Tag ‘Mystery’
“‘Mystery’ Team Returns to Sado” by Kosuke Urushikubo
July 22, 2014
Hello, everyone! Thank you very much for always reading our blogs.
We have just returned to Sado Island from our two-and-a-half month tour.
Today, we carried out maintenance on the small props. We did it with the great care as our way of telling the equipment, “You did a good job over the past couple of months and we are counting on you for the fall tour, too!”
We met a lot of people during this spring tour. We really appreciate everyone who came to see our performances. If you have not seen “Mystery” yet, please come to see it in September and October. We hope to see you at a theater somewhere!
Sep. – Oct. 2014 “Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery” Japan Tour
http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20140510oet_en.html
OET “Mystery” Tour Finale | Performance in Hakusan City
July 20 “Mystery” Finale at “Hakusan International Taiko Extasia 2014”
“Kodo One Earth Tour: Mystery” toured throughout Japan from May to July, giving 31 performances attended by around 40,000 people. For the finale of this tour, we were invited to perform at “Hakusan International Taiko Extasia 2014,” held at Hakusan-shi Matto Bunka Kaikan in Hakusan, Ishikawa.
The “Mystery” tour will continue from September, traveling from Hokkaido & Tohoku all the way down to Western Honshuu. We hope you’ll join us!
“First One Earth Tour Concert in Nanyo in 13 Years” by Narumi Matsuda
First Kodo Concert in Nanyo in 13 Years
I am a member of Kodo’s staff and Kodo gave a performance on July 4th in my hometown, Nanyo City in Yamagata Prefecture. This venue has been holding concerts since the 80’s when Kodo began and it is going to close its doors for good soon, so we were invited there as their final event. They began with a Kodo performance and wanted to finish as they had started.
I have a lot of memories of this hall from when I was little and to see the Kodo members perform there, well it was like I was being shown how my past and present are connected.
It’s a small town but the concert was sold out! I think it’s thanks to the great efforts of the hosting committee. The audience got really excited and their response even managed to surprise to the performers.
This venue will disappear but I hope that someday there will be a new opportunity for the sound of Kodo to return here again.
“Akita Performance” by Akiko Ando
July 4, 2014
Akita Performance
When I was a freshman in high school, seven years ago, I saw Kodo perform for the first time and it made me decide what I wanted to do in the future. I’m from Akita Prefecture, and while our performance this weekend isn’t in my hometown, I am still really looking forward to finally having the chance to perform with Kodo in my home area.
In the “Mystery” programme, I was given a role that I feel allows me to show my own character well. It is important to feel the air and the darkness created each and every time we perform. I also feel the regional differences in the audience’s response to our performances, so I’m really excited to see what kind of reaction the people in Akita will have to “Mystery.”
Photos: Takashi Okamoto
“Performance in Kumagaya, Saitama” by Kosuke Urushikubo
June 28, 2014
Hello, everyone! Recently, the sun’s rays have been getting stronger as summer heats up. I hope you are all keeping well. Actually, I am not a fan of hot weather, so I’m battling against the heat everyday.
Tomorrow, on June 29, we will have a performance at Kumagaya Bunka Sozo-kan Sakuramate in Kumagaya, Saitama.
Kumagaya City is close to my hometown, so I would often go there to visit taiko shops, go shopping and see cherry blossoms, etc. I have a lot of memories there. Before coming to Kodo Apprentice Centre, I also came to Kumagaya to take the bullet train from Kumagaya Station. I am happy to perform in such a familiar place and I am really looking forward to it.
I’ll be waiting for you all at the theater!
“Sold-Out Komae Performance” by Narumi Matsuda
Thank You for our Sold-Out
“Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery” Performance in Komae!
On June 28, we had a sold-out performance at Komae Ecorma in Tokyo.
After the performance, we finished packing up and got on the elevator to find a surprising message on the wall from the hall staff:
“Dear Kodo members, Thank you very much for your flowing, exciting performance. You first performed here in 1997, then in ’99, 2001, ’04, and ’09. This year was the 6th time. This year’s performance was different from last time, and by that we mean it has certainly evolved! It’s now the second half of your tour and we all wish for its continued success. We hope to see you again! From all of the staff at Komae Ecorma.”
It was a wonderful gift for us. Yes, we will be back!
Kodo Merchandise On Sale Now at OET Venues
Kodo Merchandise On Sale at Concert Venues for “Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery”
Here are Yuta Sumiyoshi (left) and Kosuke Urushikubo (right) at Rune Kodaira, Kodaira Citizens Cultural Hall in Tokyo on June 27.
They are standing beside the advertising banner for our next production, “Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Eternity.”
Kodo merchandise is on sale at each One Earth Tour venue. Please come and have a look when you come along to our performance.
Our newest DVD, ‘Kodo “Legend”‘ is also on sale now!
(Shown here by Yosuke Kusa, who is featured on the cover)
http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20140621dvdlegend_en.html
“Final Performance in Asakusa Today!” by Kodo PR Team
Today is the final performance at Asakusa Public Hall of “Kodo One Earth Tour: Mystery.”
Thank you to everyone who has joined us for this 5-day performance series!
We really appreciate your warm cheers of support!
Today our performance starts at 2:00pm. We’re waiting for you at the theater!
“Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery” Asakusa Performances
June 21 (Sat) – 25 (Wed) Asakusa Public Hall, Tokyo
▼About the Performance
Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery
▼FINAL ASAKUSA PERFORMANCE TODAY
June 25 (Wed) 14:00
▼Ticket Outlet
Door sales begin at 13:00 at Asakusa Public Hall.
“School Workshop Performance at Tawara Elementary School in Asakusa” by Mariko Omi
June 18 School Workshop Performance at Tawara Elementary School in Asakusa
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.
Once the performance began, the 60 minutes went by in a flash! We received a lot of laughs and some unexpected reactions!
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!
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.
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!
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.
Photos: Takashi Okamoto
About Kodo’s School Workshop Performances
http://www.kodo.or.jp/koryu/index_en.html
“Kodo Exhibition at Asakusa Public Hall” by Narumi Matsuda
Kodo Exhibition at Asakusa Public Hall During “Kodo One Earth Tour: Mystery” Asakusa Performances
We are holding an exhibition about Kodo on the ground floor of Asakusa Public Hall during our consecutive performances. You can learn about Kodo’s history and our group’s various activities through the broad range of panels on display.
There is also a special corner displaying some of the taiko drums that we use on stage. We hope you’ll come and have a go on them!
Open until 17:00 on June 25 (Wed).
Free admission.
“Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery” Asakusa Performances
June 21 (Sat) – 25 (Wed) Asakusa Public Hall, Tokyo
▼About the Performance
Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery
▼FINAL ASAKUSA PERFORMANCE TODAY
June 25 (Wed) 14:00
▼Ticket Outlet
Door sales begin at 13:00 at Asakusa Public Hall.