Farewell Messages from Kenzo Abe & Yosuke Inoue

Dec. 29, 2014

Kenzo Abe

I decided to leave the Kodo ensemble at the end of 2014. I entered the Kodo Apprentice Centre 14 years ago in April 2000. Thank you very much to everyone at Kodo, everyone connected to our performances, and all the Kodo fans. I am truly grateful to you all.

I decided I wanted to join Kodo when I was first saw the ensemble and was overwhelmed by the honed physical beauty of the performers and the sharpness created by their purely functional movements. I felt a strong yearning to join them on stage. Kodo’s mission statement, fostered since the days of Kodo’s antecedent group “Sado no Kuni Ondekoza,” sets the group’s sights on reaching the limits of human energy. Its many members have created Kodo’s performances to date by putting that vision into practice.

 

For me, personally, I remain doubtful as to whether I tested myself to those limits. As a result, I was not able to devote my whole life to Kodo. That is something that I will carry with me, etched in my mind. I still wonder how to create an energy that will overwhelm people’s senses, what it is exactly, and even if that is in fact what I want to do…

Right now, I have no regrets about the path I chose, but it is time for me to stand on my own two feet and set off down a new path independently.

I can’t help this being a somewhat gloomy farewell, but I have a family now and my situation and age are not the same as when I first came to Sado Island. I can’t only talk about myself and my ideals. I have to live and make a living. Inevitably, this will test my own limits.

My experiences with Kodo are truly precious and I think they will continue to be huge assets to me in the future. I offer my heartfelt thanks to everyone who gave me this opportunity. Thank you all.

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Yosuke Inoue

I decided to leave Kodo for personal reasons.

Since 2012, I have spent three years taking part in Kodo performances including “Kodo One Earth Tour: Legend,” “Mystery,” “Amaterasu,” and the “School Workshop Performances.” I got to meet so many people and had so many precious experiences, for which I am truly grateful.

Now I plan to head down a new path, which will make the most of my experiences with Kodo. I will study about the human body and massage and train to become a physiotherapist.

I offer my sincere gratitude to everyone who has cheered me on during my brief time with Kodo. Thank you all.