“Kodo ‘Michi’ Iwaki Performance” by Shogo Komatsuzaki

Aug. 1, 2018Photo: Erika Ueda

There’s only four performances to go on our “Michi” 2018 tour.
We had a cast change for the second half of the tour to swap over the youngest members. Every day is fulfilling for all of us.

Photo: Erika Ueda

Our physical and mental state is different for each performance.

We have to think about drumming, walking, singing, and standing naturally on stage, which is more difficult and nerve-wracking than meets the eye. We have to make sure our body and mind are in the right condition before the curtain rises each day, so when we take a good look at ourselves, we can say, “I am in good form.”

Photo: Erika Ueda

On stage, each and every one of us has different roots and brings our own unique experience to the performance. We give it all we’ve got, right until the last beat, sharing heart and soul as we play our resounding instruments together.

Photo: Erika Ueda

Today, we have a performance in my hometown, Iwaki.

I moved to Sado Island ten years ago to become a Kodo apprentice.

Rather that trying to say my feelings with a lot of words to the special people in my hometown, I’ll try to say what I want to say through my sound on stage.

Photo: Erika UedaPhoto: Erika Ueda

Upcoming “Michi” Performances

Photo: Takashi Okamoto

Cast (July-Aug.)

Motofumi Yamaguchi, Eiichi Saito, Tomohiro MitomeKenta NakagomeMaya MinowaShogo KomatsuzakiMasayasu MaedaKodai YoshidaSeita SaegusaYuki HirataChihiro Watanabe, Taiyo Onoda, Shun Takuma

“On Tour with Fierce ‘DADAN’!” by Issei Kohira

On Tour with Fierce “DADAN”!

Hello, everyone! It’s Kodo Member Issei Kohira here. Thank you for your continued support.

Kodo’s “DADAN 2017” domestic tour kicked off at the beginning of October and we are receiving great reviews as we roar around Japan!

I was a cast member for the DADAN 2017 USA tour from February through March this year. We gave around 30 performances in the US and it was a very good experience for me. Now, I am back on the road with DADAN in Japan. On this tour, we will perform in my hometown area, Kansai. We have performances in Kyoto on Nov. 8 and Osaka on Nov. 11 & 12. If you live in the Kansai area, please come along to see us.

On the current tour, I have been cast to perform Tomoe, one of Kodo’s signature pieces. I am pouring everything into my performance as I follow in the footsteps of all the senior members who have performed it to date. I am giving it my absolute all on stage, but I know that I still have a long way to go.

The lads, I mean, the manly squad and I are drumming up a storm, so please come along to see us at a theater somewhere! We are waiting for you!
Come and hear the roar live!

 

“DADAN 2017” Japan Tour | Nov. 8 (Wed), 2017 Kyoto City

“DADAN 2017” Japan Tour | Nov. 11 (Sat)–12 (Sun), 2017 Osaka City

“DADAN x Hiroshi Michael” by Hayato Otsuka

DADAN x Hiroshi Michael

Hiroshima’s superstar Hiroshi Michael (Hiroshi-maikeru) is the official character of television broadcaster TSS (Television Shin Hiroshima System).

He is a positive guy.At first glance, you might think he is intense and somewhat gaudy, but I heard that his bold, unwavering presence gives energy and courage to the TSS viewers.

His favorite saying is “Hiroshima Ikeru!,” which means “Hiroshima can do it!”

His character is easy to understand and interesting, which are both traits that we strive to achieve with our intense “DADAN” performance.

As you know, an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.

Visiting Hiroshima, I was reminded of the value of peace and the joy of living in the world today.

As long as I am alive, I want to keep the fire within my soul burning brightly.

I want to share that fire on stage!

 

We received a pumpkin cake for Halloween.

“DADAN 2017” Japan Tour

“Kodo Interactive Performance in Mitaka on Oct. 7” by Kenta Nakagome

On Oct. 7, we welcomed the Myojo Gakuen Wadaiko Club to perform as our special guest at the “Kodo Interactive Performance” at Mitaka City Public Hall in Tokyo. Myojo Gakuen is the alma mater of cast member Kenta Nakagome. Here is a message Kenta wrote in the lead up to the performance.


All of a sudden, thirteen years have passed since I graduated from high school.

I look back and wonder how I felt back then when I played taiko.
I went to Myojo Gakuen because I wanted to play taiko, and naturally that is the reason I moved to Sado Island, too.

I wonder how the current wadaiko club sounds,

and I wonder how Kodo’s performance and sound will resonate with them.

I am happy to be able to return to this familiar place to play taiko.

I hope everyone who joins us there will enjoy the unique sound we create together with our drums and hearts.

I am looking forward to it.

Kenta Nakagome

Kodo Interactive Performance 2017 with Guest Appearance by Myojo Gakuen Wadaiko ClubOct. 7 (Sat), 2017 Mitaka City Public Hall, Mitaka, Tokyo

“In Matsuyama with ‘Spirited Summer'” by Chie Yamawaki

July 22, 2017

Hello, everyone! This is my first blog post. I’m Chie Yamawaki, a Kodo junior member.

I am currently on tour with “Spirited Summer” and we only have four performances to go.

After our performance in Kurashiki today, we traveled to Matsuyama in Shikoku.

Speaking of Shikoku, I am from Kagawa Prefecture.

So when I visit nearby Kurashiki and Matsuyama, it feels similar to being back in my hometown.

The climate and dialect in Western Japan make me feel so relaxed, as did the Sanuki udon noodles I ate during a road-side stop.

This is my first big tour.
My heart felt like it might burst with nerves and worries during the first half of the tour, but all the senior Kodo members supported me through it.
I received a tremendous amount of energy from the smiles and applause the audience gave us at each performance. My heart gets fully recharged with every performance, so I have arrived in Matsuyama filled with energy and with eleven performances worth of wonderful memories.

As this tour progresses, I think each performance feels like a “spirited summer” of its own.
The people, sounds, food, history, atmosphere, water, and other elements of each place we visit blend with Kodo and create a unique, spirited summer experience each time.

Tomorrow we have our Matsuyama performance.
Some years ago I was one of the audience members watching Kodo perform on stage at tomorrow’s venue, Matsuyama Shimin Kaikan.
Now I am a junior member of Kodo and this time I will be on stage performing with Kodo.
Since I was very young, I often visited Matsuyama for fun. I am really looking forward to our spirited summer experience in Matsuyama. I wonder what local flavor will blend into our performance…

For the remainder of the tour, we will head further south to the bottom of Kyushu.
The temperature will rise and so will our spirit on stage!
I look forward to sharing more special summer experiences with you all and taiko. Please come along to see one of our performances.

山脇千栄

Kodo “Spirited Summer” Japan Tour

Photos: Takashi Okamoto


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