The finale of a special concert for refugees from Ukraine in Tallinn, Estonia, on Mar. 29, 2022

Takuro Susaki

The Europe tour cast and crew have returned to Japan.

It was a real joy for Kodo to have been able to welcome and delight so many people at the concert venues we visited across Europe. I sincerely thank everyone who attended our performances, along with the many people who gave their all to make our performances possible.

As many of you know, the cast and crew faced numerous difficulties touring during a pandemic, including situations like concert cancellations that had a huge, direct impact on our tour. In Estonia, we held a concert for refugees from Ukraine, where Kodo felt the close presence of a large number of people who had lost their homes and family due to war. In many ways, this tour shook the cast and crew to the core.

Now that they are safely home, we would like to use our blog as a space where the cast members of our Europe tour can unpack and share their thoughts. I want the entire Kodo Group to learn from their experiences and for us to explore and process their stories as a group. We will use these learnings together as we plan what we can and should do next.

Takuro Susaki
President
Kitamaesen Co., Ltd.

Ryotaro Leo Ikenaga

We have just got back to Japan safely after our two-month-long Europe tour.

Two years ago, our Europe tour was suddenly cut short when the COVID-19 pandemic escalated: we had to return to Japan, canceling the remainder of our performances. This time, we were touring during times of pandemic and war. While both tours were memorable in different ways, our 2022 tour was an experience that really shook each and every one of us to our core.

Prior to leaving Japan, we did not know what to expect; how many people would show up to our performances? However, much to our surprise, we were welcomed by a large, warm audience everywhere we went.

Since the pandemic started, we Kodo members have felt conflicted about our purpose in this world. Performing in front of a full house audience and hearing the words “Thank you for coming,” was truly reassuring for all of us.

What can we do as taiko performers to make this world a better place?

Tackling this question has been Kodo’s mission for over 40 years, and this tour reminded all of us that we must once again ask ourselves this very question.

Ryotaro Leo Ikenaga
Kodo “Tsuzumi” 2022 Europe Tour Cast Member

These are things we experience every moment of our daily lives. Sometimes, the contrast or intensity will sharpen our awareness of the sensations. If there’s a sudden draft, when a door is opened on a cosy space, the felt experience of our surroundings is just as likely to be emotional along with physical. Our surroundings have altered and we register that change.

Having spent January in Sado ,without snow, I arrived in Russia where the relentless coldness of their winter weather threatened to penetrate to my bones. It was quite shocking.

Still, the rooms are warm, especially the air-conditioned hotel rooms. Places that are heated (or cooled) by convection: the moving and mixing of gases, particles and energy. An involuntary event that we harness and then benefit from.

During a Kodo performance, I feel something similar occurs.

Each audience member entering and sitting in the auditorium is carrying the energy of their daily life, each theatre building holding the energy of both its own unique history and locality. All things being a reflection of temperature, climate and atmosphere.

Then Kodo enters this space bearing our own dynamism.

On the stage are Taiko drums, made by Japanese craftsmen, performers dressed in traditional costumes. Across the stage is the curtain, a symbol of a boundary, but it will lift, like a door or window opening and then a new and unique atmosphere is created as all these different energies will interact and mingle.

Because, once the curtain rises “convection” occurs.

The various elements of energy within the theater begin to mix, and by the end of the performance, the atmosphere surrounding us all is neither distinctly national to the place of performance nor exclusively Kodo.

I witness this over and over, day performances, night performances, rainy days …

It is an experience that can only be felt by people who are present, it cannot be captured with photos and videos. Each sound is fresh and born in that very moment, as it is being felt by both performers and audience.

Today, you can enjoy everything on Youtube, Netflix and Spotify.

Even in such times, Kodo visits countries and tours. This involves moving insanely large drums and their stands, preparing each individual stage space with the necessary markings and then a daily tuning of the drums.

Every performance demands sweat. Each night we hand wash our costumes so they can be hung in our air conditioned hotel rooms to dry. Physical convection. This is life on the road. A cycle of preparation and movement and exchange.

