Kodo Online Store: Earth Celebration 2014 Official Goods Now on Sale!
Earth Celebration 2014 merchandise is on sale now.
[T-shirt] EC 2014 #2 Turquoise
Print: Gradation from white to purple (front), white (back)
Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
Earth Celebration 2014 Official Goods
http://www.kodo.or.jp/store/157.html
For orders in English, please contact the Kodo Online Store by email.
Email: store.eng@kodo.or.jp
Kodo Online Store http://kodo.shop.multilingualcart.com/
Tsuyoshi Maeda: An Interview by Johnny Wales
An Interview with Tsuyoshi Maeda by Johnny Wales
Tsuyoshi Maeda, immediately after this interview.
(Photo: Johnny Wales)
Tsuyoshi Maeda was born in the countryside near Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture on August 28th, 1986. He has one older sister. He fondly remembers a childhood playing in the surrounding foothills, fishing with friends from their small school with whom he remained close from kindergarten right through to middle school. Never keen on school work, Tsuyoshi played soccer and loved making music and art. At the age of 11 he joined the local children’s drum group, Hatakko Daiko. Learning taiko, fue, dance and song, it wasn’t long before Tsuyoshi knew that this is what he wanted to do with his life. Unusually, his parents supported that dream from the start. By high school his rehearsals and weekly performances with the group left too little time to carry on with soccer and he broadened his musical training by studying koto and (Japanese harp) shamisen (Japanese banjo) too.
He first came across Kodo in middle school through a CD which he listened to over and over. He went to see the group at a large concert in Kobe and decided then and there that he wanted to be like them. He remembers thinking that they seemed to shine on the stage.
“Working Hard Rehearsing for ‘DADAN’!” by Rai Tateishi
We are preparing for July’s “DADAN” performances in Spain and France!
We have a fresh new cast and new pieces on the program, too!
Presented by an all-male cast of eleven performers, DADAN awaits you this summer in Europe!
España y Francia, esperen la gran presentación que les traeremos.
Nous vous attendons avec joie et impatience pour nos spectacles en Espagne et en France!
Kodo “DADAN” Spain & France Performances
“Performance in my Hometown Area, Kagawa” by Yuta Sumiyoshi
I was still a junior member the last time I came to Takamatsu in Kagawa on the “One Earth Tour.” In those early days, I was just frantically playing taiko, clinging tight to every lesson the Kodo members were teaching me. So coming back to Kagawa to perform again, about two years on, made me wonder deep down how much I have grown as a performer since last time.
I had the opportunity to write some of the music for the production we are presenting this time, “Mystery.” I write songs using fragments of pieces I composed when I lived in Kagawa and mixing them with new inspiration that came to me after I moved to Sado Island. Through this production, featuring these pieces, I hope that others can see how much I have grown and how much change I have been able to embody. I also hope people can sense something constant in me, a base within me that doesn’t change.
Before I went to Sado Island (to become a Kodo apprentice), I played taiko every day with my childhood friends, somewhat uncertain about the right way to play. I left my childhood friends, went to Sado Island alone to join Kodo, and now I’m playing taiko professionally.
After the performance in Takamatsu, a teacher, who has watched over me growing up since I was really young, said to me, “No matter how great of a pro taiko player you’ve become, your songs still haven’t changed since you were a junior high school student. Even if the melodies and rhythms are different, your taste remains throughout the composition. It’s nostalgic and I’m happy about that.” To have someone who had worked on polishing my musicianship for over 10 years say those words to me, I was so happy I could cry and at the same time I felt determined to aim even higher and work to become a person that everyone to whom I am indebted would be proud of.
Our performance in Kagawa was a chance for me to feel the warmth of my home region, and to take a new look at my own hopes and intentions.
Keikei, composed by Yuta Sumiyoshi
Photos: Takashi Okamoto
“Vocalization Practise on the One Earth Tour ” by Narumi Matsuda
On performance days, time is set aside after rehearsals for the performers to have vocalization practise together.
