Oct 13 (Fri), 2017 / Last updated : Oct 13 (Fri), 2017 melanie Posts by Members, ,

“Kodo Interactive Performance in Mitaka on Oct. 7” by Kenta Nakagome

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On Oct. 7, we welcomed the Myojo Gakuen Wadaiko Club to perform as our special guest at the “Kodo Interactive Performance” at Mitaka City Public Hall in Tokyo. Myojo Gakuen is the alma mater of cast member Kenta Nakagome. Here is a message Kenta wrote in the lead up to the performance.

All of a sudden, thirteen years have passed since I graduated from high school.

I look back and wonder how I felt back then when I played taiko.
I went to Myojo Gakuen because I wanted to play taiko, and naturally that is the reason I moved to Sado Island, too.

I wonder how the current wadaiko club sounds,

and I wonder how Kodo’s performance and sound will resonate with them.

I am happy to be able to return to this familiar place to play taiko.

I hope everyone who joins us there will enjoy the unique sound we create together with our drums and hearts.

I am looking forward to it.

Kenta Nakagome

Kodo Interactive Performance 2017 with Guest Appearance by Myojo Gakuen Wadaiko ClubOct. 7 (Sat), 2017 Mitaka City Public Hall, Mitaka, Tokyo

Sep 9 (Sat), 2017 / Last updated : Sep 9 (Sat), 2017 melanie Posts by Members, , , ,

“Shishi Hair Whip” by Kengo Watanabe

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When I joined Kodo, I never imagined I would be given the chance to wear kumadori stage makeup or perform the traditional hair whip (kefuri) shown in the photo above! When I appear on stage in the role of shishi (beast), I perform each and every hair whip with great care.

Photo: Takashi Okamoto

Tamasaburo Bando x Kodo Special Performance “Yugen” (Japan)

Sep 4 (Mon), 2017 / Last updated : Sep 4 (Mon), 2017 melanie Kodo Blog, , ,

“Our Local Festival ‘Ogi Minato Matsuri'” by Ryotaro Leo Ikenaga

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Kodo is based in Ogi on Sado Island. On Aug. 26, the town of Ogi held its annual festival.

The Kodo Group came together to take part in the festival. We spent the day showing our appreciation to the people of Ogi by hauling our cart from door to door to play taiko for everyone.

Thank you for everything, Ogi!

After the festival, it’s time for us to head back out on tour again.
My next destination is Hakataza Theater in Fukuoka for “Yugen”!

Tamasaburo Bando x Kodo Special Performance “Yugen” (Japan)

Aug 31 (Thu), 2017 / Last updated : Aug 31 (Thu), 2017 melanie Kodo Blog, , , ,

“Join Me for My ‘Body & Soul Taiko Workshops'” by Yoshikazu Fujimoto

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We thoroughly enjoyed “Earth Celebration 2017” thanks to great people and good weather. Thank you very much to everyone who came along! I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you.

The photo below was taken at the “Living, Learning, Creating” exhibition that Kodo’s Yosuke Kusa curated at EC 2017. My handmade drumsticks were part of the display.


The three pairs of bachi (drumsticks) from the left side of the photo (o-daiko bachi, shime-daiko bachi, Yatai-bayashi bachi) are all my handiwork. Further along to the right are bachi made by Kodo’s Tomohiro Mitome, Yuichiro Funabashi, and Kenta Nakagome. Everyone who came to this exhibition was allowed to pick up the bachi. I wonder what they felt when they gripped our handmade drumsticks in their own hands.

Here’s a picture taken at the entrance to the exhibition at Tennanso, where everyone was greeted by cheerful volunteer Shiho Takano. Tennanso is directly opposite Shiho’s family’s liquor store, Takano-ya.

Today I also want to let you know about my upcoming “Body & Soul Workshop” series, which will be held this weekend on Sep. 2 (Sat) & 3 (Sun) at Taiko no Sato Kyowakan in Tokyo’s Meguro Ward.

  • Sep. 2 (Sat) 15:30–17:30 Body & Soul: O-daiko Workshop
  • Sep. 3 (Sun) 11:00–13:00 Body & Soul: Onikenbai Workshop
  • Sep. 3 (Sun) 14:30–16:30 Body & Soul: Wachi Daiko Workshop

Inquiries & Reservations: Taiko no Sato Kyowakan Tel. 03-3714-2774 (Hours: 11:00–17:30) 


Also, on Sep. 4 (Mon) I will lead an “O-daiko Workshop” from 19:00–20:30　at Asano Taiko’s Shinkyokan in Hakusan, Ishikawa.

Inquiries & Reservations: Asano Taiko Tel. 076-277-1717

I look forward to seeing you this weekend at my workshops in Tokyo and Ishikawa!

Aug 16 (Wed), 2017 / Last updated : Aug 16 (Wed), 2017 melanie Posts by Members, , , , , ,

“Getting Ready for Our ‘EC 30th Anniversary Celebration Concert'” by Jun Jidai

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Hi, everyone! It’s Jun Jidai.
How are you doing?


Earth Celebration 2017 is just around the corner! Chihiro Watanabe and I will be the MCs at the “EC 30th Anniversary Celebration Concert” on Aug. 20, the final day of EC. We don’t usually chat with the audience when we appear on stage with Kodo, but we will do our very best to entertain everyone with our banter at this outdoor performance!

Also…guess what! All the members of Kodo are going to appear on stage during this performance! That is so rare, believe me!

The cast ranges in age from 20 through to 66 years old. We’re going to drum, dance, and sing our hearts out. Mitsuru Ishizuka has created a great setlist for your enjoyment.


Please join us this weekend for this one-night-only performance. We’re waiting for you all, drumming everyday on Sado to get ready for all the performances!

See you there!

 

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