Tag ‘Asakusa Performances’
United States of America Ambassador to Japan Attends “Spirited Summer” Performance
United States of America Ambassador to Japan Attends “Spirited Summer” Performance in Asakusa
Ambassador Kennedy (center) with guests from the US Embassy In Tokyo join the Kodo members on stage after the performance at Asakusa Public Hall on July 1, 2016
Over the weekend, the United States of America Ambassador to Japan, Her Excellency Ms., Caroline Kennedy, attended our “Spirited Summer” performance in Asakusa, Tokyo.
She visited us at Kodo Village last week, so it was wonderful to see her two weekends in a row. It was such an honor to see that she had enjoyed our concert.
Ambassador Kennedy, thank you very much for coming along!
Photo: Takashi Okamoto
Kodo Special Performance in Asakusa “Spirited Summer”
July 1 (Fri)–3 (Sun), 2016 Asakusa Public Hall, Taito Ward, Tokyo
http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20160701asakusa_en.html
Sincere Thanks & “Spirited Summer” Photo Gallery
Thank You for Joining us for “Spirited Summer”!
Kodo’s “Spirited Summer” was held at Asakusa Public Hall from July 1st through 3rd and we were delighted to welcome many people to each of the five performances. Thank you all for your warm support and making this special work a success. We sincerely thank everyone who traveled to Asakusa to see us from all over Japan and abroad. We have shared a selection of photos from this performance below.
Photo Gallery
Kodo Special Performance in Asakusa “Spirited Summer”
Photos by Takashi Okamoto
“A Wonderful Sight in Asakusa” by Naomi Iseki
Last week Asakusa in Tokyo held its annual festival, Sanja Matsuri. This week the area is back to normal… which for Asakusa means bustling with tourists!
From the day after the festival, I was greeted by this wonderful sight all along the main street through Asakusa, Kaminarimon-dori.
A big thank you to the Asakusa Shopping Street Promotion Association for these banners! We are always so happy to receive such great support from the people of Asakusa.
Kodo can feel this warm circle of support growing every year.
This year, we will present a brand new production in Asakusa called “Spirited Summer,” which will be performed exclusively here. I really hope many people will join us in Asakusa for these performances in July. Of course, we hope you’ll make a day of it and have a great time visiting Asakusa.
▼ [Don’t Miss Out! Last Tickets Now on Sale!] Kodo Special Performance in Asakusa “Spirited Summer”
July 1 (Fri)–3 (Sun), 2016 Asakusa Public Hall, Taito Ward, Tokyo
Start:
July 1 (Fri) 15:00
July 2 (Sat) 11:00 / 15:00 (2 performances)
July 3 (Sun) 11:00 / 15:00 (2 performances)
http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20160701asakusa_en.html
Ticket Outlets:
- Ticket Space Tel. 3234-9999 https://ticketspace.jp/top
- Asakusa Public Hall Tel. 03-3844-7491
- Ticket Pia Tel. 0570-02-9999 [P-code: 286-894] http://pia.jp/
- e-plus http://eplus.jp/
- Lawson Ticket Tel. 0570-000-407 (Operator 10:00–20:00) or Tel. 0570-084-003 [L-code: 34284] http://l-tike.com/
“‘DADAN 2015’ in Asakusa!” by Naomi Iseki
“DADAN 2015” in Asakusa
On June 10, the “DADAN 2015” performances began in Asakusa, Tokyo. The opening performance was sold out, and we could hear the applause echo out into the lobby! The following performances also welcomed full houses. Thank you all for coming along!
Kodo flags flying all along the Nakamise Shopping Street in Asakusa
Colorful Kodo banners in front of Asakusa Public Hall
At the theater, we had a Kodo Exhibition Corner, which included performer portraits with their handprints and messages. There were some taiko on display, too!
We hope you enjoyed these performances.
Thank you very much for welcoming us back, Asakusa!
Full House for the Finale of “DADAN 2015”!
June 16, 2015
Full House for the Finale of “DADAN 2015”!
Yesterday we were delighted to welcome a full house for the finale of our six consecutive performances of “DADAN 2015” at Asakusa Public Hall in Tokyo. Thank you very much to everyone who visited Asakusa to see us!
Tomorrow we resume our nationwide tour of “Kodo One Earth Tour 2015: Eternity” in Sagamihara, Kanagawa. We look forward to seeing everyone there!
The final curtain call for “DADAN 2015” in Asakusa, Tokyo
We hope you’ll join us for “Eternity,” too!
“Kodo One Earth Tour 2015: Eternity” Japan Tour (June–July, Sep.–Oct.)
http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20150606oet_en.html
[June–July] Kanagawa, Saitama, Gunma, Chiba, Osaka, Nagano, Kyoto, Ehime, Hiroshima
[Sep. Oct.] Chiba, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Yamagata, Iwate, Akita, Shizuoka, Aichi, Hyogo, Tottori, Yamaguchi, Fukuoka, Kagoshima
“DADAN 2015” Begins June 10 in Asakusa, Tokyo!
