News
Kodo Members Record Music for New BoBA Short Film
Kodo Members Record Music for New BoBA Short Film
“DRUMMANz (The Unexpected Happening of Stick)”
The trailer has just been released for a new short film directed by BoBA (Yohji Tanaka) called “DRUMMANz (The Unexpected Happening of Stick),” starring Flower Companyz drummer Mr. Konishi. It also features drummers Tatsuya Nakamura and Steve Eto.
▶︎Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/AO-OBMNGrWg
This short film is one of four made to shine a light on the local area surrounding Cinema Skhole in Nagoya.
The director approached Kodo and asked us to provide some music for the soundtrack, which we recorded at our rehearsal hall on Sado Island. Yuichiro Funabashi composed the music and performed it for the recording with Mitsuru Ishizuka and Masayuki Sakamoto.
Recording at Kodo Village for the soundtrack
Short Film “DRUMMANz (The Unexpected Happening of Stick)”
Director /Script Writer /Editor: BoBA (Yohji Tanaka)
Featuring: Mr. Konishi, Tatsuya Nakamura, Steve Eto, Flower Companyz, Tadahisa Fujimura, & others
Cinematographer: Rokuro Terada
Sound Engineer: Kenji Sakaue
Lighting Designer: Ken Horiguchi
Art Director: Koji Nagasawa
Music by: Flower Companyz, Kodo (Yuiichiro Funabashi, Mitsuru Ishizuka, Masayuki Sakamoto), Shleeps
Masayuki Sakamoto to Appear on TV Program “Toshi Wasure Nippon no Uta” this New Year’s Eve!
New Year’s Eve TV Appearance
Masayuki Sakamoto will appear on TV program “Toshi Wasure Nippon no Uta” this New Year’s Eve.
If you’re in Japan, we hope you’ll tune in!
Dec. 31 (Wed), 2014 17:00–21:30
“Toshi Wasure Nippon no Uta” on TV Tokyo
http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/toshiwasure14/index.html
Season’s Greetings from Kodo
Season’s Greetings
Thank you very much for your continued support throughout 2014.
We wish you all a very happy holiday season and a wonderful new year!
Our Year-End Holidays
The Kodo Office will be closed from Dec. 27 (Sat) until Jan. 8 (Thu), 2015.
The Kodo Online Store English website will be closed from Dec. 25 (Thu) until Jan. 9 (Fri), 2015 and orders cannot be placed at all during this period. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.
Kodo
Taiko Performing Arts Ensemble
http://www.kodo.or.jp/
“Tamasaburo Bando x Kodo ‘Amaterasu'” on WOWOW Live Channel
Tamasaburo Bando x Kodo “Amaterasu”
Dec. 27 Repeat Broadcast on WOWOW Live Channel
The “Amaterasu” performance at Minami-za in October 2013 will be shown again on WOWOW Live Channel in Japan. If you are in Japan, we hope you will tune in!
See here for details: http://www.wowow.co.jp/pg_info/detail/104464/index.php?m=01 (In Japanese)
“Amaterasu” will return for encore performances in 2015 at Osaka’s Shochiku-za Theatre!
For further information, please visit our website: http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20150503amaterasu_en.html
WOWOW Live Channel
Tamasaburo Bando x Kodo “Amaterasu”
Dec. 27 (Sat) 15:00–
Programme Introduction
Living national treasure Tamasaburo Bando directed and performed with Kodo in this elaborate production based on Japanese mythology. This performance took place seven years after the debut “Amaterasu” performances in 2006. It was filmed for television live at Minami-za Kabuki Theater in Kyoto City, which is famous for its architectural style.
Director: Tamasaburo Bando
Appearing: Tamasaburo Bando, Kodo
Special Appearance: Harei Aine
http://www.wowow.co.jp/pg_info/detail/104464/index.php?m=01
Photos: Takashi Okamoto
Thank You for Supporting “Dojoji”
In April 2015, Chieko Kojima will join Taiko Meantime, a taiko group based in Greenwich, London, to tour around the UK with a collaboration based on the tale of “Dojoji.”
Taiko Meantime set up a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter to help fund this project. We are pleased to report that they successfully reached their fundraising goal. Thank you very much for your support!
“Dojoji” Kickstarter Campaign Webpage
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/taikomeantime/support-taiko-meantime-and-chieko-kojimas-uk-tour
Taiko Meantime Website
www.taikomeantime.com
Kodo Blog｜Seeking Support for “Dojoji” in the UK
“Kodo Eien no Hibiki” (Kodo, Echoes of Eternity) on YouTube
Watch TV Special “Kodo Eien no Hibiki” (Kodo, Echoes of Eternity) on YouTube!
The special programme shown on Nov. 22 on tvk in Japan, “Kodo Eien no Hibiki” (Kodo, Echoes of Eternity), is now available for viewing on YouTube. Even if you don’t understand the Japanese dialogue, we’re sure the taiko speaks your language and hope you’ll enjoy seeing scenes from the performance, rehearsals, and beautiful Sado Island.
