I’m writing this quite a while after our recent “Matsurine” performances with Miyake-jima Geino Doshi-kai on June 1 in Minami Ozawa and June 2 in Yokohama. They both went very well and I want to truly thank everyone who came along.

Almost a month has passed since those performances but I can still feel those good vibrations echoing throughout my body. I’m used to back-to-back concerts on our usual tours, but I poured absolutely everything into these two days and I couldn’t move for several days afterwards… haha.

Every single moment of every scene was packed with excitement, but I think the greatest pleasure of this programme was being able to experience how fun it is to play just one taiko drum with simplicity, whether I was out on stage or in the wings.
When we all took turns playing one taiko, it was clear that each person’s sound is different. I’m sure we were able to show even the first-time audience members just how simple yet captivating taiko can feel.

During the programme, there were three pieces that featured one Kodo member and one Doshi-kai member paired up to play together. I got to perform with Hidenori from Doshi-kai.

We didn’t get to rehearse with Doshi-kai until two days before the performances, so we honed the pieces by sending videos back and forth between our groups.

I thought it was going to be difficult to convey the musical phrases as we created the pieces, but they really understood what we said. And I was really happy that I got to feel the trust that Doshi-kai and Kodo has fostered to date.

Through these performances, I became an even bigger fan of Miyake-jima Geino Doshi-kai.

Doshi-kai x Kodo collaborations evolve with every performance.
I’ll keep beating the drum with all my might so I can show more growth next time, too.

Next, we’ll perform together on July 14 at Hakusan International Taiko Extasia 2024! I’m looking forward to it and seeing Doshi-kai again there.

For the second year in a row, Kodo appeared at Narita Taiko Festival in April alongside Miyake-jima Geino Doshi-kai at the Saturday night performance event, Narita-san Night Drum Concert.
Personally speaking, it was my first time back at Narita Taiko Festival since going along to watch it as a high school student.
Blessed with fine weather, this year we were able to give our performance outside in front of the main hall of Narita-san Shinsho-ji Temple.

I didn’t take part in the collaboration at Narita Taiko Festival last year, nor the 2023 Matsurine tour with Miyake-jima Geino Doshikai, so I went in with mixed feelings: worried about getting into the zone they’d created together last year, wondering if I could get in amongst them and run with it. And so excited for what was to come.

But when we got underway, my feelings were blown away by the powerful sound, the incredible people drumming around me, and the audience’s excitement.

I gave myself over to it, drumming with an immense awareness that if I zoned out for even a moment, my presence would disappear amongst all that sound, energy and fervor.
I put everything I had into each and every beat.
It made me really want to see how much I could evolve moving forward when I keep giving it my all like that.

I’m thrilled to shared that Kodo and Miyake-jima Geino Doshi-kai are going to have a concert in my hometown in Kanagawa. It will be on June 2 at Sakae Public Hall in Sakae Ward, Yokohama City.

Last year, I wasn’t a cast member for the Matsurine tour, but Kazuhiro Tsumura from Miyake-jima Geino Doshi-kai heard that I had been taking part in the lunchtime Miyake Taiko practice sessions at Kodo Village. That led to him coaching me one-on-one for Miyake Taiko, and us working on physical maintenance together. He really helped me. Kazuhiro suggested to me that we hold a concert in my hometown, and it’s actually happening!

I have a lot of memories at Sakae Public Hall, from performing there when I was a student with my local taiko group to school choral competitions and other events growing up. I’m really grateful to that place.

I’m really looking forward to returning there to perform with Doshi-kai and my fellow Kodo members, and our sound echoing throughout the hall.

It’s a chance for me to show the place that helped raise me just how much I can put into each beat.
I’m the youngest cast member… I’ll do my best to hold my ground!
I’m really looking forward to welcoming everyone to this performance.

June 2 (Sun), 2024
Kodo × Miyake-jima Geino Doshi-kai Yokohama Performance (Kanagawa Prefecture)

Kodo member Reo Kitabayashi would like to draw your attention to the “Yugen” programme, which is on sale in the lobby at every performance.

The 52-page, full-color programme includes a special interview with Tamasaburo Bando, candid conversations about “Yugen” with Kodo members, a synopsis of each iconic story portrayed in the production, rehearsal photos, an introduction to Noh theater, and much, much more!

Purchase yours before the performance to look behind the scenes and read all about this unique production! (Note: Japanese text only)

Yugen Programme
Color/ 52 pages / 2,000 yen (tax incl.)

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