Tag ‘Mitsuru Ishizuka’
“‘DADAN’ in Tarragona” by Mitsuru Ishizuka
July 12, 2014
We came to Tarragona today, it took us two hours to get here by bus this morning.
Here is the entrance of the theater. What awaits us inside?
We were greeted by a loading route somewhat like a suspension bridge. We had to load all our equipment in along this route, ducking between the trees along the way.
It took us all the way to this amazing outdoor stage!
Behind the stage, you can see the castle-like walls of the city, which was built in ancient Roman times. Tarragona has been designated as a World Heritage Site and we get to perform in front of this gorgeous backdrop.
The junior members, for whom this will be their third performance, were stunned by this situation but they are doing their best!
This stage is outside in the middle of the town, so during our rehearsal we heard chiming church bells, the sound of fireworks at a weekend event, sirens from police cars, etc, etc, and we were worried, wondering what sounds would ring out during our performance. But thanks to the audience’s superb concentration, we weren’t aware of any other noises at all. I was both appreciative and moved by this fact while I was performing. Thank you!
Tomorrow we have a day off in Tarragona. I will go to see the World Heritage sites!
Kodo “DADAN” Spain & France Performances
http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20140709dadan_en.html
Kodo Online Store: EC 2014 Towel on Sale Now!
The new EC 2014 towel is on sale now!
EC Towel (Shown by Mitsuru Ishizuka)
Buy an EC towel and bring it to Shiroyama Concerts with you! Let’s have fun in the summer heat together!
EC 2014 – EC Towel http://www.kodo.or.jp/store/159_1443.html
For orders in English, please contact the Kodo Online Store by email.
Email: store.eng@kodo.or.jp
Earth Celebration 2014 Official Goods http://www.kodo.or.jp/store/157.html
Kodo Online Store http://kodo.shop.multilingualcart.com/
■ Kodo Online Store Summer Limited Operation Period
The Kodo Online Store will have a limited operation period from August 1 (Fri) – August 31 (Sun). Shipping may be delayed during this time. Thank you in advance for your patience.
■ EC Official Goods are on Sale Now
Kodo Online Store will accept EC 2014 official goods orders until August 9 (Sat), including phone & fax orders.
First-in, first-served, so don’t delay! Order your EC goods today!
“DADAN’s in Spain!” by Mitsuru Ishizuka
July 7, 2014
DADAN’s in Spain!
We, the “DADAN” members, took three connecting flights and safely made it to Spain! Our first destination is Oviedo, a beautiful town in the north-west of Spain. We are going to the theater to start setting up this evening.
New pieces, new members… there are a lot of new elements in this new DADAN! I hope the people in Spain enjoy it!
But, first of all, we have to get over our jetlag!
Kodo “DADAN” Spain & France Performances
http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20140709dadan_en.html
“First Performance Day of the Tour” by Mitsuru Ishizuka
Today is May 16, the first day of performances for the spring “Workshop Performance” tour!
Today we have two performances in Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture. We are presenting a special programme, which includes “Heartbeat Project” piece Island of the Shining Sun.
Now, we are resting between the first and second performances. It was raining this morning and the humidity has made the tone of the hiraoke odaiko (flat, roped big drum) quite low, so we are going to retune it tightly, ready for the second performance!
May 16 (Fri), 2014 Kodo Workshop Performance in Ishinomaki, Miyagi
May 25 (Sun), 2014 Kodo Workshop Performance & Taiko Clinic (Tokai, Aichi)
June 15 (Sun), 2014 Kodo Appearance at “CoCoLo Early Summer Festa” (Niigata City)
Kodo Website | Heartbeat Project
“It’s Almost Time for the Workshop Performance Tour!” by Mitsuru Ishizuka
Last week, we practiced hard for the coming Workshop Performances.
Two new junior members, Ryoma Tsurumi & Ryosuke Inada have joined our cast and the performance has become even more powerful. We will perform some new pieces that we have never played on the “One Earth Tour” stage. We look forward to seeing you at one of the public performance venues!
I will lead a “Taiko Clinic” workshop in Tokai, which is junior member Ryoma’s hometown.
May 16 (Fri), 2014 Kodo Workshop Performance (Ishinomaki, Miyagi)
May 24 (Sat), 2014 Taiko Clinic (Workshops) (Tokai, Aichi)
May 25 (Sun), 2014 Kodo Workshop Performance (Tokai, Aichi)
June 15 (Sun), 2014 Kodo Appearances “CoCoLo Early Summer Festa” (Niigata City)
“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)
“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
“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!