Ready for the next performance, theatre or country.

Lithuania was Kodo’s 52nd country. Over nearly 40 years, this process has continued with 52 countries.

Where is Kodo performing next? (February 18, 2020)

• Tonhalle Düsseldorf［Dusseldorf, Germany］ (to Google Earth)

“Kodo One Earth Tour 2020: Legacy” Europe Tour

Schedules

• Feb 18 (Tue), 2020 Tonhalle Düsseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany
• Feb 23 (Sun), 2020 – Feb 24 (Mon), 2020 Concertgebouw Brugge, Bruges, Belgium –Special Concert “‘Kodo Meets The Voices of South Africa”–
• Feb 28 (Fri), 2020 – Feb 29 (Sat), 2020 Le Grand Théâtre de Provence, Aix-en-Provence, France
• Mar 3 (Tue), 2020 – Mar 4 (Wed), 2020 Teatro Dal Verme, Milan, Italy
• Mar 7 (Sat), 2020 Teatro Verdi, Florence, Italy
• Mar 9 (Mon), 2020 Auditorium Parco della Musica – Sala Santa Cecilia, Rome, Italy
• Mar 11 (Wed), 2020 Theater Casino Zug, Zug, Switzerland
• Mar 13 (Fri), 2020 – Mar 14 (Sat), 2020 Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London, United Kingdom
• Mar 15 (Sun), 2020 Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, United Kingdom
• Mar 18 (Wed), 2020 Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra (NOSPR) Concert Hall, Katowice, Poland
• Mar 21 (Sat), 2020 – Mar 22 (Sun), 2020 Gasteig, Philharmonie, Munich, Germany
• Mar 26 (Thu), 2020 Kulturpalast Dresden, Dresden, Germany
• Mar 28 (Sat), 2020 Kultur- und Kongresszentrum Liederhalle, Stuttgart, Germany
• Apr 1 (Wed), 2020 Berliner Philharmonie, Berlin, Germany

For the last European tour I was a junior member. I was inexperienced and I discovered that there are some aspects of life on the road, away from the performances, where I was completely clueless. So then, experience became my teacher and it was a very harsh one.

In a nutshell: I made mistakes. Small mistakes, big mistakes? (I hear you asking.) How do we judge these things? In this case, the actions were indeed small, yet, in terms of the level of humiliation I felt – it was huge. Therefore, I became determined to redeem myself, my reputation and self image.

I decided that I would focus and work really hard, so that when I next returned to Europe, my ‘errors’ would be behind me, firmly in the context of ‘an understandably naive action’. (It is actually quite funny on reflection, apologies that no details are being offered, at least not by me.)

It is strange and interesting how the low points in our lives can become turning points. Today I can look back on my younger self with forgiveness and gratitude.

It is the same voice of experience that can confidently say ‘this tour is going to be a completely joyous experience’.

Where is Kodo performing next? (February 6, 2020)

• Compensa Hall Vilnius［Vilnius, Lithuania］ (to Google Earth)

