Posts by Kodo Members
“Coming Soon: ‘Mystery’ in Fukushima!” by Shogo Komatsuzaki
(Left) Appearance on “Fukushima Super J Channel” (Fukushima Broadcasting)
(Right) Live appearance on DATE FM’s “Crescendo”
Yuta, Kosuke and I appeared on DATE FM’s “Crescendo,” “Fukushima Super J Channel” (Fukushima Broadcasting), and Fukushima FM’s “Iwaki Alios Art Juke Box” to publicize our “Mystery” performances in Iwaki, Fukushima, on Oct. 4 and in Sendai, Miyagi, on Oct. 7.
Iwaki is my hometown. This will be my first time to perform there. I will do my best to make the Iwaki locals feel much closer to Kodo. I hope many people will come.
We will be on Fukushima FM radio at around 6:05 pm on Oct. 3. (Time/date subject to change. Interview in Japanese, naturally.)
Fukushima FM Radio’s “Iwaki Alios Art Juke Box”
“My Monochrome Debut” by Kengo Watanabe
Sep. 19 Kodo Special Ensemble Performance at Maestro Trip Around Chiba Vol. 4: Japanese Traditional Taiko
Eight of us appeared in a “Kodo Special Ensemble Performance” in Chiba. Part One was a talk by Eiichi Saito about Monochrome, a piece by modern music maestro Maki Ishii (d. 2003) composed for Japanese taiko drums that is renowned as an iconic feature of the Kodo repertoire. Part Two was a mini concert by Kodo.
It was my very first time to perform Monochrome for an audience.
I still have a lot to learn, but I was so happy to play this piece with some of Kodo’s veteran members.
Sep. 19 (Fri), 2014 Chiba City Wakaba Culture Hall, Chiba City
“Kodo Special Ensemble Performance at Maestro Trip Around Chiba Vol. 4: Japanese Traditional Taiko”
“Learning Shishi Odori” by Kenta Nakagome
Learning Kanatsu-ryu Yanagawa Shishi Odori in Iwate
From September 5 through 8, seven Kodo performers (Masaru, Eri, Yuta, Tetsumi, Ryosuke, Naoya and I) went to Esashi in Iwate to learn Kanatsu-ryu Yanagawa Shishi Odori (deer dance) from the locals who uphold this traditional performing art.
(Left) We learned how to make sasara (bamboo props)
(Right) Masaru was allowed to dance with them in costume
The locals taught us in a very strict yet warm manner and conveyed to us their strong, passionate feelings towards their dance. Our connection with them has lasted since the days of our antecedent group Sado no Kuni Ondekoza. We will continue to treasure this relationship and dance this dance with dedication in the years to come, too.
Thank you Kanatsu-ryu Yanagawa Shishi Odori members!
(Photos: Kenta Nakagome)
“Setting off on Tour” by Jun Jidai
We loaded our suitcases onto the bus and set off on the fall “Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery” Japan tour, farewelled by the sound of taiko.
Since last December, we have been touring all over Japan with this production, making an array of adjustments to refine the “Mystery” programme more and more. This will be the last “Mystery” tour in Japan. I wonder what encounters await me on this tour. I am so excited!
First stop is Hokkaido! I’m looking forward to the local food up there!
See you all at one of the theaters on this tour!
Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery” Sep.-Oct. Japan Tour
“Cast No Dirt in the Well that Gives You Water” by Tetsumi Hanaoka
We cleaned our dormitory at Kodo Village just before we set off on tour!
As the saying goes, “Cast no dirt in the well that gives you water”: We will be away for one and half months, so we all worked together to leave our place clean and tidy. Now, we all feel refreshed, too! We will do our very best to present great performances for our audiences. So, please, please come along to see “Kodo One Earth Tour: Mystery”!
“Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery” Sep.–Oct. Japan Tour
“Rehearsals for New Production ‘Eternity'” by Yosuke Kusa
“Kodo One Earth Tour: Eternity” Rehearsals
Rehearsals have been going well for our new production, “Eternity,” which premieres at the end of this year.
The sun rises, the wind blows, rain falls, and the stars appear in the still of night.
Since ancient times, nature has created repetitive patterns that this production will express on stage, through the sensibilities of Tamasaburo Bando and our own senses gained through life on Sado Island.
“Eternity” debuts on Sado Island on Nov. 20 and will tour throughout Japan. We look forward to sharing it with you all!
