“Kodo’s Live Appearance on a Nationwide Brazilian TV Program!” by Yui Kawamoto
Mar. 9, 2016
Kodo’s Live Appearance on a Nationwide Brazilian TV Program!
Kodo appeared on a live national Brazilian TV program called “Entontro com Fátima Bernandes” today before noon.
Fátima and all other guests on the show were great. At the end of the program, taiko was an amazing way to communicate without any language barrier. Please have a look at the program online!
http://gshow.globo.com/programas/encontro-com-fatima-bernardes/videos/t/para-assinantes/v/encontro-com-fatima-bernardes-programa-de-quarta-feira-09032016-na-integra/4870619/ (Program begins after advertisement)
Approx. timing of Kodo appearances: 1:00–1:45 / 29:30–33:30 / 51:30–end.
Our performances in Brazil are getting very close!
March 2016 Kodo “DADAN 2016″ Brazil Tour
“We’re Off to South America for the First Time in 8 Years” by Yui Kawamoto
The last time Kodo toured in South America was in 2008.
Kodo continually evolves, so we look forward to sharing our dynamism and strength with Brazil this year!
This will be the South American premiere of Kodo’s “DADAN,” performed with passion and energy by eleven powerful male performers. The cast, featuring veteran performers and brand new members, has been rehearsing relentlessly for this tour.
We are all sincerely looking forward to seeing everyone at the theaters in Brazil. Tchau!
March 2016 Kodo “DADAN 2016” Brazil Tour
“Eri Uchida Taiko Workshop in Zurich” by Mio Teycheney-Takashiro
Taiko Zurich invited Eri Uchida to give a taiko workshop during our stay in Switzerland.
It took a while for everyone to loosen up, but at the end of the session the group displayed a range of nuances in their drumming as they performed for each other while speaking the rhythms (kuchi shoga).
I think Eri was able to convey the importance of using your whole body when you play taiko and making sure your timing and breathing are tuned in to those around you.
Thank you very much to everyone who took part in this workshop!
Mio Teycheney-Takashiro, Kodo International Tour Manager
Jan.–Mar. 2016 “Kodo One Earth Tour 2016: Mystery” Europe Tour
Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, France, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Russia
“Three Sold-Out Performances in Milan” by Mio Teycheney-Takashiro
Three Sold-Out Performances in Milan
From February 5 through 7, we gave three “Mystery” performances at Triennale Teatro dell’Arte in Milan, Italy. Thanks to their wonderful support, all three performances welcomed full houses!
Many of the venues on our Europe tour are concert halls, so the members were excited to perform in Milan at the first regular proscenium theater of this tour. People of all ages came to see us in Milan and I think they all enjoyed the “Mystery” production and the energy in our performance.
We received these homemade ginger cookies from a local taiko group. Thank you very much!
The Milan concerts were our first full-house performances of the 2016 tour, so to celebrate we gave red “full-house” envelopes with Japanese postage stamps inside them to the presenter, Change Performing Arts, and the theater staff. (It’s a Japanese tradition.)
We are already looking forward to our next chance to visit Italy again!
Mio Teycheney-Takashiro, Kodo International Tour Manager
Jan.–Mar. 2016 “Kodo One Earth Tour 2016: Mystery” Europe Tour
Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, France, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Russia
“Europe Tour Opening Night in Brussels!” by Mio Teycheney-Takashiro
We held the first performance of “Kodo One Earth Tour 2016: Mystery” at BOZAR in Brussels, Belgium.
We were greeted by a huge audience, nearly a full house, and they gave us a wonderful welcome gift: a standing ovation!
We look forward to the two months many performances ahead in nine more countries. We hope you will come and see us somewhere!
Mio Teycheney-Takashiro, Kodo International Tour Manager
Jan.–Mar. 2016 “Kodo One Earth Tour 2016: Mystery” Europe Tour
Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, France, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Russia
“Getting Ready for the ‘Mystery’ Europe Tour” by Tomoe Miura
The “Mystery” Europe Tour is about to begin.
I had just graduated from the Kodo Apprentice Centre when I took part in the previous Mystery tour in North America. I didn’t know which way was up on my first tour and everyone else helped me so much. This time I will be able to focus even more on my performance and I want to show just how much I have grown as a performer over the past year on stage.
We will visit ten countries with different cuisine, culture, people… I wonder what kind of countries await me? I am excited to think about every day of the tour. My goal for this tour is to grow as a person.
I will perform with all my might, and with my heart, for everyone awaiting us in Europe and Russia.
Jan.–Mar. 2016 “Kodo One Earth Tour 2016: Mystery” Europe Tour
Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, France, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Russia
“‘Mystery’ Sets off for Europe!” by Yui Kawamoto
“Mystery” Sets off for Europe!
As a “once-in-a-decade” blizzard passes by here on Sado Island, the cast and staff for “Mystery” have set off on tour!
This two-month Europe tour will consist of 32 performances in 10 countries.
Please come and experience the world of “Mystery” with Kodo in the unique European atmosphere. You won’t want to miss this production!
Farewell, everyone! And good luck!
Bon voyage!
Jan.–Mar. 2016 “Kodo One Earth Tour 2016: Mystery” Europe Tour
Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, France, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Russia
“‘Chaos’ Finale in Tokyo” by Maya Minowa
Thank You for Attending the “Chaos” Tokyo Performances
Thank you very much to everyone who came along to see our “Chaos” performances in Tokyo at the end of last year.
Our concerts at the Bunkyo Civic Center were the last ones of our month-long tour, which started on Sado Island in late November.
In this programme we drum on tires for some pieces. Towards the end of the tour, the covers on the tyres were getting softer so we re-covered them in Tokyo.
These tires are featured as instruments and the new covers gave them a new lease on life. I had to think about their durability while trying to get the sound I wanted from them, so I played the tires by trial and error everyday.
In “Chaos” we play Japanese drums and various other instruments, so we have to consider the best sound to make with each instrument to fit in with the other sounds. This meant we couldn’t just play taiko in our usual manner. Instead, we sometimes mute the reverberations and weave delicate sounds together.
While it was chaotic, somehow it was indeed a feel-good performance for us. There was no plan to create sound in time or make sure you were in time or in sync with someone or something else. So even if someone came along with an unusual element, we would meld together just by feeling and being in that moment.
We want to hear each other’s sound in the best way, so naturally, I feel that we all head towards harmony together.
We gave five performances in a row at Bunkyo Civic Center as the tour finale. Thank you very much for coming. I am truly grateful to have been able to perform in front of so many people everyday.
Special Feature in the Financial Times, UK “Japan’s Kodo drummers”
http://on.ft.com/1n8pnQ6
“Chaos is aptly named, but this is chaos of the most scrupulously organised kind. It is an exhilarating performance that leaves both drummers and audience breathless and a reminder that there is simply no substitute for the visceral thrill of experiencing the powerful cumulative resonance of these drums played in person.”
▶ About “Kodo One Earth Tour: Chaos”
“Chaos” will tour throughout Japan in June and July 2016. Details will be announced on our website in early February.
Announcing the New 2016 Kodo Junior Members
New 2016 Kodo Junior Members
Five recent Kodo Apprentice Centre graduates have just become Kodo junior members. They are Koharu Ido, Issei Kohira, Masayasu Maeda, Koji Miyagi, and Kodai Yoshida. We thank you in advance for your support of their activities.
*The decision about Yuri Sakamoto is pending and will be made in March 2016.
(From left) Masayasu Maeda, Issei Kohira, Koharu Ido, Koji Miyagi, & Kodai Yoshida at Kodo Village on Jan. 19, 2016
All Together to Start the New Year!
The Kodo Group on Jan. 16, 2016, in Shukunegi, Sado Island, Niigata, Japan
We have started our year with a spring in our step as we begin rehearsals and work.
Thank you in advance for your continued support of Kodo throughout 2016!