[About the Programme]
This TV programme was filmed this autumn and features one of the key cast members, Masayuki Sakamoto, giving a tour around Kodo Village, shows the Kodo members off-stage & up-close, as well as taking at behind-the-scenes look at the regimented training they undergo to become performers on the Kodo stage.
The programme also introduces “Eternity, our brand new production that will tour around Japan from late November through December, alongside various other works directed by and in collaboration with Tamasaburo Bando in recent years.
Nov. 20 (Thu) Amusement Sado, Sado Is., Niigata
Nov. 30 (Sun) City Hall Plaza “Aore Nagaoka,” Nagaoka, Niigata
–”Heartbeat Project” Special Version–
Dec. 2 (Tue) Muza Kawasaki Symphony Hall, Kawasaki, Kanagawa
Dec. 4 (Thu) Aichi Prefectural Arts Theater Concert Hall, Nagoya, Aichi
Dec. 6 (Sat) & 7 (Sun) NHK Osaka Hall, Osaka City
Dec. 10 (Wed) Okayama Civic Hall, Okayama City
Dec. 12 (Fri) Ueno Gakuen Hall, Hiroshima City
Dec. 15 (Mon) & 16 (Tue) Hakataza Theater, Fukuoka City
Dec. 19 (Fri)–23 (Tue/Public Hol.) Bunkyo Civic Hall, Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo
Dec. 25 (Thu) Niigata Prefectural Civic Center, Niigata City
Seeking Support for “Dojoji” in the UK
London-Based Taiko Group “Taiko Meantime” is Seeking Support for Its Upcoming Collaboration with Chieko Kojima
In April 2015, Chieko Kojima will join Taiko Meantime, a taiko group based in Greenwich, London, to tour around the UK with a collaboration based on the tale of “Dojoji.” Taiko Meantime is seeking supporters to help back this project by way of a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter. Thank you in advance for your support!
Support Taiko Meantime and Chieko Kojima’s UK Tour 2015
Taiko Meantime Website
http://www.taikomeantime.com
Radio Appearances in Hakata & Osaka
Kodo members appeared on these radio programmes recently: “Hawks Hana no Oendan” on RKB Radio in Hakata on Oct. 22 and “Wakako Takeda’s Pitatto” on ABC Radio in Osaka on Oct. 23.
Masayuki Sakamoto, Mariko Omi, Shogo Komatsuzaki & Kosuke Urushikubo appeared on “Hawks Hana no Oendan” on RKB Radio. They all enjoyed talking with the hosts about our brand new production, “Eternity.”
Masayuki Sakamoto, Yosuke Kusa and Jun Jidai appeared on “Wakako Takeda’s Pitatto” on ABC Radio and gave a live performance. It featured a collaboration with the radio show hosts. They all had so much fun together that the producers let it run over time!
“Kodo One Earth Tour: Eternity”
http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20141120oet_en.html
Nov. 20 (Thu) Amusement Sado, Sado Is., Niigata
Nov. 30 (Sun) City Hall Plaza “Aore Nagaoka,” Nagaoka, Niigata
– “Heartbeat Project” Special Version –
Dec. 2 (Tue) Muza Kawasaki Symphony Hall, Kawasaki, Kanagawa
Dec. 4 (Thu) Aichi Prefectural Arts Theater Concert Hall, Nagoya, Aichi
Dec. 6 (Sat) & 7 (Sun) NHK Osaka Hall, Osaka City
Dec. 10 (Wed) Okayama Civic Hall, Okayama City
Dec. 12 (Fri) Ueno Gakuen Hall, Hiroshima City
Dec. 15 (Mon) & 16 (Tue) Hakataza Theater, Fukuoka City
Dec. 19 (Fri) – 23 (Tue/Public Hol.) Bunkyo Civic Hall, Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo
Dec. 25 (Thu) Niigata Prefectural Civic Center, Niigata City
Earth Celebration 2014 Photo Gallery
A new gallery page with photos from Earth Celebration 2014 is now ready for viewing on the official EC website. Have a look at the great memories captured at EC this year!
Earth Celebration 2014 Photo Gallery
http://www.kodo.or.jp/ec/en/gallery2014/
“Member Notice: Yosuke Oda’s Recent Nuptials”
Yosuke Oda married Harei Aine on August 28, 2014.
We sincerely hope that you will all join us in congratulating the happy couple.
Harei Aine starred in the Takarazuka Revue as a male role performer until 2012 and has been a freelance artist ever since. In 2013, she collaborated with Kodo as a special guest artist in “Amaterasu,” portraying Ameno-uzume. We are delighted that she now has an even greater connection to Kodo and Sado Island and we wish Harei Aine and Yosuke Oda a very happy future together.
Photos: Takashi Okamoto
Harei Aine Official Website (in Japanese)
http://aineharei.com/