Tag ‘Takao Aoki’
“Project Funded! Thank You All for Your Generous Support!” by Hirofumi Uenoyama
Project Funded！
Thank You All for Your Generous Support!
We are pleased to announce that our crowdfunding project to help share the story of Kodo’s first 30 years and before, “Inochi Moyashite Tatakeyo,” with libraries all over Japan was successfully funded.
https://readyfor.jp/projects/inochi_moyashite_tatakeyo
Takao Aoki, President of Kitamaesen Co., Ltd.
I asked Takao Aoki, president of Kodo’s management company, Kitamaesen Co., Ltd., to choose some episodes from the book to share with you all. The book is only available in Japanese, so in English, we will share some of the main points through the photos below.
“Early in 1987, we got the shocking news that Kodo’s leader, Toshio Kawauchi (who we all called ‘Hancho’) had died in an accident in the Philippines. I took over the management of the group suddenly and every time I wasn’t sure what to do, I asked myself: What would Hancho do in this situation?”
“We forged ahead to realize Hancho’s vision of building a base on Sado Island for Kodo with a main building, living quarters, and rehearsal hall. Kodo needed a place to put down roots while traveling the world, to maintain balance between touring and home. I decided that it was important to carry out this vision, even if it was one step at a time.”
“This photo was taken in August 1988 at the concert we held at the opening of Kodo Village. In 1992, we built our rehearsal hall on the foundations seen in the foreground below the concert stage.”
Mr. Aoki took over the reigns from Kodo’s first managing director, Toshio Kawauchi (Hancho), and has been steering Kodo forward ever since, one step at a time.
Kodo Group Portrait, New Year 2015
Mr. Aoki says, “I want Kodo to exist in 100 years from now, in 200 years from now… and at the heart of Kodo, there will always be people who play taiko earnestly. That is something we will always hold dear.”
■Online Fundraising Final Total for “Inochi Moyashite, Tatakeyo.” Project (as of May. 16)
711,000 yen (Goal: 500,000 yen) = 142% funded
We raised more than our goal, which means we can share more books with more libraries around Japan!
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT, EVERYONE!
“Inochi Moyashite, Tatakeyo.” Project
http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20150316readyfor_en.html
“Inochi Moyashite, Tatakeyo.” Project (Japanese)
http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20150316readyfor_ja.html