Tag ‘Asakusa Performances’
“Looking Forward to the Asakusa Performances” by Tetsumi Hanaoka
This month, “Kodo One Earth Tour: Mystery” will give five performances at Asakusa Public Hall, from June 21 through 25. Last year I performed in back-to-back concerts in Asakusa during my first tour, “Legend.” One year has passed and I am really looking forward to the opportunity to show an even more powerful Kodo performance here this year!
This time, the production incorporates the great serpent dance from Iwami Kagura*, upheld in the Iwami Region of Shimane Prefecture. We have been learning this folk art since April 2013 through visits to Shimane and we spent a year creating the stage piece featuring the dance, Jamai.
*Kagura: dance and music for the kami, or deities
Our Iwami Kagura teacher Mr. Taizo Kobayashi, who also made the serpent heads for us to use on stage, said, “No matter how simple thing the task, it’s important to do it everyday and do it properly.” I took this advice for my daily habits, both on and off stage. I am striving everyday to make each performance better than the last. Please look out for Jamai on stage when you come to see “Mystery”!
Also, “Mystery” is filled with scenes of darkness. I think that mysterious things and darkness have a deep relationship. I experienced this living on Sado Island, for example when I saw Kodo Village by moonlight, far away from the lights of the township, or at the climax of a festival in the pale light of paper lanterns.
Darkness conjures fear at first glance, but mysterious things are created in such darkness. I hope you will come and watch, hear, and experience that kind of magical world in our performance of “Mystery.”
Photos: Takashi Okamoto
Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery
June 21 (Sat) – 25 (Wed) at Asakusa Public Hall, Tokyo
June 21 (Sat) 16:00
June 22 (Sun) 15:00
June 23 (Mon) 15:00
June 24 (Tue) 18:00
June 25 (Wed) 14:00
Doors open 30 min. prior to each performance.
All seats reserved. General 7,000 yen, Students (aged 6-24) 3,000 yen
◆Ticket Outlets◆
tvk Ticket Counter Tel. 0570-00-3117
Asakusa Public Hall Tel. 03-3844-7491
Ticket Pia Tel. 0570-02-9999
Ticket 6 (Roku) Tel. 03-5826-0315 (English assistance available)
“Asakusa by Night” by Naomi Iseki
This year, there will be one evening performance during the “Kodo One Earth Tour: Mystery” concerts in Asakusa, Tokyo. It’s on June 24th. It will commence at 6pm and conclude around 8pm.
The shops in Asakusa seem to shut earlier than they do in other areas. But even when it’s all closed up, it looks really beautiful here. Take some time after our evening performance to stroll through the streets and enjoy the echo of “Mystery” under the warm street lights.
Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery
June 21 (Sat) – 25 (Wed) at Asakusa Public Hall, Tokyo
June 21 (Sat) 16:00
June 22 (Sun) 15:00
June 23 (Mon) 15:00
June 24 (Tue) 18:00
June 25 (Wed) 14:00
Doors open 30 min. prior to each performance.
All seats reserved. General 7,000 yen, Students (aged 6-24) 3,000 yen
◆Ticket Outlets◆
tvk Ticket Counter Tel. 0570-00-3117
Asakusa Public Hall Tel. 03-3844-7491
Ticket Pia Tel. 0570-02-9999
Ticket 6 (Roku) Tel. 03-5826-0315 (English assistance available)
“Release of Promotional Video for Kodo ‘Legend'” by Kodo PR Team
A promotional video for new DVD Kodo “Legend” has just been created! This DVD is the recording of “Kodo One Earth Tour: Legend” at Asakusa Public Hall in 2013 and will go on sale on June 21.
Kodo Website | Kodo DVD “Legend” to go on sale June 21, 2014
Here is the video:
YouTube Link▼
http://youtu.be/VNBKj1Xxur0
“Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery” is currently on tour in Japan, so we hope you will enjoy “Mystery” live at a theater near you and “Legend” at home on DVD.
This DVD will go on sale on the first day of our performances in Asakusa this month, June 21, and will be available exclusively at Kodo performance venues and from the Kodo Online Store.
“Leading Up to the Asakusa Performances” by Tomohiro Mitome
June 1, 2014
This is Tomohiro Mitome, leader of taiko performing arts ensemble Kodo.
May on Sado Island brought us a mix of both hot, sweaty days and brisk, chilly days. I can now feel the gradual change from comfortable spring to the hot days of summer.
