Back when I was in elementary school, I went to sleep each night and woke up each morning listening to these two albums: tsutsumi and warabe.

That’s because I played them as I drifted off to sleep, and then played them again as soon as I woke up the next morning. (lol)

I seem to recall particularly liking the track Itsuka Mata…

These albums were released simultaneously, but the way they were recorded is different.

tsutsumi was recorded in a concert hall using one-point recording, which captured the groove and power of a live performance.
warabe was recorded in a studio, so you can enjoy the subtleties of sound crafted in that environment.

The piece I liked as a child, Itsuka Mata, is featured on both albums. So I think it’s fun to listen to and compare the two versions.

I don’t think it’s an exaggeration for me to say that I was brought up by these two albums. They brainwashed me (lol), telling me over and over to “Join Kodo!”

I hope you’ll listen to both of them!

Album | tsutsumi

↓Listen to sample tracks
https://www.kodo.or.jp/discography/srcl4670_ja.html

↓Buy at Kodo Online Store

http://kodo.shop.multilingualcart.com/goods_en_jpy_87.html

Album | warabe

↓Listen to sample tracks

https://www.kodo.or.jp/discography/srcl4671_ja.html

↓Buy at Kodo Online Store (Japanese)
*English store listing coming soon!

http://store.kodo.or.jp/?pid=128516735

My recommendation is “Warabe.”
My seniors in my high school taiko club played Itsuka Mata (Until Next Time) and I thought it was a great song.
Then I found out it was on a CD, so I bought “Warabe.”

I started listening to it over and over every day.
The flow of tracks starting with Yokigen (Mirthful Mood), then Bird Island, Koro Koro (Round and Round), and leading in to Itsuka Mata (Until Next Time) is amazing.

Even today, listening to this CD gets me excited.
It shows that great music is timeless.

Album | warabe

↓Listen to sample tracks
https://www.kodo.or.jp/discography/srcl4671_ja.html

↓Buy at Kodo Online Store
http://kodo.shop.multilingualcart.com/goods_en_jpy_88.html