“Kodo One Earth Tour 2020: Legacy” Europe Tour

Schedules

• Feb 6 (Thu), 2020 Compensa Hall Vilnius, Vilnius, Lithuania
• Feb 9 (Sun), 2020 Concert Hall Vatroslav Lisinski, Zagreb, Croatia
• Feb 11 (Tue), 2020 Salle Pleyel, Paris, France
• Feb 13 (Thu), 2020 The Anvil, Basingstoke, United Kingdom
• Feb 14 (Fri), 2020 Warwick Arts Centre, Butterworth Hall, Warwick, United Kingdom
• Feb 16 (Sun), 2020 Lighthouse, Poole, United Kingdom
• Feb 18 (Tue), 2020 Tonhalle Düsseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany
• Feb 23 (Sun), 2020 – Feb 24 (Mon), 2020 Concertgebouw Brugge, Bruges, Belgium –Special Concert “‘Kodo Meets The Voices of South Africa”–
• Feb 28 (Fri), 2020 – Feb 29 (Sat), 2020 Le Grand Théâtre de Provence, Aix-en-Provence, France
• Mar 3 (Tue), 2020 – Mar 4 (Wed), 2020 Teatro Dal Verme, Milan, Italy
• Mar 7 (Sat), 2020 Teatro Verdi, Florence, Italy
• Mar 9 (Mon), 2020 Auditorium Parco della Musica – Sala Santa Cecilia, Rome, Italy
• Mar 11 (Wed), 2020 Theater Casino Zug, Zug, Switzerland
• Mar 13 (Fri), 2020 – Mar 14 (Sat), 2020 Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London, United Kingdom
• Mar 15 (Sun), 2020 Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, United Kingdom
• Mar 18 (Wed), 2020 Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra (NOSPR) Concert Hall, Katowice, Poland
• Mar 21 (Sat), 2020 – Mar 22 (Sun), 2020 Gasteig, Philharmonie, Munich, Germany
• Mar 26 (Thu), 2020 Kulturpalast Dresden, Dresden, Germany
• Mar 28 (Sat), 2020 Kultur- und Kongresszentrum Liederhalle, Stuttgart, Germany
• Apr 1 (Wed), 2020 Berliner Philharmonie, Berlin, Germany

This will be my third tour but my first to Europe. Our opening performance is in Moscow, Russia. So, for me, preparing to leave holds some familiar experiences and some fresh curiosity.

How will audiences respond to our reinterpretation of the Kodo classics in ‘Legacy’? Those signature pieces that Kodo has been performing for nearly half a century. But now, we are this troupe, here and now. What will remain the same as before and what will be different?

Intense preparation and practice is our lifestyle at Kodo Village—it becomes both our confidence and our pride. Therefore, Kodo’s legacy is instilled in our bodies and now we travel to share that gift with our audiences.

Yet, we are more than professional percussionists. We offer more than just the sound of drumming. We each offer our individual commitment and dedication to create the composite experience that is Kodo.

We do so with respect for the past and fresh ambition for the future.

My hope is that each member of each audience, at each performance, will leave with an imprint on their soul. An echo of the music that we have instilled in our bodies.

Where is Kodo performing today? (February 4, 2020)

• Dailes Theater, Riga, Latvia (to Google Earth)

“Kodo One Earth Tour 2020: Legacy” Europe Tour

Schedules

• Feb 6 (Thu), 2020 Compensa Hall Vilnius, Vilnius, Lithuania
• Feb 9 (Sun), 2020 Concert Hall Vatroslav Lisinski, Zagreb, Croatia
• Feb 11 (Tue), 2020 Salle Pleyel, Paris, France
• Feb 13 (Thu), 2020 The Anvil, Basingstoke, United Kingdom
• Feb 14 (Fri), 2020 Warwick Arts Centre, Butterworth Hall, Warwick, United Kingdom
• Feb 16 (Sun), 2020 Lighthouse, Poole, United Kingdom
• Feb 18 (Tue), 2020 Tonhalle Düsseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany
• Feb 23 (Sun), 2020 – Feb 24 (Mon), 2020 Concertgebouw Brugge, Bruges, Belgium –Special Concert “‘Kodo Meets The Voices of South Africa”–
• Feb 28 (Fri), 2020 – Feb 29 (Sat), 2020 Le Grand Théâtre de Provence, Aix-en-Provence, France
• Mar 3 (Tue), 2020 – Mar 4 (Wed), 2020 Teatro Dal Verme, Milan, Italy
• Mar 7 (Sat), 2020 Teatro Verdi, Florence, Italy
• Mar 9 (Mon), 2020 Auditorium Parco della Musica – Sala Santa Cecilia, Rome, Italy
• Mar 11 (Wed), 2020 Theater Casino Zug, Zug, Switzerland
• Mar 13 (Fri), 2020 – Mar 14 (Sat), 2020 Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London, United Kingdom
• Mar 15 (Sun), 2020 Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, United Kingdom
• Mar 18 (Wed), 2020 Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra (NOSPR) Concert Hall, Katowice, Poland
• Mar 21 (Sat), 2020 – Mar 22 (Sun), 2020 Gasteig, Philharmonie, Munich, Germany
• Mar 26 (Thu), 2020 Kulturpalast Dresden, Dresden, Germany
• Mar 28 (Sat), 2020 Kultur- und Kongresszentrum Liederhalle, Stuttgart, Germany
• Apr 1 (Wed), 2020 Berliner Philharmonie, Berlin, Germany

