KASA Benefit Concert

A report by Program Director Daniel Rosen
On Tuesday August 13, 2002, Kodo played Benaroya Hall in Seattle, WA in a special concert to benefit Kodo Arts Sphere America (KASA). More than just a concert, this was truly a community event where members of the taiko world and general public came out in record numbers to help support KASA in its official public debut.
Before the curtain even went up, local groups Seattle Kokon Taiko and One World Taiko were in the lobby to kick off the show with a high-energy performance. This gave audience members a chance to see and hear the taiko up close, and even to speak with some players afterwards. But before they were through, four other local groups joined in for a 'taiko jam', and the uproar caught the ear of Kodo players back stage. Led by Eiichi Saito, several Kodo members made an impromptu appearance in the lobby and joined the jam. There was no holding back, as Kodo principal dancer Chieko Kojima brought everyone to their feet and had the entire crowd dancing in the lobby before the jam came to a frenzied finale. I don't think Benaroya Hall has ever seen the likes of anything like that in their lobby! Already out of breath, the crowd made their way inside the theater for the sold-out Kodo performance.
I have seen Kodo perform literally hundreds of times, but this performance was certainly one of the most inspiring. There was a special energy in the air, partly due to the KASA festivities, and also because this was the last concert of the 4-week summer tour. Having just finished the KASA 2002 North America Workshop Tour, Kodo members Yoko Fujimoto and Chieko Kojima were able to join up with the group in Seattle just for this performance. Yoko and Chieko teamed up with freshman Mitsuru Ishizuka for a special rendition of 'Hana Hachijo' which was not performed anywhere else on tour. Then during the encore, I watched in amazement as Yoko and Chieko picked up a "bat" to help wale on the enormous 'Hirado' drums in the encore piece 'Zoku'.
Afterwards in the lobby, audience members bid on various Kodo items up for auction to help raise money for KASA. The most popular items included the 'bachi' (drumsticks) which veteran drummer Yoshikazu Fujimoto used to play the O-daiko that evening, and posters signed by the entire group. Hideyuki Saito made a last-minute entry by donating his 'Jyan Gwara' cymbals which started a bit of a bidding war among the taiko players present. In the end tenacious friends from Portland Taiko put the winning bid on the cymbals, and overall almost $1,000 was raised to help benefit KASA.
Many thanks to the numerous people who helped make this event possible. In the true spirit of KASA, this event brought together members of different communities to celebrate the human spirit through music.