Kodo’s “DADAN 2015” performances in Asakusa begin on June 10! Join the all-male cast of thirteen powerhouse Kodo performers for a pulsating ninety minutes of non-stop action. We’re waiting for you all at Asakusa Public Hall!
“DADAN 2015” Rehearsals (At Kodo Village in April)
Photos: Takashi Okamoto
Director: Tamasaburo Bando
Performers: Yuichiro Funabashi, Mitsuru Ishizuka, Yosuke Oda, Masayuki Sakamoto, Tsuyoshi Maeda, Jun Jidai, Koki Miura, Shunichiro Kamiya, Ryoma Tsurumi, Kengo Watanabe, Ryotaro Leo Ikenaga, Hayato Otsuka, Reo Kitabayashi
*Cast subject to change
Ticket Sales Update:
June 10 (Wed): SOLD OUT. Door sales will not be available.
June 13 (Sat), 14 (Sun): Advance ticket sales have concluded, doors sales TBC.
Door Sales Info: Door sales will not be available on June 10 (Wed). For all other performances, door sales are TBC. If available, tickets will be on sale at the venue from 30 mins. before doors open (1 hour before the performance starts).
“Beyond Asakusa’s Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate)” by Naomi Iseki
Beyond Asakusa’s Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate)
From June 1, when you pass through Asakusa’s iconic Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate), a dream-like view for Kodo in the lead up to our “DADAN 2015” performances awaits…
Kodo flags all along the Nakamise Shopping Street!
The street will keep them on display for us until June 15 when our performances conclude. When you come to Asakusa to see “DADAN,” make sure you take a stroll along and have a look.
The shops along Nakamise Shopping Street boast a wide range of tasty treats and beautiful Japanese souvenirs. It takes a while to make your way all the way down to Sensoji Temple if you stop and look at all the wonderful stores, so allow plenty of time!
See you soon in Asakusa!
Details about “DADAN 2015” (June 11–15): http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20150610dadan_en.html
“It’s Almost Time for ‘DADAN’ in Asakusa” by Naomi Iseki
It’s now less than two weeks until the “DADAN 2015” performances. We wanted to make Kodo’s presence in Asakusa even stronger than last year, so we asked everyone in Asakusa to lend us a hand.
This style of vertical scroll poster is often seen around Asakusa, but it’s Kodo’s first time to make one for our performances. Many places have kindly displayed them for us.
We also made these postcards and they are available at cafes and other stores around Asakusa. Keep an eye out for them and share them with your friends!
And… do you know what these are?
Well, you’ll have to come to Asakusa to find out for yourself! I’m looking forward to telling you about these when the time comes…
“Sumida Park in Spring” by Naomi Iseki
March 28, 2015
There is a cherry blossom festival underway at Sumida Park, near Kodo’s Tokyo Office. When you go there to see the blossoms, you also see a lot of bright pink paper lanterns.
This year, there is a lantern for “Taiko Performing Arts Ensemble, Kodo” hanging amongst the lanterns for all the shops in Asakusa. They always support us so warmly.
We hope you’ll keep an eye out for our lantern if you visit Asakusa to see the cherry blossoms!
Kodo “DADAN 2015” Performances
June 10 (Wed)–15 (Mon), 2015 Asakusa Public Hall, Taito Ward, Tokyo
Tickets are selling quickly! Don’t delay, reserve yours today!
“Update from Asakusa” by Naomi Iseki
Update from Asakusa
From July Issue of Japanese Monthly Newsletter “Kodo”
In June, thanks to the cooperation of many locals and numerous others we held five successful performances in Asakusa. Thank you for your support, everyone!
Just like last year, this year there was an array of stalls from shops in Taito Ward set up in the lobby. This kind of lobby setup is unusual on a Kodo tour and quite unique to our Asakusa performances. The shop clerks wore matching happi (workman’s coats) and their presence made the theater atmosphere very lively.
On the first floor, we had an exhibition and also set up a corner where people could play taiko. It provided a chance for many people to play our drums. I hope that the people who had never played taiko before felt a stronger connection to the drums through their hands-on experience.
This time, we also had School Workshop Performances at two schools in Asakusa. For some Kodo members, it was their first time to perform at a school with Kodo. It was such an enjoyable time for all of us to be surrounded by the children with their pure hearts and smiles.
School Workshop Performance in Asakusa
We performed two pieces in front of Asakusa Public Hall in the “Star Plaza” (Walk of Fame) area. Before we performed outside, I went around the locals to let them know we would be doing this and they said “Play taiko as much as you like!” “I’m looking forward to it!,” etc. Then, they even came along to watch us during the outside performance, so I was so happy! On the final day it was drizzling, but when we started to perform Yui,, the sun shined on the performers. I will never forget that moment.
Our Asakusa performances were a success thanks to the help of so many people. During Asakusa’s annual festival Sanja Matsuri, the sound of live music accompanies the portable shrines as they make their way along the streets. Based at Kodo’s Tokyo Office, I will continue to work hard in the hopes that the sound of Kodo’s taiko will also be something the locals in Asakusa look forward to hearing every year!