomakomai” by Narumi Matsuda
On September 20, we had a performance in Tomakomai, Hokkaido. Most of the seats were not allocated, so many people queued for a long time before the doors opened to get the best seats. I could feel their excitement to see the performance by looking at that long queue. It made me happy!
There was a long line right around the theater. No matter how busy I am, at concerts with free seating I always pop out to see the enthusiastic queue.
“Mirai no Gakko Presentation” by Masami Miyazaki
Presenting “Mirai no Gakko”(School of the Future),
A New Company Training Program
by Cornell University and Kodo Cultural Foundation
Aoyama, Tokyo on September 12
When you hear “School of the Future,” you may imagine a modern, high tech school. But this project aims to give new purpose to the Fukaura Schoolhouse on Sado, a recently closed-down elementary and junior high school. Mirai no Gakko (School of the Future) is produced by Yasuhiro Karakawa, Senior Manager of Market Creation Strategies – Asia at the Center for Sustainable Global Enterprise at the Johnson Graduate School of Management, Cornell University. He is a member of the team at ifs Future Laboratory and planned a research trip last summer to the Fukaura Schoolhouse, which tied in to his annual research theme, “Inconvenient, yet comfortable.” It was a two-day/three-night program for Mr. Karakawa’s acquaintances (who he describes as an interesting bunch) and we, Kodo, offered them a taiko workshop to suit the program.
At the presentation, Mr. Karakawa briefly introduced this project and some of the summer participants’ impressions on it. To let the audience experience non-verbal communication, I brought a taiko drum along to show them how fun it feels to make one unified sound all together. The sound of taiko made all of them smile, even the serious-looking businessmen in suits. This project gives people the opportunity to come to Sado, play taiko, and through that, they can open up, free their minds, discuss and start to solve a range of issues, for example job or future-related concerns. We, the Kodo Cultural Foundation, highly recommend it!
Photo: Amazon Kajiyama
Kodo Blog | “’Mirai no Gakko’ Presentation on Sep. 12″ by Hirofumi Uenoyama
“‘Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery’ Sapporo Performance” by Narumi Matsuda
On Sep. 19, we performed at Sapporo Shimin Hall, which is near famous landmarks such as Sapporo Clock Tower and Sapporo TV Tower. It’s been 3 years since both Kodo and I were last in Hokkaido. Last time, I was still inexperienced as a “One Earth Tour” manager, so I didn’t have any free time to venture out and ended up staying inside the hall all day long. This time, there are many new members, which makes me their senior. For junior member Shunichiro, this is his first ever “One Earth Tour.”
We were greeted by a large audience in Sapporo! The fall tour of “Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery” is off to an energetic start.
“Kodo Special Performances on Sado Island 2014: Autumn” Cast Video Message
Here is a video message from the cast of “Kodo Special Performances on Sado Island 2014: Autumn” (in Japanese).
They are saying that they are going to do their best and they look forward to seeing you all there!
Kodo Special Performances on Sado Island 2014: Autumn
Oct. 2 (Thu)–Oct. 5 (Sun), 2014
Shukunegi Community Hall, Ogi Peninsula, Sado Island, Niigata
Appearing: Kodo (Yoshikazu Fujimoto, Chieko Kojima, Motofumi Yamaguchi, Eiichi Saito, Tomohiro Mitome, Ryosuke Inada)
Special Appearance: Yoshie Abe
Start Times:
Oct. 2 (Thu) 15:00
Oct. 3 (Fri) 15:00
Oct. 4 (Sat) 11:00, 15:00
Oct. 5 (Sun) 11:00, 15:00
Ticket Orders: Kodo Ticket Service Tel. 0259-86-2330 (Mon.–Fri., 9:30–17:00), Email: ticket@kodo.or.jp
Inquiries: Kodo Cultural Foundation Tel. 0259-81-4100 (Mon.-Fri., 9:30 – 17:00)
Kodo Website: Kodo Special Performances on Sado Island 2014: Autumn
Chieko Kojima Solo Performance “Yukiai” in Morioka, Iwate
Sep. 13 Chieko Kojima Solo Performance
“Yukiai” at Go no Kai – Michinoku e
In 2013, Chieko Kojima took part in a “Gonokai” five-artist performance event at Sakaguchi Memorial Museum in Niigata. This year, that popular performance unit will take the stage at Nanshoso in Morioka, Iwate.
This will be the first “Yukiai” performance in Northern Honshu. If you are in the area or fancy a trip up north, please come along!
We are waiting for you!
“Mirai no Gakko Presentation on Sep. 12″ by Hirofumi Uenoyama
Presenting “Mirai no Gakko”(School of the Future),
A New Company Training Program
by Cornell University and Kodo Cultural Foundation
Aoyama, Tokyo on September 12
Kodo Cultural Foundation, the Cornell University Center for Sustainable Global Enterprise, and ifs Future Laboratory are working together to develop a program called “Mirai no Gakko,” which will nurture future leaders. Together, we are also planning projects that will take place on Sado Island from 2015.
“Mirai no Gakko” means “School of the Future.” On Sep. 12 in Aoyama, Tokyo, we will introduce the concept of this program and give people the opportunity to experience it in part through a taiko workshop led by a Kodo Cultural Foundation instructor.
The event is open to anyone, but please let us know in advance if you will attend.