Honed through extensive tours in 2018–2019, under its Japanese title “Michi,” this program showcases quintessential Kodo, past and present.

Before you come to the theater, check out the fun facts below to gain some insight to this eclectic programme.

1) Legacy features music from the soundtrack of “The Hunted”

This production includes two pieces that Kodo’s Motofumi Yamaguchi composed for martial-arts action thriller “The Hunted”: the eponymous track and Kirina’s Theme. In fact, Kodo performed the entire soundtrack for this film. You might be surprised to learn that this work links Kodo to Julia Roberts and Richard Gere—the script for “Pretty Woman” was written by J.F. Lawton, the director and writer for “The Hunted.”

2) The largest drum on stage is about two-thirds as heavy as a grand piano

The mighty o-daiko weighs around 300 kilos and measures 145 cm in diameter. To imagine lifting one onto its stand, picture lifting a grand piano onto a large, high table. You’d require a big team, right? Kodo lifts the drum onto a cart first, then onto a stand for its Legacy performances. So the members need strength just to get the drum into position, and then power, technique and energy to make it resonate. The cart and stand are assembled and dismantled before and after each concert.

3) Kodo will play an alternative version of its signature piece Monochrome for the first time in Europe this year.

You may know Kodo classic Monochrome, composed by the late Maki Ishii in 1976, but did you know that Ishii’s original composition had two versions? Version A with o-daiko (large drums) part way through, and Version B without o-daiko. Kodo has mainly performed Version B on its tours to date, so that version became recognized around the world. For Legacy, director Yuichiro Funabashi wanted to introduce the other variant of Monochrome, and Kodo worked with conductor Tatsuya Shimono to render the nuances of Ishii’s complex score as intended. Kodo will perform this alternative version in Europe for the first time in 2020.

4) Legacy has a cast of 14 performers, selected from the 37-strong ensemble

Kodo currently has 10 female and 27 male performers, ranging in age from 21 to 69 years old. While Kodo is based on Sado Island, there are no Kodo members from the island. There is one member from Niigata Prefecture, where Sado is located. And there are two members who hail from the USA. Every year, Kodo welcomes people to audition for its apprentice programme from all over Japan and abroad, although advanced Japanese skills are a must to undertake the training.

5) From start to finish, you’ll hear 90 instruments during the performance

There are 39 different types of instruments used in each Legacy performance, including 11 types of taiko drum. With 90 instruments in all, including 32 taiko, Kodo has to hire a large truck to carry this precious cargo all over Europe. Kodo has three sets of drums so it can ship drums by sea to and from other continents while it tours in Japan. It takes a lot of logistics for Kodo to deliver performances around the world!

6) Uchoten uses three instruments that Kodo developed especially for the stage.

Uchoten means rapture or euphoria. It’s a brand-new piece played on a range of portable drums that Kodo designed to use in their performances with the help of renowned taiko maker Asano Taiko. There’s the high-pitched Shime-jishi Taiko, which leads the ensemble; the world’s first taiko that you can tune each head to a different pitch, Kanade; and the rich, low-toned bass drum, Hibiki. The combination is sure to get your feet stomping to the infectious beat.

