Posts by Kodo Members
“Today at Ryugon!” by Mitsuru Ishizuka
Mar. 28, 2014
The “School Workshop Performance” team is back in Niigata Prefecture. Tonight we are performing in a dinner show at Ryugon, one of the top three traditional hot-spring inns in Japan!
This will be our fifth consecutive year here. Of course we want the audience members to enjoy themselves, but it is also like a dream for us as performers to come here, soak in the hot springs, eat delicious foods and play taiko together.
This year our performance will also include a collaboration with Niigata-based shamisen player Fumiyoshi, so the program will feature a range of music! I can’t wait for tonight!
▼Rehearsals for the Ryugon Performance
http://www.kodo.or.jp/blog/staff/20140306_635.html
Kodo Website: Kodo Performance at Performance at Traditional Japanese Inn “Ryugon”
http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20140328ryugon_ja.html
“Matsurine 2014” by Tomohiro Mitome
The third annual “Matsurine” performance was a roaring success.
The title of the concert literally means “Festival Sound” and it was held at Tokyo’s Sogetsu Hall. The sound of taiko and the shouts from the audience turned the concert into a Japanese festival, as the name intended.
March 23 (Sun) Kodo Guest Appearance “Matsurine 2014”
“Today’s Rehearsal for “Art Music Japan” by Kenta Nakagome
Today we had a run-through rehearsal for “Art Music Japan.”
I’ll be playing the o-daiko for the first time in a while!
There’s a lot of energetic pieces…
… if you’re going to come along, you should be excited!
April 5 (Sat), 2014
Kodo Appearance at “Art Mix Japan 2014”
Ryutopia – Niigata Shimin Geijutsu Bunka Kaikan Theater, Niigata City
“Rehearsals for Matsurine 2014” by Tomohiro Mitome
We had rehearsals for this month’s upcoming “Matsurine” concert. This is going to be our third time appearing with Miyakejima Geino Doshikai for their concert and when we join forces, it really takes our power to another level. We are really looking forward to joining them on stage!
Mar. 23 (Sun) Kodo Guest Appearance “Matsurine 2014”
(SOLD OUT)
“Kiyohime on Sado in Deep Winter” by Chieko Kojima
Hi, this is Chieko Kojima.
I am making a photograph portfolio of “Kiyohime” from the story “Dojoji” using the scenery of the four seasons on Sado Island. The photographer is Maiko Miyagawa, who has been taking pictures of Kodo at the Earth Celebration and of my “Yukiahi” work, etc. I am shy with new people, so I can feel at ease when I’m photographed by Maiko, who is warm and relaxed. But, the pictures all came out so cool looking.
First, here’s the winter version.
It had been fine like spring just before the shoot day, but then, it became the coldest day on Sado Island for the shoot, not by plan. I would like to share some of the pictures from our do-or-die winter photo shoot.
If you know Sado only in summer, please, come and visit sometime in the middle of winter.
Stairs at Seisuiji Temple
“The School Workshop Tour is Heading Off!” by Mitsuru Ishizuka [Mar. 1, 2014]
It’s a month since the “Kodo One Earth Tour: Legend” team left Sado. We, the School Workshop Performance team have been practicing hard and now it’s time for us to set off on our first tour for the year, too! Our first performance is at the “Sado City 10th Anniversary Memorial Ceremony”
A lot of sweat and tears have gone into our rehearsals this winter, which will make this tour all the more powerful and fun!
Off we go!
“From Wachi, Kyoto” by Yoko Fujimoto
The Yura River that runs below our house in Wachi is a beautiful green, clean stream. But Yoshikazu Fujimoto says that it was remarkably more beautiful before they built dams on it.
Here’s some stories from our life in Wachi from late January onwards.
Yoshikazu always walks for an hour everyday along the road around the mountain by the river. Recently, I’ve been walking there everyday for 50 minutes. Yoshikazu sees monkeys almost everyday. I haven’t encountered any yet. Apparently they make fun of females and do bad things to them, so I don’t want to meet any!
The runner in this photo isn’t a monkey.
Sometimes when he sees one on the road, he greets them by saying hello or hey there.
“Performances at Theatre du Chatelet” by Yosuke Inoue
“Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Legend” Performances
We had five performances in a week at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France. On the day before the first concert there, we had a full dress rehearsal. At this performance, the press, staff, their families saw us perform, and it was mainly an audience of people who are familiar with Japanese drums.
They really liked our performance!
Thanks to their reaction, the papers and word of mouth that resulted led to our five performances being almost full-houses. We received a lot of applause and the performances were really fulfilling.
The staff at the Chatelet were very good humoured, took an interest in Kodo, and we are grateful that they enjoyed having us there to perform.
“Hana no Utena no Sado Jowa” Yoko Fujimoto
Yoko Fujimoto Concert
Terakoya Tasuku Bunko 10th Anniversary “Hana no Utena no Sado Jowa”
Mr. and Mrs. Yamamoto, who have been supporters of Kodo for a long time, invited me to give a performance to celebrate the anniversary for their private library, “Terakoya Tasuku.” I will share a nostalgic, enjoyable, fun, bittersweet and mysterious world of songs with everyone who attends. Please join us!
Now, it’s almost spring. I am trying to arrange my schedule to perform in many places, starting from this venue.
I look forward to seeing you on Sado or somewhere else soon, so I’m planning various opportunities to sing, with excited vigor at times and soothing tones at others.
April 26 (Sat), 2014 Start: 15:00
Terakoya Tasuku Bunko, Sado Island, Niigata
Performance Details: http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20140426yoko_ja.html
“Dadan Dojo” by Kenta Nakagome
This week we are rehearsing the basics, all week!
*July 2014 Kodo “Dadan” Performances
This production gains power with each performance season. This non-stop, full-power drumming spectacle will tour in Europe this summer and performances are being planned in Spain and in Lyon, France. Details will be announced on the Kodo website when available.