This month, I’m going to talk about our Asakusa performances.
Kodo held its first consecutive performances in Asakusa last year, and thanks to your support, this year we are heading back for a second year. When I think of Asakusa, the things that first come to mind are the festival “Sanja Matsuri,” which has been introduced on this blog, and a downtown area full of life all year round. Since the olden days, Asakusa has been home to rows of playhouses and movie theaters and one could say that Asakusa’s unique atmosphere comes from the Edo Period culture upheld in the area.
In Asakusa, there are many stores selling stage equipment and costumes, etc, and Kodo frequents the area for that reason. However, we also have a connection through Rokusuke Ei, who hails from Asakusa and was one of the key people involved in the founding of Kodo’s antecedent group, Sado no Kuni Ondekoza. In 1982, soon after Kodo began, we joined Rokusuke Ei on stage at Asakusa Public Hall for a performance called “‘Ei Rokusuke + Kodo’ Nagesen Kogyo” (lit. “‘Rokusuke Ei + Kodo’ Coin Toss Entertainment”). This was Mr. Ei’s venture, programme, and artistic direction, which had no set outline at all and featured the members of Kodo on stage playing taiko, dancing and singing on Mr. Ei’s command.
Time went by, then in 2013, Kodo performed at Asakusa Public Hall again for the first time in 30 years. “Kodo One Earth Tour: Legend” had toured for over a year and we received a great response to holding the domestic finale as four consecutive concerts in Asakusa.
June 2013 “Kodo One Earth Tour: Legend” Asakusa Performances
Asakusa is one of Japan’s iconic sightseeing areas that attracts tourists from around the world. It is centered around historic Senso-ji Temple, the shopping street leading up to the temple, and Kaminarimon Gate, but along with the opening of Tokyo Skytree, in recent years there has been noticeable expansion in new movements to develop the town. The area is also drawing attention as a new center for entertainment.
We hope you will join us in Asakusa to thoroughly enjoy the timeless charm of this area’s history and culture, to feel the flow of time from the past to the present, and to see “Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery” at Asakusa Public Hall. We are sure you will enjoy the different feel this area brings to our performances.
Asakusa is a place where an array of performing arts and performers are both born and cultivated. By holding a series of performances here each year, we hope that Kodo will receive guidance and encouragement from a wide range of people and their support for many years to come. We also sincerely hope that our performances in Asakusa will help in some way to maintain the prosperity of Asakusa’s culture.
We are looking forward to seeing you for Kodo in Asakusa.
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
“The Second Day at Sanja Matsuri in Asakusa” by Naomi Iseki
The Second Day at Sanja Matsuri
Each portable shrine (mikoshi) was purified at Asakusa Shrine and then carried out into the town of Asakusa.
The costume is different for each district, so the atmosphere is also different.
The local children were doing their best, too!
I came across the portable shrines wherever I went.
It was such an exciting day for the locals carrying the portable shrines, and for spectators like me, too!
“First Night at Sanja Matsuri in Asakusa” by Naomi Iseki
I also went to see the festival Sanja Matsuri at night on the first day.
The six portable shrines that were in front of Asakusa Public Hall came and went through Kaminarimon Gate.
Here comes a tengu, a long‐nosed goblin! His gold eyes are so striking.
The lanterns on the portable shrines were lit up at night and it was very beautiful.
And there were people, people and more people! The festival is in full swing!
Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery
[June 21-25 Kodo Asakusa Performances]
“First Day of Sanja Matsuri in Asakusa” by Naomi Iseki
Six portable shrines lined up in front of Asakusa Public Hall. I was not able to fit them all into one picture to show you, but I can assure you that a still photo wouldn’t do the passion and power justice!
It was my first time to see Senso-ji Temple’s large censer (vessel for burning incense) moved from where it always stands.
Inside Asakusa Shrine, three big portable shrines were waiting for their own turn.
The festival will continue tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, so I am getting more and more excited!
Safety first! They’ve prepared the area perfectly!
“Lanterns for Asakusa’s Sanja Matsuri” by Naomi Iseki
May 12, 2014
The other day, I saw a lot of lanterns and imitation flowers on a trolley. In Asakusa, it is probably much easier to go from store to store with a trolley than with a car.
They are put up like this in front of the houses as decorations for the festival.
The festival, Sanja Matsuri, is this weekend! I can’t wait!
“Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery” 5 Days of Performances in Asakusa! (June 21-25)
“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.