7) Kodo freely incorporates instruments that it encounters on its travels into its compositions

There are several examples of this in Legacy. One is found in “Kirina’s Theme”—the beautiful melodic piece that sets the scene in “The Hunted” where melancholic Kirina makes her entrance. In this production, “Kirina’s Theme” features a harp from the Amami Islands in Southern Japan. It’s a new arrangement created especially for this programme. On Amami Oshima, this harp is played to accompany shima-uta (island folk songs). When Kodo travels, it encounters many traditional arts and instruments. Rather than imitating those arts, Kodo takes inspiration from them. Later, the members draw on their travels, using innovation and imagination to create new soundscapes.

8) Legacy blends an array of Asian instruments into a sacred dance scene

Kodo doesn’t limit itself to using Japanese instruments. In Legacy, Hitotsu creates a mysterious realm by incorporating an array of sounds from other parts of Asia. One is the Ragdung from Tibet, which looks like a Swiss horn. The piece also features shawm-like suonas, Chinese cymbals, and gongs, which meld with taiko and voices to evoke a sacred scene where Eiichi Saito depicts the “Prince of Lanling” with a dance based on a 1200-year-old court dance. His costume is a combination of clothing worn for various sacred Shinto dances.

9) Kodo originally visited Miyake Island to hear a song, not a drum piece.

Miyake is Kodo’s arrangement of a taiko piece from a festival on Miyake Island. Kodo members learned to play Miyake Taiko when they visited the island on the way back from a trip to Hachijo Island in 1982. They originally stopped there to listen to a local folk song and instead encountered an art that would go on to become one of Kodo’s most recognized pieces. Mr. Akio Tsumura taught the members to play the taiko that leads the mikoshi (portable shrine) procession in the Kamitsuki area of Miyake Island. While the rhythm and playing style of Kodo’s arrangement differs from the original art, Kodo members learn to play both styles and honor the roots of the traditional art every time they play it.

10) Legacy features a workman’s song that connects Sado Island to Hokkaido

While many workman’s songs in Japan are related to taiko by means of their references to felling and hauling trees for lumber, Okiage Ondo hails from work at sea. It’s an arrangement of a herring fisherman’s song from Hokkaido. Back in the day, herring was one of Hokkaido’s main products. The fish exports were shipped along the Sea of Japan on trade ships (kitamaesen), which linked Sado Island and Western Japan with the far north.

That’s all ten. We hope you learned something new!
We’re really looking forward to sharing this programme with audiences around Europe!
See below for the production trailer on YouTube, our tour schedule, and box office details.

“Kodo One Earth Tour 2020: Legacy” Europe Tour

Schedules

• Feb 1 (Sat), 2020 Crocus City Hall , Moscow, Russia
• Feb 3 (Mon), 2020 Oktyabrskyi Concert Hall, St. Petersburg, Russia
• Feb 4 (Tue), 2020 Dailes Theatre, Riga, Latvia SOLD OUT
• Feb 6 (Thu), 2020 Compensa Hall Vilnius, Vilnius, Lithuania
• Feb 9 (Sun), 2020 Concert Hall Vatroslav Lisinski, Zagreb, Croatia
• Feb 11 (Tue), 2020 Salle Pleyel, Paris, France
• Feb 13 (Thu), 2020 The Anvil, Basingstoke, United Kingdom
• Feb 14 (Fri), 2020 Warwick Arts Centre, Butterworth Hall, Warwick, United Kingdom
• Feb 16 (Sun), 2020 Lighthouse, Poole, United Kingdom
• Feb 18 (Tue), 2020 Tonhalle Düsseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany
• Feb 23 (Sun), 2020 – Feb 24 (Mon), 2020 Concertgebouw Brugge, Bruges, Belgium –Special Concert “‘Kodo Meets The Voices of South Africa”–
• Feb 28 (Fri), 2020 – Feb 29 (Sat), 2020 Le Grand Théâtre de Provence, Aix-en-Provence, France
• Mar 3 (Tue), 2020 – Mar 4 (Wed), 2020 Teatro Dal Verme, Milan, Italy
• Mar 7 (Sat), 2020 Teatro Verdi, Florence, Italy
• Mar 9 (Mon), 2020 Auditorium Parco della Musica – Sala Santa Cecilia, Rome, Italy
• Mar 11 (Wed), 2020 Theater Casino Zug, Zug, Switzerland
• Mar 13 (Fri), 2020 – Mar 14 (Sat), 2020 Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London, United Kingdom
• Mar 15 (Sun), 2020 Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, United Kingdom
• Mar 18 (Wed), 2020 Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra (NOSPR) Concert Hall, Katowice, Poland
• Mar 21 (Sat), 2020 – Mar 22 (Sun), 2020 Gasteig, Philharmonie, Munich, Germany
• Mar 26 (Thu), 2020 Kulturpalast Dresden, Dresden, Germany
• Mar 28 (Sat), 2020 Kultur- und Kongresszentrum Liederhalle, Stuttgart, Germany
• Apr 1 (Wed), 2020 Berliner Philharmonie, Berlin, Germany