Photos: Takashi Okamoto
“Kodo One Earth Tour: Eternity”
Nov. 20 (Thu) Amusement Sado, Sado Is., Niigata
Nov. 30 (Sun) City Hall Plaza “Aore Nagaoka,” Nagaoka, Niigata
–”Heartbeat Project” Special Version–
Dec. 2 (Tue) Muza Kawasaki Symphony Hall, Kawasaki, Kanagawa
Dec. 4 (Thu) Aichi Prefectural Arts Theater Concert Hall, Nagoya, Aichi
Dec. 6 (Sat) & 7 (Sun) NHK Osaka Hall, Osaka City
Dec. 10 (Wed) Okayama Civic Hall, Okayama City
Dec. 12 (Fri) Ueno Gakuen Hall, Hiroshima City
Dec. 15 (Mon) & 16 (Tue) Hakataza Theater, Fukuoka City
Dec. 19 (Fri)–23 (Tue/Public Hol.) Bunkyo Civic Hall, Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo
Dec. 25 (Thu) Niigata Prefectural Civic Center, Niigata City
“Ogi Matsuri!” by Mitsuru Ishizuka
Aug. 29 Ogi Matsuri Daiko
Every year after Earth Celebration, the local festival “Ogi Matsuri” winds up the summer season.
During the festival, the Kodo members and apprentices take part by pulling a taiko cart around the streets of Ogi, going from house to house to play taiko as a sign of our appreciation to the townsfolk who look after us all year long.
Since I left the Kodo Village dormitory to live in Ogi, every year the Kodo cart also stops by my house to play taiko. As the thunderous roar of Kodo’s taiko gets closer and closer to my house, it makes my heart beat louder, and it’s a bit heartstopping, too… our sound certainly packs a punch!
In any case, our summer ended well again this year, thanks to everyone in Ogi. THANK YOU!!!
“Farewell Taiko” by Kenta Nakagome
Farewell Taiko on Aug. 25
Thank you very much for coming to Earth Celebration 2014. We had three days of feel-good performances surrounded by wonderful nature here on Sado Island.
We all went to the port to see the first ferry off after EC with heartfelt Okuri Daiko (“Farewell Taiko”), sincerely hoping to see you all again next year!
See you all again!
Photos: Mizuho Hasegawa
“‘Yamazu Megurumo’ Concerts” by Yoko Fujimoto
All the Kodo members are working very hard, preparing for Earth Celebration. So am I! I’m in the middle of rehearsals for the opening night performance!
But, I would like to take a moment now to let you all know about my upcoming activities.
“Yamazu Megurumo” Concerts
I am going to perform with local bluegrass musicians on Sado Island for the first time.
Their amazing sound and technique will create a new world for all the pieces on my CD “Yamazu Megurumo.” As the vocals entwine with their music, the songs will take on different colors and expressions. I will also add some other folksongs to the set list and I am going to have a really good time with their music!
Also, this will be the first time for me to have a chorus accompaniment at one of my concerts. I am planning a fun performance for you all, with lots of “firsts” and things I like, so please come along!
Yoko Fujimoto “Yamazu Megurumo” Concerts
Sep. 20 (Sat), 2014 Hotel Azuma, Aikawa, Sado Island, Niigata
Sep. 23 (Tue), 2014 Cafe Hitoha, Sawata, Sado Island, Niigata
http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20140920yoko_en.html
Kodo Online Store [CD] Yoko Fujimoto “Yamazu Megurumo”
“Inaba Wadaiko no Saiten” by Yoshikazu Fujimoto
Appearance at “Inaba Wadaiko no Saiten”
On August 10, Motofumi and I performed at “Inaba Wadaiko no Saiten” at Tottori Civic Hall. A typhoon had just passed by, but fortunately there wasn’t much rain and wind so the event went ahead as planned.
We took part as guest artists alongside nine taiko groups from Eastern Tottori and one taiko group from Osaka.
The performance ended with a fun collaboration where all the performers sang and played a famous Japanese song, “Furusato,” and a local folk song,”Kinanse-bushi” together. This was accompanied by one of Tottori’s traditional performing arts, “Kasa Odori,” an umbrella dance, which made for an exciting finale.
The audience was smaller than expected due to the typhoon, but performances were really amazing. I saw the first-half of the event from a seat in the audience and I felt a great connection between the audience and the stage. What’s more, it reminded me that it is not just taiko technique that moves people, but that simplicity is also key.
I would like to send a round of applause to all the performers and staff at “Inaba Wasaiko no Saiten.” Thank you for giving us the chance to appear at your event as guest artists.
The day before the event, I led a taiko and shinobue (bamboo flute) workshop. I was happy to receive this gift: my very own Kasa Odori,/span> umbrella. We took a commemorative photograph with Mr. Murakami, the director of the hall (left) and Mr. Misawa (2nd person from the right) from Oshu Taiko.
Yoshikazu Fujimoto, Motofumi Yamaguchi Guest Appearance at “Inaba Wadaiko no Saiten”
http://www.kodo.or.en/news/20140810inaba_en.html