When Demon Scales Appear, Good Luck Follows

Demon Scales is based on onidaiko, a folk performing art upheld on Sado Island. Oni means demon and daiko is taiko—the drum. Rather than drumming, the demon deities dance to the beat of the taiko. The rows of triangles on their costumes symbolize the scales that cover an animal, such as a reptile, fish or dragon. In Japan, this pattern has been used since ancient times to adorn demons and superhuman figures. And yes! Kodo’s standard stage costumes feature the same triangular scales.

When you hear “demon,” usually scary, dangerous beings leap to mind. However, since Japan’s ancient times, demons were seen as the ancestral spirits and the spirits residing in the ground that protected the community from harm. On Sado Island, come festival day, demons travel door to door throughout the village, bestowing blessings on each household for abundant crops and the safety and prosperity of its occupants. The style of onidaiko varies from village to village. There are currently some 120 festivals on the island upholding this art form, which risks being lost in the generations ahead as the island’s population decreases. Demon Scales is a new piece based on two distinct forms of onidaiko upheld in Miyakawa and Iwakubi on Sado Island. By performing this sacred art form on its travels around the world, Kodo hopes these demons will bring good fortune to each locale and drive away evil spirits.

 

Electronic Music Meets Kodo and Sado in Ten-Ten, Games

Making its overseas debut in LUMINANCE, Ten-Ten, Games was composed by Koshiro Hino, a contemporary and electronic music artist from Japan. It’s based on Hino’s music from director Toshiaki Toyoda’s 2021 film “Shiver.” While Kodo has been featured in several fly-on-the-wall documentary films with interview segments, “Shiver” was the ensemble’s first time starring in a theatrical work for the silver screen. Filmed entirely on Kodo’s home of Sado Island, it’s an immersive music-centric story that weaves together dramatic sights and sounds, without a word of dialogue. When Kodo performs it live at the theater, Ten-Ten, Games will give you a glimpse into the infinite depths of taiko music and a taste of Sado Island through the unique lens of “Shiver.”

 

O-daiko: Why the Big Drum has Black Swirls

For many people, Kodo is synonymous with the mighty O-daiko, or “big drum.” Measuring 120cm in diameter, this taiko is made by hollowing out a large tree trunk, then stretching cow hides tightly over either end, which are fastened with sturdy tacks. Its weight is around 300kg, similar to that of a grand piano. The black comma-like swirls painted on the skins are called tomoe. This symbol has been used in Eastern Asia since ancient times, and there are a wide range of explanations as to why it adorns taiko. One explanation that particularly resonates with Kodo is that you paint this design on the drum hoping it draws the energy of nature out of the taiko, spinning like a powerful whirlpool that echoes out into the world. As the performer gets into the zone beating this massive drum, it’s easy to feel that torrent echoing through you, too. Perhaps the swirls draw you into the realm of the drum as they simultaneously draw all that good energy and sound out.