MEGURU (Japan Tour)
Hear the soul sing.
The colors it paints, the sound from within.
MEGURU is a brand new Kodo production that marks the directorial debut of performer Yuta Sumiyoshi. The Fall 2018 premiere of this innovative work will kick off a month-long Japan tour.
Yuta Sumiyoshi has stood center-stage ever since his very first performance with Kodo, clearly demonstrating his gift for performance, as well as composition and musical arrangement, right from the beginning.
MEGURU means to revolve or come full circle.
The work draws inspiration from a wide range of traditional Japanese folk arts such as the regional shishimai (lion dance) upheld in Sumiyoshi’s birthplace, Kagawa, and the upbeat folk dance of Tokushima, Awa Odori. The programme incorporates verses from Yagi-bushi, a folk song upheld in Tochigi and Gunma, as well as Iwate’s traditional Onikenbai (demon sword dance) and Shishi Odori (deer dance). MEGURU also features elements of Onidaiko (demon drumming) from Sado Island and the renowned sacred music and dance from Shimane, Iwami Kagura.
By blending and reimagining regional traditional performing arts, Sumiyoshi’s distinctive world of music further broadens the scope of Kodo’s taiko music.
The pieces featured in MEGURU were all created especially for this work. The diverse programme ranges from a thoughtful recreation of Kodo’s long upheld signature piece, Miyake, to new pieces inspired by folk music from around the world. There are rhythm ensembles created using Western music approaches along with improvisational pieces. Showing a new side to Kodo, MEGURU’s broad musical scope is packed with experiments like never before.
The work’s eponymous theme song was released in early 2018, well ahead of the performance premiere, to give audiences a taste of what’s in store.
Filled with new flair, MEGURU promises to propel Kodo and its audience into an exciting, unchartered world of expression.
Director: Yuta Sumiyoshi
Schedule
- Nov 3 (Sat), 2018 Mitoyo-shi Bunka Kaikan Marine Wave, Mitoyo, Kagawa
- Nov 4 (Sun), 2018 Matsuyama City Community Center Bunka Hall, Matsuyama, Ehime
- Nov 7 (Wed), 2018 Kochi City Culture Plaza Cul-Port, Kochi City
- Nov 9 (Fri), 2018 Aster Plaza Main Hall, Hiroshima City
- Nov 10 (Sat), 2018 Kikukawa Community Hall (Avenir), Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi
- Nov 13 (Tue), 2018 Kurashiki Geibunkan, Kurashiki, Okayama
- Nov 15 (Thu), 2018 Tottori Shimin Kaikan, Tottori City
- Nov 17 (Sat), 2018 Sinfonia Iwakuni, Iwakuni, Yamaguchi
- Nov 21 (Wed), 2018 - Nov 22 (Thu), 2018 Morinomiya Piloti Hall, Osaka City
- Nov 23 (Fri), 2018 - Nov 24 (Sat), 2018 Biwako Hall Center for the Performing Arts Shiga Theatre Hall, Otsu, Shiga
- Nov 27 (Tue), 2018 Kariya Cultural Center, Kariya, Aichi
- Nov 28 (Wed), 2018 Valor Cultural Hall (Tajimi City Cultural Hall), Tajimi, Gifu
- Nov 30 (Fri), 2018 Niigata Prefectural Civic Center, Niigata City
- Dec 1 (Sat), 2018 Nagano City Arts Center Main Hall, Nagano City
- Dec 7 (Fri), 2018 Funabashi Shimin Bunka Hall, Funabashi, Chiba
- Dec 8 (Sat), 2018 Chigasaki Shimin Bunka Kaikan, Chigasaki, Kanagawa
- Dec 9 (Sun), 2018 Kumagaya Bunka Sozo-kan Sakuramate, Kumagaya, Saitama
- Dec 11 (Tue), 2018 Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Yokohama, Kanagawa
- Dec 13 (Thu), 2018 Fujimi Shimin Bunka Kaikan (Kirari Fujimi), Fujimi, Saitama
- Dec 15 (Sat), 2018 Chofu-shi Green Hall (Large Hall), Chofu, Tokyo
- Dec 16 (Sun), 2018 Fussa Shimin Kaikan Main Hall (Mokusei Hall), Fussa, Tokyo
- Dec 19 (Wed), 2018 - Dec 23 (Sun), 2018 Bunkyo Civic Hall (Main Hall), Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo