Tag ‘Mystery’
“Shishimai” by Kosuke Urushikubo
Shishimai
For our production “Kodo One Earth Tour: Mystery,” which is currently on tour, Kodo has arranged various regional folk performing arts for the stage, including the serpent dance Jamai and the demon-like beings known as Namahage.
Another folk art featured is a Japanese lion dance, Shishimai, and I am in charge of moving the lion’s head for this piece. Shishimai is found at festivals all over Japan and the style varies from place to place. For example, regional differences can include the number of people inside the lion, the expression of the lion’s face, the patterns on the lion’s body, and the movements of the lion.
I had never experienced Shishimai firsthand because there wasn’t a local festival with a lion dance where I grew up, so for this production I had to study about it. I watch the video recording after each performance to check how the dance went. I look to see how I can move the lion’s head, with its static facial expression, to make the audience feel its emotions and also how this lion is reacting and interacting each time with the female performers it meets on stage.
The spring tour of “Mystery” will continue until July 19.
I look forward to seeing you all at one of the theaters nationwide!
“Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery” Asakusa Performances
June 21 (Sat) – 25 (Wed) Asakusa Public Hall, Tokyo
▼About the Performance
Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery
▼Performance Dates & Times
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
▼Ticket Outlets
Asakusa Public Hall Tel. 03-3844-7491
tvk Ticket Counter Tel. 0570-00-3117 http://tvkcom.net/
“Asakusa Performances: Collecting Donations for a New Folk Performing Arts Center” by Michiko Chida
From June 21-25, during the “Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery” Asakusa performances, we are asking people to help raise funds to build the Urahama Folk Performing Arts Center (Urahama Minzoku Geino Denshokan).
About Fundraising for Urahama Folk Performing Arts Center (in Japanese)
Please donate to the Urahama Folk Performing Arts Center Construction Fund and help build a new base for the folk arts in an area affected by the Tohoku Pacific Earthquake.
Urahama Nenbutsu Kenbai (sword dance) and Urahama Shishi Odori (deer dance), two traditional performing arts upheld in the Okirai area of Sanriku in Ofunato City, were seriously affected by the damaging 2011 Tohoku Pacific Earthquake. The equipment for Shishi Odori barely remained, but all the equipment and the base for Nenbutsu Kenbai was lost. Even though they have kept their spirits up, it must have been hard for the people there to see a way forward through this dark situation these past three years.
Urahama Shishi Odori with Kanatsu-ryu Yanagawa Shishi Odori at the Earth Celebration 2008
Last January, the people of Urahama decided to build a folk performing arts center as a base for their traditional performing arts. This facility is their pledge to hand the wonderful regional folk arts, which cultivate their area, down to future generations: it is their vow to not be beaten by the disaster. They have great confidence in the power of traditional folk arts and they are working hard and enthusiastically, encouraging people involved with folk arts in other areas to follow their lead.
Their base was washed away by the tsunami, so they had to keep their equipment in a storage container next to the leader’s house. (Photo from Feb. 2014)
One of the reasons why Kodo wants to help them is that Urahama Shishi Odori is a part of Kanatsuryu Yanagawa Shishi Odori, who have been teaching Shishi Odori to Kodo since 1980. We have the same masters and same dance style, so we are like brothers. Actually, in 2008 some of the Urahama Shishi Odori members joined Kanatsuryu Yanagawa Shishi Odori to perform at our festival on Sado Island, “Earth Celebration.”
All the equipment is currently kept in an unsuitable environment. The new building needs to be built as soon as possible.
The Center will be built using personal funds and grants, and also requires 10,000,000 yen in donations to make up the remainder. From January to May, they collected more than half of this amount, but they still need 3,000,000 yen to reach their goal. They are almost there!
The basic amount they are requesting for bank donations is 10,000 yen or more. By donating this amount, your name will be displayed in the Center when it is completed. Kodo has put collection boxes in the exhibition corner at Asakusa Public Hall during the “Mystery” performances, which welcome donations large or small. Thank you in advance for your kind support.
Under the Heartbeat Project, Kodo is supporting the fundraising campaign to build the Urahama Folk Performing Arts Center. We would really appreciate your support and generosity.
“Mystery” by Koki Miura
I think that one of the highlights in “Kodo One Earth Tour: Mystery” is the lion dance, Shishimai. The head is operated by Kosuke Urushikubo, who was an apprentice with me.
To sum it up in one word, it’s “cute.”
When you think of a lion dance in Japan, it may conjure images of a valiant beast dancing at a festival… but this Shishimai is a little different to that… or perhaps it’s quite different?
Please come along and see how Kosuke’s Shishimai interacts with the four female performers on stage.
Another piece to watch for Ajara, which I perform with Tetsumi Hanaoka, who is one year my senior, and Jun Jidai, who was an apprentice with me. In fact, the three of us have known each other since our high school days, so we know & understand each other very well. I would like to show you our trio’s synchronization in this piece. I think you’ll also enjoy seeing the performers operate the lighting under the new artistic direction of this piece!
“Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery” Asakusa Performances
June 21 (Sat) – 25 (Wed) Asakusa Public Hall, Tokyo
▼About the Performance
Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery
▼Performance Dates & Times
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
▼Ticket Outlets
Asakusa Public Hall Tel. 03-3844-7491
tvk Ticket Counter Tel. 0570-00-3117 http://tvkcom.net/
“Getting Ready for the ‘Mystery’ Performances in Asakusa!” by Narumi Matsuda
June 21, 2014
This photo shows the Kodo members and stage crew setting up for the “Mystery” performance.
Now the stage is all set! We hope to see you at Asakusa Public Hall.
“Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery” Asakusa Performances
June 21 (Sat) – 25 (Wed) Asakusa Public Hall, Tokyo
▼About the Performance
Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery
▼Performance Dates & Times
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
▼Ticket Outlets
Asakusa Public Hall Tel. 03-3844-7491
tvk Ticket Counter Tel. 0570-00-3117 http://tvkcom.net/
Kodo Online Store: Kodo DVD “Legend” Now on Sale at Asakusa Public Hall
June 21, 2013
Kodo DVD “Legend” (recorded live in Asakusa in June 2013) went on sale today! You can purchase it at Asakusa Public Hall during our “Mystery” performances over the next five days. The first 100 people (first-come, first-served!) who buy this DVD at Asakusa Public Hall will receive a special gift: a postcard autographed by the three O-daiko performers featured in the “Legend” DVD.
“Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery” May-July 2014 Tour Schedule
Kodo DVD “Legend”
http://kodo.shop.multilingualcart.com/goods_en_jpy_76.html
Kodo Online Store http://kodo.shop.multilingualcart.com/
June 21-25: Five Performances at Asakusa Public Hall!
“Kodo One Earth Tour: Mystery”
June 21-25: Five Back-to-Back Performances at Asakusa Public Hall
Our current tour began in Kagoshima and has been going really well. We are now at the halfway mark of this tour and this week we are back in Asakusa for the second year in a row. Last year we held four performances here and this year we’ve increased it to five. The Kodo members are strolling the streets of Asakusa to see what catches their eye this time. We hope you’ll all come to see our performances and enjoy sightseeing, shopping, and meals in Asakusa while you are here.
For ticket orders in English, please call Ticket 6 (Roku) Tel. 03-5826-0315
Not many seats left for June 21 & 22!
Exhibition Introducing Kodo’s Activities / Taiko Experience Corner
1F Exhibition Hall, Asakusa Public Hall
June 21 (Sat) – 25 (Wed) 10:00 – 18:00 (Finishes at 17:00 on final day)
Our exhibition will feature panels introducing Kodo’s activities, information about the Kodo Apprentice Centre, and a corner with Kodo-related video footage on display. We want to make this a space in Asakusa where you can feel the atmosphere of Sado Island. You may encounter sides of Kodo you never knew about before. There will be a corner with taiko on display and we’ll be holding some mini taiko experience sessions there, too!
2013 Live Asakusa Performance of “Legend” on DVD Available at Venue from June 21
The first 100 customers to buy DVD “Legend” at Asakusa Public Hall will receive a special gift: a postcard signed by the three featured O-daiko performers!
Kodo DVD “Legend” – On sale from June 21, 2014
Did somebody mention a surprise?
Come and see around 3pm on June 21 at Asakusa Public Hall!
“Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery” Asakusa Performances
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 Shogo Komatsuzaki
Asakusa
The scent of Japanese traditions from the good old days and craftsmen at work never fades in Asakusa. Brimming with life, pumping with a never-ending flow of people, it’s like a festival every day in this town. Last year when I came to perform in Asakusa for the first time, I felt a kind of culture shock in this constantly-bustling downtown hub.
The main shopping street in Asakusa that leads up to Senso-ji Temple is jam-packed with people every day, so it made me wonder why this town is so lively and why it attracts so many people. I think it’s thanks to the strong, passionate hearts of the locals of Asakusa, who take pride in the town’s cultural heritage, traditional arts and local specialty goods and both uphold and hand down those traditions with versatility.
The people of Asakusa have tremendous confidence and pride in their town and they are constantly thinking and passionately talking about the future of Asakusa. By meeting these people, I reaffirmed that people’s hearts uphold traditions, connect people, and bring people together. I felt really grateful to learn that it’s people like this welcoming Kodo to Asakusa. I really want many others to feel those hopes for the future of Asakusa through Kodo’s performances here.
This year is the second time for Kodo to hold consecutive performances here, and I think that “Mystery,” with its nostalgic atmosphere, truly suits the feel of the Asakusa township. Our performance is live, so I’m really looking forward to seeing how Asakusa and “Mystery” will come together and how the performances will be received by our audiences. We will do our utmost to let you experience a “Mystery” that is unique to Asakusa, so please come along!
On a more personal note, I love Asakusa’s Senso-ji Temple and shopping street by night. You might hear the sound of “Mystery” around here from this weekend…
“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)
“Performance in Kashiwazaki, Niigata” by Mitsunaga Matsuura
June 8, 2014
Performance in Kashiwazaki, Niigata
I met up with the cast and crew of “Kodo One Earth Tour: Mystery” at their Kashiwazaki performance. I hadn’t seen this team in a month, but they were all well and working hard. They received a lot of warm applause from the audience members there.
Their next performance is on June 9 in Uonuma. It’s the last performance of “Mystery” in Niigata Prefecture, so don’t miss it!
“Thank You for Joining Us in Kyoto City!” by Kodo PR Team
“Mystery” Performances at Minami-za Kabuki Theater, Kyoto
For three days, from May 30 through June 1, we held back-to-back performances of “Kodo One Earth Tour: Mystery” at Minami-za Kabuki Theater in Kyoto. Thank you very much to everyone who came along!
The audience applauded for 5 encores! During the final one, the cast performed on the hanamichi, the long runway-like section of the stage found in Kabuki theaters.
Before the performances at Minami-za, we held special taiko workshops. Eiichi Saito was the instructor and so many people wanted to take part. The participants and the audience all got really excited by the games they played with taiko during the on-stage, pre-concert workshops.
Tomorrow, on June 4, we have a performance in Ayabe, Kyoto Prefecture. We look forward to seeing everyone there, too!
Mystery Performance at Chutan Bunka Kaikan, Ayabe, Kyoto (June 4)
http://www.kodo.or.jp/oet/20140604a_en.html