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“It’s Freezing Cold in America, but US DADAN Is on Fire!!!” by Koji Miyagi


Mar. 18, 2017

It’s Freezing Cold in America, but US DADAN Is on Fire!!!

Photo: Yui Kawamoto

We are currently in Richmond, Virginia, which is right next to Washington D.C.!!

Photo: Yui Kawamoto

The US DADAN Tour started over a month ago in Yakima, Washington, and we have traveled over 4500km from West to East! This tour has drawn near its end and we were hoping that Spring would draw closer… but instead, it is still freezing cold in mid-March!

Photo: Yui Kawamoto

In front of the theater in Greencastle

For me, it has been about three years since the last time I was in the States. I spent about ten years of my childhood in a town called Ridgewood, New Jersey. After graduating high school, I decided to leave NJ to start a new life in Tokyo and also learn more about taiko. After I graduated university in Tokyo, I decided to apply for Kodo’s Apprentice Centre, hoping to become a member of Kodo. I totally did not expect to come back to the States so soon, as my US resident status ended when I became a Kodo apprentice.
Fortunately, I got to come back to the US this year and reunite with many friends that I haven’t seen for years. It almost felt like having a little reunion after our shows. The most memorable moment of this tour was having my high school music teachers and colleagues come to see our performance in New York. It brought me back many memories from my high school days.

 

Photo: Yui Kawamoto

During the tour, I got to travel many places where it felt like I was back at home, and there were also places that was very new to me. Having the chance to travel to different places like Arizona, Washington, and Illinois, was very new and exciting for me. From this tour, I realized how the culture and people can be so different, depending on where I go. Although the places we visit belong to the same country, each place evokes so many different thoughts and gives me different inspiration.

Photo: Yui Kawamoto

We have not only given performances in theaters but also workshops for students and local taiko groups around the States. Looking at the faces of the participants, I saw their strong love of taiko and motivation, just like the taiko lovers in Japan.

 

Photo: Yui Kawamoto

A special party to celebrate Kodo’s 35th anniversary with San Jose Taiko, KASA, and friends from the North American Taiko Community

I also learned that taiko can be a very powerful communication tool that can facilitate exchange between people, regardless of political conflicts or cultural differences. 

トラックドライバーのドニーさんと

With our US truck driver Donnie in New York

There are only a few performances left, but DADAN members are very excited to bring the heat and rock the stage for the rest of the tour!!

Photo: Akiko Umegaki

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“DADAN 2017” –Kodo 35th Anniversary Production– (USA)

Jan.–Mar. 2017
Production Details

打男 DADAN 2017 アメリカツアー

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ANA DADAN 2017

 

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