Since Tamasaburo Bando became Kodo’s artistic director, extra effort is going into singing instruction for the performers. The voice is easily affected by your age and the daily condition of your body, so taking the time for everyone to check their voice and focus on practising vocalization is now part of their daily routine.
Naturally the members do this each day when they have rehearsals on Sado Island, but they also have this time allocated for vocalization on tour.
Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery
“The Third Day at Sanja Matsuri” by Naomi Iseki
The Third & Final Day at Sanja Matsuri
The three portable shrines (mikoshi) kept in Asakusa Shrine were carried around the town of Asakusa all day long. I saw one of the shrines, called “Ninomiya.” It was so powerful.
The people of Asakusa really treasure this festival and I am really happy to have experienced it, little by little, as an onlooker for three days.
One of the people taking care of me said, “A festival can not be understood just by watching. You have to join in to understand the real joy of it.” These words left an impression on me.
I can’t wait for Sanja Matsuri again next year.
So, the local festival is now over and soon the Kodo Asakusa performances will begin! Please come and experience Kodo in Asakusa. We hope you will join us here this June!
[June 21-25 Kodo Asakusa Performances]
Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery
“Motofumi Yamaguchi ‘Ikkan Fugetsu'” by Narumi Matsuda
Motofumi Yamaguchi “Ikkan Fugetsu” in Sammu, Chiba
On May 16, Naruto Cultural Center Wild Chrysanthemum Plaza presented Motofumi Yamaguchi’s “Ikkan Fugetsu” concert. This hall is near the home of Ranjo-san, the craftsman who makes the shinobue (bamboo flutes) we play.
The venue erected a temporary stage in its entrance hall and sold beverages and snacks behind the audience seating. This setup made for a relaxed mood.
This was the 148th salon concert held by this hall. I saw some members in the audience who looked like they had come straight from working in their fields and they were relaxing as they listened to the concert. I could tell that these concerts are a firmly established event in this town.
Motofumi’s bamboo flute and talks to the audience created a great harmony with the piano and vocal performance by Yumi Nogami. After seeing this concert, I am already looking forward to their performances to come!
For the finale, Motofumi was joined by junior high school students to play “Hana wa Saku – Flowers Will Bloom, ” which is a song to support the regions affected by the Tohoku Pacific Earthquake. It was so moving.
Motofumi Yamaguchi “Ikkan Fugetsu”
News: Article in Magazine “Geijutsu Shincho”
Article featuring Tamasaburo Bando & Kodo in Magazine “Geijutsu Shincho”
An article featuring our artistic director Tamasaburo Bando and Kodo is featured in the June 2014 issue of “Geijutsu Shincho” (Shinchosha Publishing), coming out on May 24. It is full of pictures and stories about the “Kodo One Earth Tour: Mystery” production. We hope you’ll take a look.
Shinchosha Publishing Website｜http://www.shinchosha.co.jp/geishin/ (in Japanese)
Kodo Online Store: Earth Celebration 2014 Official T-shirts Now on Sale!
Earth Celebration 2014 merchandise is on sale now.
[T-shirt] EC 2014 #1 Gold
Print: Gradation from mint to turquoise (front), purple glitter (back)
Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
Earth Celebration 2014 Official Goods
http://www.kodo.or.jp/store/157.html
For orders in English, please contact the Kodo Online Store by email.
Email: store.eng@kodo.or.jp
Kodo Online Store http://kodo.shop.multilingualcart.com/
“The ‘Sado Long Ride'” by Yui Kawamoto
Spring is here on Sado Island, which brought bright green colors into the scenery.The beautiful weather wonderfully complements the grand panoramic view. Wouldn’t it be a great opportunity to exercise in an environment like this?
The Sado Long Ride was held on May 18th. Participants biked around the island through various scenic views. After cycling up a long strenuous hill, participants would hear….
Don doko, Don doko, Don doko, Don doko!
We had a chance to cheer on some participants who were half way through the course.
Hope to see you back on Sado again! And come visit Sado Island Taiko Centre while you’re here!