We spend most of our time on tour away from Sado. Every time I come back to the island, the beautiful nature and scenery, the food and people, they always clear away any fatigue I brought back from the road. This place resets me.
The longer I live on Sado, the stronger I feel a sense of this island nurturing all of us at Kodo.

Our current touring work takes a look back at Kodo classics and gives us an opportunity to reflect on who we are right now. The cast ranges from veterans to newcomers, so it’s a chance for audiences to discover the appeal of a wide range of generations within Kodo today.

I am grateful to everyone on Sado Island who constantly supports our activities. I’ll put my appreciation into each beat at our performance here.
I hope you’ll join us there on November 20!

“Kodo One Earth Tour 2019: Michi”Nov. 20 (Wed), 2019 Sado Island, Niigata

We’ve recently finished our North America “Evolution” tour and Interactive Performances in Japan and returned to Sado Island. Right now, we are busy preparing for our upcoming tours and concerts this spring, as well as future works.

From May, we’re going to be touring with “Kodo One Earth Tour 2019: Michi” throughout Japan for the rest of the year.

It’s going to be a soul-stirring, invigorating two-hour program featuring Kodo standards such as Monochrome, Miyake, O-daiko, and Yatai-bayashi. As director, I’ve also included some of my favorite classics like The Hunted and HITOTSU, and we’ve created some brand new numbers, too!

We’ve reworked and refined the content since last year, and we are already looking forward to seeing it evolve with each performance on tour.

The cast ranges from senior to junior Kodo members who all bring their own unique sound and energy to the stage. I really hope you’ll come along to see “Michi” at one of the many theaters on our tour to experience this rousing program firsthand.

“Kodo One Earth Tour 2019: Michi” Japan Tour

Schedule

• May 24 (Fri), 2019 Tamashin Risuru Hall (Large Hall) [Tachikawa Civic Hall], Tachikawa, Tokyo
• May 25 (Sat), 2019 Saitama Hall Main Theater, Saitama City
• May 30 (Thu), 2019 Tokyo Electron Hall Miyagi, Sendai, Miyagi
• Jun 1 (Sat), 2019 Oshu City Cultural Hall (Z Hall), Oshu, Iwate
• Jun 2 (Sun), 2019 Akita City Cultural Center Main Hall, Akita City
• Jun 7 (Fri), 2019 Sapporo Cultural Arts Theater hitaru, Sapporo, Hokkaido
• Jun 9 (Sun), 2019 Coach and Four Kushiro Culture Hall, Kushiro, Hokkaido
• Jun 10 (Mon), 2019 Obihiro Civic Cultural Hall, Obihiro, Hokkaido
• Jun 22 (Sat), 2019 – Jun 23 (Sun), 2019 Morinomiya Piloti Hall, Osaka City　
• Sep.–Dec. information in English coming soon.
• Dec 18 (Wed), 2019 – Dec 22 (Sun), 2019 Bunkyo Civic Hall Main Hall, Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo

This tour, is actually my first time overseas. As a foreigner abroad I am relishing all the fresh experiences. Observing people, walking in the different cities and trying the local food. Yet at the same time there are moments of homesickness for Japan.

