Exploring the limitless possibilities of the traditional Japanese drum, the taiko, Kodo is forging new directions for a vibrant living art-form.
When I look at this tree, I wonder how it got so big all of a sudden. Ten years ago when I first started working for Kodo, it was still quite fragile-looking. Now it creates such solid shade.
I heard that this Japanese zelkova (keyaki) tree was planted in March 2001. So this year marks the tree’s 17th summer.
We launched some new Kodo goods this month!
Kodo T-shirt (Blue logo)
This new Kodo tee features a cool blue print for summer!
Order here: http://kodo.shop.multilingualcart.com/index_en_jpy_1.html
Kodo Towel
Check out this new scarf-style towel! It’s a must-have for hot summer days and sports or taiko practice.
Order here: http://kodo.shop.multilingualcart.com/goods_en_jpy_104.html
Kodo Die-Cut Stand-Up Memo Cards
These stand-up memo cards feature cut-out illustrations of signature Kodo performance pieces.
Order here: http://kodo.shop.multilingualcart.com/goods_en_jpy_105.html
These new items will be snapped up quickly, so order yours today to avoid missing out. The towel and memo cards are brand new products, so they’ll make the perfect surprise gift for your favorite Kodo fan or a nice treat for yourself.
All the products in this blog post and more are available at July 2017 “Spirited Summer” performances (cash sales), Sado Island Taiko Centre, and Kodo Online Store in English and Japanese.
June 22, 2017
Our School Workshop-Performance tour is currently visiting elementary schools in Niigata City. After performing at one school this morning, the Kodo members arrived at the next school for the afternoon performance. Just when they were about to begin loading in and setting up for the next performance, the teacher in charge said, “First, here’s an arrival drink!” and gave everyone a bottle of chilled tea. On a hot day, we truly appreciated their great hospitality.
Everyone was touched to read the handwritten message and felt recharged by the nice cold drink. The card reads:
“Dear Kodo,
Thank you for coming today.
Here is some cold tea for you to enjoy.”
It was a great boost before the afternoon performance.
■The current School Workshop-Performance tour cast is:
Yuichiro Funabashi, Yosuke Oda, Shogo Komatsuzaki, Mizuki Yoneyama, Issei Kohira, Yuki Hirata, Chihiro Watanabe
June 16, 2017
Hello, everyone! This is Kengo Watanabe. It has been a while since my last Kodo Blog post.
Yesterday we arrived in Sakata City in Yamagata Prefecture. I visited Sankyo Soko, a rice storehouse that was built in 1893. It is still used today.
I also saw these great Japanese zelkova (keyaki) trees all in a row.
Today we have our final performance of Kodo Premium Concert “An Invitation from Tamasaburo Bando into the World of Kodo.” I look forward to seeing everyone at the theater!
Kodo Premium Concert “An Invitation from Tamasaburo Bando into the World of Kodo”
On Friday June 16, I went to see the School Workshop-Performance tour in Niigata City where they are currently visiting elementary schools. Kodo gives regular performances at the many schools there.
I went to see our tour at an elementary school that is 10km from Niigata Station. I decided to rent a bicycle to go there. I don’t know what I was thinking… it was further than I thought. I should have known it would be tough on a bike with a basket and no gears. On the way back, I took the easy route by getting a lift back in the Kodo truck. (lol)
Ask any young person who went to school in Niigata City if they have seen Kodo and most of them will say that they have, at least once. That is largely thanks to Kodo’s Eiichi Saito and Kazuki Imagai and their efforts since our School Workshop-Performances began some twenty years ago. To visit all the schools in the city requires a morning and afternoon performance each day, at different schools each day. That means fitting ten performances into five days each week. With such a tight schedule, it’s important that everyone is as organized as possible to ensure smooth, good performances. To make sure that not even a minute is wasted, the preparation for the tour includes detailed meetings about loading in and out of each venue and then the cast and crew carry out simulations of how each day and situation will go.
On Friday afternoon, the end of the school week! The kids were so lively!
The School Workshop-Performance requires a lot of stamina, so the physical power of young Kodo members is essential for this tour. Currently there are three junior members on the tour and every day they are giving it their all. They have been on the road for one month now and since I last saw them at a run-through rehearsal on Sado, the young members have all grown in leaps and bounds. Every day as I learn I am reminded that the more you grow, the more you realize exactly what you still lack. The junior members still receive a lot of critiques from the senior members, and I’m sure they are being stretched to their limits. But now that I am a bit more senior myself, I can see that they are growing more than they may think. The senior members know if they praise the junior members too much they won’t improve, so they make sure they don’t give them too much praise. (LOL)
During my visit, I saw my fellow Kodo members all working diligently to better themselves and the performance. Regardless of seniority, they all worry, suffer, work hard, and enjoy themselves. I think they are all really valuable to Kodo.
Keep up that spirit, School Workshop-Performance team! Do your best!
The children flocked to the cast members after the performance for autographs. I hope they will come to see Kodo perform when they grow up, too. We’ll be waiting for you!
