Tag ‘Sado Island’
TV Program “Journeys in Japan” On Demand
June 23, 2015
TV Program “Journeys in Japan” Featuring Kodo Apprentice Centre Available On Demand
“Journeys in Japan” is an English-language TV program that features foreign reporters traveling through Japan, showing the nation through their eyes. The latest episode is a journey to Sado Island and features demon drumming (onidaiko) as well as a visit to the Kodo Apprentice Centre. The report includes the apprentices playing taiko and a look at their lifestyle at the Centre and on Sado. This program was broadcast in 130 countries and is currently available for viewing worldwide online for a limited time.
Program Name: Journeys in Japan
View On Demand via NHK World Website (available until mid-July 2015)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/vod/journeys/20150623.html
Contemporary dancer Alessandra Lupi visits Sado Island to study the powerful Onidaiko demon dance. The traditional performing art is offered to the gods to pray for peace and abundant harvests. Alessandra also experiences the traditional lifestyle of the region. She stays in a charming inn converted from an old home, tries rice farming and meets apprentices of Kodo, the renowned drumming ensemble. During her journey, she comes to feel how closely the Onidaiko performing art is connected to the local way of life. On the last day of her journey, Alessandra is bestowed with an honor that is most unexpected…
Kodo apprenctices with contemporary dancer Alessandra Lupi at the Kodo Apprentice Centre, Kakinoura, Sado Island.
“‘Kodo Special Performances on Sado Island 2015: Spring’ Finale Tomorrow!” by Kodai Mazaki
“Kodo Special Performances on Sado Island 2015: Spring” Finale Tomorrow!
Thank you very much to everyone who has come along already to see the “Kodo Special Performances on Sado Island 2015: Spring.” There are just two performances to go: TOMORROW! We hope to see you there!
“Off to Osaka for ‘Amaterasu’!” by Tetsumi Hanaoka
Apr. 28, 2015
My view from the bus as we were waved off from Kodo Village.
We set off from Kodo Village today to head to Osaka for the “Amaterasu” performances, which begin on May 3 at Osaka Shochiku-za Theatre.
We will be giving performances there for almost a month, so please come along. We’ll be waiting for you!
May 2015 “Amaterasu” (Osaka)
http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20150503amaterasu_en.html
The Curtain Rises on “Kodo Special Performances on Sado Island 2015: Spring”!
Apr. 26, 2015
Our popular annual concert series, “Kodo Special Performances on Sado Island,” started with a bang (don!) yesterday on April 25. We also welcomed a large audience today, from all around Japan as well as from overseas.
The remaining performances will take place from May 2 through 5. This is during Japan’s public holiday cluster known as “Golden Week.” If you’re on holiday or visiting Japan, it’s a great time to come to Sado Island. You can even get to Ogi with ease thanks to the new fast ferry service “Akane,” departing from Naoetsu Port.
The Special Performances, centered around Kodo’s Distinguished Members, take place at Shukunegi Community Hall, a retro playhouse in the heart of the traditional village of Shukunegi. This picturesque settlement is classified as one of Japan’s “important traditional building preservation areas.” We hope you’ll come to enjoy spring on Sado with Kodo and taiko this week!
Here’s a message (in Japanese) from cast members Yoshikazu Fujimoto and Chieko Kojima, telling everyone about the programme.
▶Watch on Youtube https://youtu.be/NX8F05OyoTQ
“Launching Ceremony for New Fast Car Ferry ‘Akane'” by Tetsumi Hanaoka
Apr. 21, 2015
Launching Ceremony for New Fast Car Ferry ‘Akane’
The new fast car ferry, “Akane,” has just been launched between Naoetsu and Ogi on Sado Island. Kodo’s Motofumi Yamaguchi, Tomohiro Mitome, Mariko Omi, and Rai Tateishi performed at its launching ceremony. I went along to help out behind the scenes.
A large crowd gathered to see Kodo perform in the ferry terminal building, and outside there was a range of stalls and demon drumming performances. Misato and Misaki, the Community Development Course trainees, were helping the Ogi locals serve up delicious soup.
The “Akane” is a fast car ferry service that has shaved one hour from the usual travel time between Naoetsu and Ogi. It also has increased the number of services on this route, so it has made access to Sado both faster and easier. I hope you’ll use this service to come to Sado Island!
“O-daiko Triple Cast Schedule for ‘Kodo Special Performances on Sado Island 2015: Spring'” by Kodai Mazaki
O-daiko Triple Cast Schedule
We are pleased to announce the schedule of one of the highlights of the upcoming “Kodo Special Performances on Sado Island 2015: Spring”: the triple cast for O-daiko (the big drum). Each performer’s style is so unique! We hope you will come along!
Apr. 25 @14:45 Tomohiro Mitome
Apr. 26 @11:00 Eiichi Saito
May 2 @14:45 Yoshikazu Fujimoto
May 3 @11:00 Eiichi Saito, @14:45 Tomohiro Mitome
May 4 @11:00 Yoshikazu Fujimoto, @14:45 Eiichi Saito
May 5 @11:00 Tomohiro Mitome, @14:45 Yoshikazu Fujimoto
*Please note that this cast & schedule are subject to change without notice.
“Kodo Special Performances on Sado Island 2015: Spring”: Message from the Performers
From This Weekend! Apr. 25 (Sat), 26 (Sun), May 2 (Sat)–5 (Tue/Public Hol.), 2015
“Kodo Special Performances on Sado Island 2015: Spring”
We’re getting ready for our “Kodo Special Performances on Sado Island 2015: Spring,” which commence this Saturday!
Here is a message from Yoshikazu Fujimoto and Chieko Kojima about this year’s programme (in Japanese).
We hope you’ll come along!
Kodo Special Performances on Sado Island 2015: Spring
http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20150425sadospecialperformance_en.html
“Kodo Apprentices Have a Go at Noh” by Yasuko Honma
On March 1, the Kodo apprentices took part in a Noh recital in Hamochi on Sado Island. The Noh master who taught the Kodo apprentices until last year, Mr. Masao Matsunaga, stopped teaching because of his age, and a new master will come and teach our apprentices from later this year. So before this recital, some locals gave the apprentices three lessons and then they appeared on stage in their first Noh performance.
At the recital, they performed Shimai, one style of Noh where one person dances without a mask and the others sing along to accompany the dance. The title was “Momijigari”, which means “autumn-leaf viewing.” It was not easy to do the whole piece, but they did their best. Local students also joined in and the apprentices were very impressed by the Noh performances by high school students.
At the “Thank You” after-party, the apprentices enjoyed talking to a lot of different people. It was a valuable experience for them.
The locals say they look forward to the apprentices’ participation every year. They learned a lot about Noh, including dance and how to put on the various costumes, so they sang a song for them as a token of their gratitude .
“Yoko’s Song Workshops at Ogi Elementary School” by Tsugumi Yamanaka
In February, we held four of Yoko Fujimoto’s Song Workshops at Ogi Elementary School on Sado Island. It was a chilly time of year with light snowfall, but the children sang happily and had a great time together with Yoko.
Yoko has led these song workshops at this school every year for 16 years now. Even though the teachers have come and gone with transfers to other schools, this workshop been handed along like a relay baton. The first workshops were held here when my daughter was in the first grade, and although her homeroom teacher at that time was subsequently transferred away, she was transferred back here again some years later. That feels like fate to me.
Ogi Elementary School is going to move to a different school building (formerly Ogi Junior High School) in April, so this year’s workshops were the last ones here at these premises. This building has echoed with songs for years and years, but it will be demolished soon. On March 9, Yoko volunteered to give a concert entitled “Sado-kara Itadaita Uta Monogatari (Story of Songs from Sado Island)” for all the students, teachers and parents of Ogi Elementary School. She showed them her appreciation for being able to give enjoyable workshops at Ogi Elementary School for such a long time.
Full Dress Rehearsal on Sado Island for “Michi”
We will hold performances of Kodo 2015 Special Concert “Michi” in Yokohama on March 19 & 20.
On March 12, we had a full dress rehearsal on Sado Island. We invited some of our friends on Sado Island to be the audience for this rehearsal, so if you came along, thank you very much for joining us!
These two performances are almost completely sold out. If you want to see “Michi,” don’t delay! Call for your tickets today!
See you there in Yokohama!
▶Watch on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1N2ME9rH4E
Kodo 2015 Special Concert “Michi”
Mar. 19 (Thu)–20 (Fri), 2015 Yokohama, Kanagawa
http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20150319michi_en.html