European audience responses varies from country to country. In some places the emotions are freely expressed, elsewhere there is more reserve (rather like myself.) This clear difference of response from place to place is one of the unique pleasures of touring – seeing these contrasts back to back.

Strangely, it feels as if the difference between the reactions makes the actual content of “Legacy” look like a different show every time. Is the same show experienced differently, or is each show a different experience? Frankly, I have no need to answer my own question. I am just loving touring. All that has already happened and all that is still to come.

Where is Kodo performing next? (March 7, 2020)

• Teatro Verdi［Florence, Italy］ (to Google Earth)

• Mar 7 (Sat), 2020 Teatro Verdi, Florence, Italy
• Mar 9 (Mon), 2020 Auditorium Parco della Musica – Sala Santa Cecilia, Rome, Italy
• Mar 11 (Wed), 2020 Theater Casino Zug, Zug, Switzerland
• Mar 13 (Fri), 2020 – Mar 14 (Sat), 2020 Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London, United Kingdom
• Mar 15 (Sun), 2020 Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, United Kingdom
• Mar 18 (Wed), 2020 Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra (NOSPR) Concert Hall, Katowice, Poland
• Mar 21 (Sat), 2020 – Mar 22 (Sun), 2020 Gasteig, Philharmonie, Munich, Germany
• Mar 26 (Thu), 2020 Kulturpalast Dresden, Dresden, Germany
• Mar 28 (Sat), 2020 Kultur- und Kongresszentrum Liederhalle, Stuttgart, Germany
• Apr 1 (Wed), 2020 Berliner Philharmonie, Berlin, Germany

As you probably already know, Kodo’s last performance this year will be “Taiko Warabe Goju-nen,” a special concert commemorating Yoshikazu Fujimoto‘s 50th milestone year as a performer.

The other day, we had rehearsals at Kodo Village and Yoshikazu showed all the junior members (which in this case means everyone!) his body and soul approach in practice.

“Your passion shows on your face AND your back.”

When I heard him say that, I felt the weight of those fifty years in his embodiment of those words.

For this performance, we will welcome Iwasaki Onikenbai Hozonkai (Iwasaki Demon Sword Dance Preservation Society), who have taught Yoshikazu Fujimoto and Kodo for many years, and Wachi Daiko Hozonkai (Wachi Taiko Preservation Society) from Yoshikazu’s hometown, Wachi, where his taiko journey began. Kodo will be there right alongside these special guests and Yoshikazu, giving our all to celebrate our most senior member.

I am really looking forward to this performance!

Kodo’s latest production MEGURU will be on stage at Bunkyo Civic Hall until Dec. 23, the day before “Taiko Warabe Goju-nen” on Christmas Eve.
I really hope you’ll take this opportunity to see Kodo’s depth and breadth as an ensemble through both of these distinct concert programs.

As I said in my New-Year greeting for 2018:
“(Yoshikazu Fujimoto) is a man who has stood apart as a pioneer in performing arts and remains in a class of his own. Watching over and raising the next generation is very important, and we have learned the magnificence of undertaking these tasks ourselves by observing many performing arts. As we celebrate the career of our group’s most senior member, we would like to express our gratitude for Kodo’s ability to carry out a wide range of activities each year. The Kodo Group looks forward to congratulating Yoshikazu along with the entire audience who gathers for this auspicious event.”

“Taiko Warabe Goju-nen”: Yoshikazu Fujimoto Performance Career 50th Anniversary Concert
Dec 24 (Mon), 2018 Bunkyo Civic Hall Main Hall, Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo

“Taiko Warabe Goju-nen” (Child of the Drum for 50 Years): Yoshikazu Fujimoto Performance Career 50th Anniversary Concert (Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo)