Shine a Light Sets the Scene

LUMINANCE opens with Shine a Light, a piece composed by Kodo’s Yuki Hirata in 2019 that embodies his hope for a much brighter future for Kodo. Soon after, as the 2020 pandemic took hold, those hopes for a promising future were something everyone was clinging to all over the globe.

The sound of flutes emerge from the darkness, then dazzling light heralds in a formidable taiko ensemble. The powerful opening serves as a beacon, delivering a message of hope: no matter how hard things get, the future will be brighter. Shine a Light’s composer Hirata is the artistic director of LUMINANCE. While he has directed several Kodo performances in Japan, their Europe 2026 tour marks his international directorial debut.

 

New Taiko Inspired by Stride

This catchy piece by Kodo’s Mitsuru Ishizuka features performers dancing to the beat as they play katsugi okedo taiko—barrel drums carried on a shoulder strap. Originally composed for one of Kodo’s album recordings, when the ensemble later prepared to play it on stage, they found the need for drums that allowed them to move about more dynamically. So Kodo contacted their trusted taiko maker and they worked on creating a new type of okedo taiko together. Most okedo taiko are made from Japanese cedar, but for this drum, the taiko maker switched the timber to a lighter, thinner paulownia, making it easier to beat either side of the drum. They used horse hides on both sides, which they processed to be thinner and lighter than usual, too. When you see the performers get into the groove with Stride, you’re bound to find yourself moving along with them, too.

 

The Origins of Miyake and Kodo’s Adaptations

Kodo’s Miyake is based on the taiko that accompanies a portable shrine carried from door to door during a festival on Miyake Island, south of Tokyo. Kodo members were first taught these rhythms in 1982 during a visit to the Kamitsuki region of the isle. With permission, Kodo arranged it for the stage and has been performing this taiko music ever since. Kodo’s Miyake differs from the original festival accompaniment in various ways. One is the number of taiko used: Kodo often performs this piece with three miya-daiko drums, while on Miyake Island, they play just one taiko at the festival, with people subbing in and out to keep the rhythms going all day long. Kodo’s arrangement for the stage is synchronized and has uniform movements, but on Miyake Island, the rhythms and forms change from player to player. Another interesting difference is that the locals stand with their legs apart and sink into a deep squat to play the base rhythm, whereas Kodo members crouch down and have one knee resting on the ground. The reason is apparently that when Kodo first encountered this style of drumming on the island, the people playing happened to get tired and put one knee down to steady themselves. If you ever have the chance to visit Miyake Island during their annual festival, you’ll see how this strong taiko beat encourages people as they carry the heavy portable shrine throughout their town.