“Shime-daiko Tuning” by Shingo Kawamura
Apr. 30, 2014
The cherry blossoms have begun to fall and the days are getting warmer and warmer. On sunny days, the Kodo members come outside to do their shime-daiko tuning by the lawn in Kodo Village.
Yuta Sumiyoshi (left) pulls the rope and Tetsumi Hanaoka (right) hits the rope
Shime-daiko is a roped taiko with a distinct, high-pitched sound. When you pull the ropes, it stretches the skin of the drum heads on either side. We hit the ropes while they are being pulled, as tight as we can, to make the skin stretch further. By doing this, the sound of the drum becomes higher and higher. The tighter the skin is stretched, the higher the sound gets, so the tuners have to work hard to get a high sound out of the drum.
The domestic Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery is about to begin.
We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at the various theaters around Japan.
“It’s Almost Time for Sanja Matsuri!” by Naomi Iseki
Asakusa in Tokyo is full of tourists during Golden Week, when there is a cluster of Japanese national holidays, and a lot of Japanese flags are hung along the main street, Nakamise-dori.
You can see lanterns everywhere for the festival “Sanja Matsuri,” which will take place really soon. I am very excited!
Lanterns are being put up along the streets around Asakusa Shrine. You can see some lanterns here on the road waiting to be hung.
“Umasa Gisshiri CoCoLo Special Festa” by Shingo Kawamura
On May 4, Kodo appeared at this special event on a special stage at the south exit of Niigata Station. Five members performed, but it felt like a large ensemble concert thanks to the atmosphere created by the warm-hearted Niigata locals filling the audience.
The weather was beautiful and koi-nobori (carp streamers, special decorations for Children’s Day in Japan) were “swimming” happily in the sky. The temperature went above 20℃ on this spring day, so there were some people in short sleeves at the 2pm performance.
Good weather reminds us our summer festival, “Earth Celebration” in August! We hope to see you at Earth Celebration 2014!
Kodo Blog｜Earth Celebration 2014 (Rehearsals, etc.)
We will also perform at Niigata Station on June 15. We hope to see you then!
Kodo Appearances at Niigata Station Events (Niigata City)
“One Earth Tour Heads to Kyushu!” by Narumi Matsuda
On May 6, we boarded a ferry bound for Kyushu. We are used to seeing the Sea of Japan from the Sado ferry, so it was fun to see different seas during this 15-hour journey.
While we were waiting for the ferry, some of us really enjoyed a quiz game. Everyone was somewhat excited so this trip felt different than our usual bus travel!
Kodo Performances in Kyushu!
We look forward to seeing you all there!
Kagoshima May 10 (Sat) Houzan Hall (Kagoshima Prefectural Culture Center) Start: 17:30/ Inquiries: Kagoshima Onkyo Tel. 099-226-3465
Miyazaki May 11 (Sun) Hyuga Bunka Koryu Center Start: 18:00/ Inquiries: Hyuga Bunka Koryu Center Tel. 0982-54-6111
Fukuoka May 13 (Tue) Fukuoka Symphony Hall Start: 18:30/ Inquiries: Picnic Ticket Center Tel. 050-3539-8330
“Rehearsal for Niigata Station Event” by Kenta Nakagome
May 2, 2014
On May 4, we will perform at the “Umasa Gisshiri CoCoLo Special Festa” at Niigata Station. We had a run through rehearsal for it today! It’s a 30-minute performance but it’s an action-packed programme.
Please come along to see us at Niigata Station!
Kodo Website | Kodo Appearances at Niigata Station Events
“Preparing for One Hot Summer!” by Mitsuru Ishizuka
Earth Celebration 2014 Rehearsals
In April, Kodo welcomed this year’s Earth Celebration guest artists to Sado Island for rehearsals for the upcoming concerts in summer.
The rehearsals with “DAZZLE,” who bring a wonderful & unique world of their own, and superhuman “BLUE TOKYO” were the best, and kept us all astonished from beginning to end!
▲Rehearsals with DAZZLE
▲ Rehearsals with BLUE TOKYO
During our lunch break we played kemari (a Japanese ball game) and it was a great chance to get to know each other better. Our teamwork was spot on!
We hope you’re getting excited about our performances together this summer!
(Photos: Takashi Okamoto)
“Setting Off on the Spring ‘Mystery’ Tour!” by Maya Minowa
We have just set off from Kodo Village on our Spring “Mystery” tour!
We will start our tour from Kagoshima, in Kyushu where I was born. I am so excited! We are looking forward to seeing you all, all over Japan!
“Shukunegi, the Venue for ‘Kodo Special Performances on Sado Island’” by Michiko Chida
“Kodo Special Performances on Sado Island 2014 – Spring” started on April 27th. Right from the opening performance, we have welcomed so many audience members from around Sado Island and from offshore. Thank you very much for coming!
These performances are being held in Shukunegi. This village has a wonderful atmosphere, so I would like to introduce it further to you.
Shukunegi flourished in the Edo era due to trade by sengoku-bune (large junks/wooden sailing ships) and there about 100 houses in the village, nestled in this small valley. Many of the houses were constructed by shipbuilders and built using their own special techniques to suit the small plots of land. The exteriors are very simple, but the interiors are gorgeous. Some of the houses even feature beautifully laquered pillars, ceilings and beams on the interior.
There is a bamboo fence at the entrance to the village. Stones and three horizontal wooden boards are stacked up at the bottom of it. The bamboo fencing behind is so long and thin. We are allowed to put our poster on this beautiful structure only during this performance period. When you walk through the central gate, it feels like you have wandered into another world.
“The Rock Cave of Heaven” by Chieko Kojima
“The Rock Cave of Heaven” in Barcelona, Spain
February 28, 2014
This is a video of my collaboration with contemporary dancer, Cesc Gelabert. This footage captures my first time performing in a world of contemporary dance. I would like to delve even deeper into this special work.
Public performance of work-in-progress piece “The Rock Cave of Heaven, “ a collaboration between Chieko Kojima and one of Spain’s leading contemporary dancers, Cesc Gelabert.
http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20140228chieko_en.html
Photos: Rob Ribas
“Posters in Asakusa” by Naomi Iseki
The posters you usually see in Asakusa are very unique: thin, narrow and illustrated. They are so creative and lovely. The other day, I found a Kodo poster in between a couple of festival posters when I was out and about.