To celebrate our 35th anniversary, Kodo will present six productions around the world, featuring new works by artistic director Tamasaburo Bando. In August of 2016, we are also planning three days of special performances at Suntory Hall in Tokyo.
In August 2016 we will celebrate the 35th anniversary of the founding of Kodo with a concert at Suntory Hall. And from November 2015 through June 2017 we'll be performing five of the works I've directed in Japan and abroad.
It's sixteen years since I've been traveling to Sado and directing for Kodo. In 2012 I was appointed Artistic Director, and now we are approaching Kodo's 35th anniversary. For the 25th anniversary I performed Amaterasu with Kodo, and I hardly imagined at that time that we would still be together to share the 35th.
My feelings about the productions I've staged so far for Kodo are centered on the importance of being happy, cheerful, and pleasurable, while having depth of spirit and expression.
There are a number of colorful groups presenting creative performing arts, but among them Kodo is blessed with having regular venues not only in Japan but across Europe and America. I hope that Kodo will continue its wonderful activities as a musical arts group delighting the hearts and refreshing the minds of audiences in Japan and around the world. And I pray that moving into the future, Kodo will experience new cycles of development as it is passed on to coming generations, and it will continue its activities until its 50th – and its 100th – anniversaries in years to come.
Kodo Artistic Director Bando Tamasaburo
The next generation of Kodo will take a bold step forward into new frontiers with three mid-summer night concerts in Tokyo. Further events are also being planned for these three days at Suntory Hall, so please marks your calendars and join us there for each unique performance and more!
Aug. 20 (Sat), "Third Night ‒Hisho‒ (Soaring)," is SOLD OUT.
Suntory Hall 30th Anniversary Commemorative Event
Sponsors: Suntory Beer Limited, Onkyo & Pioneer Innovations Corporation, POLA INC.
Featuring: Kodo, New Japan Philharmonic
Conductor: Tatsuya Shimono
Join Kodo and the New Japan Philharmonic for a world premiere performance of new compositions by Toshiro Saruya & Sunao Isaji. Expect new and unique fusions of East and West.
Director: Tamasaburo Bando
Featuring: Kodo
Kodo continues to evolve with Artistic Director Tamasaburo Bando at its helm. This concert will showcase an array of selected Kodo works that exemplify this evolution.
Director: Tamasaburo Bando
Featuring: Kodo with guest artists Blue Tokyo & Dazzle
Packed with a diverse array of powerful performances, the first act of Hisho features Kodo performing the compositions of Tamasaburo Bando. For the second act, Bando directs Kodo as they collaborate with two unique dance ensembles: the male rhythmic gymnastics troupe Blue Tokyo, and the street dance performance group Dazzle.
To mark this milestone year both in Japan and across the globe, Kodo will present five productions directed by Tamasaburo Bando: Mystery, DADAN, and the brand new Chaos, Spiral, and Yugen.
