Posts by Kodo Members
“Autumn ‘Kiyohime’ Photo Shoot on Sado Island” by Chieko Kojima
Hi, everyone! How are you? It’s Chieko here. I’d like to tell you about the “Kiyohime Picture Scroll” project I am currently working on.
“Kiyohime” is a profound work that I perform as part of my solo Yukiai performances, which is based on the female protagonist, Kiyohime, from the Dojoji Tales. For a year now, I have let that character loose on Sado Island to take photographs backed by the distinct four seasons for a Kiyohime photo book. Photographer Maiko Miyagawa, who is also an official photographer at Earth Celebration, is taking the photos for this project. This work is a collabration between the two of us.
Kiyohime standing in a freezing cold blizzard…
reaching out to a subtle color or fragrance…
basking in the light refracted from the summer sea…
making leaves fall all around with the resonating sound of her taiko playing…
We have captured a special story of Kiyohime through the camera lens as the seasons perpetually change.
Snow, wind, sea, flames, forest, flowers… everything was beautiful…
This photo book is also a collaboration with beautiful Sado Island.
It will be printed on traditional Japanese paper. So, no two will be the same.
Our book will go on sale in Spring 2015. I’m so excited.
For those of you who can’t wait, here are just a few of Kiyohime’s autumn scenes.
I hope you will enjoy the seasons of beautiful Sado with Kiyohime once our work is complete!
With photographer Maiko Miyagawa
Message from the Cast of the December Kodo Workshop Performance Tour
Kodo Workshop Performance Tour
The current Kodo Workshop Performance Tour has a brand new cast and programme!
Here’s a message from first-time programme director Eri Uchida and the cast. They’re looking forward to seeing everyone on their tour for some fun with taiko!
Next Public Performance:
Taiko Experience Corner during a School Workshop Performance
“On our Way to Nagoya!” by Mariko Omi
We are currently on the road with “Kodo One Earth Tour: Eternity.” Yesterday, we traveled to Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture for our next performance. It’s December and the wind has gotten chillier, but I felt so enlivened by the warm sun and the blue sky with not a single cloud in sight!
On our journey, we were greeted by beautiful Mt. Fuji. It was such a powerful sight, even from afar.
Seeing such wonderful nature really replenished our energy.
We are waiting for you all at Aichi Prefectural Arts Theater Concert Hall in Nagoya tonight!
This production features many scenes were each and every sound entwines, so I am looking forward to hearing our sound echo in a concert hall. I also look forward to seeing everyone there! 
December 4 (Thu), 2014 Aichi Prefectural Arts Theater Concert Hall, Nagoya, Aichi
【Door Sales】 Available from 17:30 at the venue (Cash sales)
Kodo One Earth Tour: Eternity 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 ▶Schedule & Box Office Details
“Making Sasara Together” by Kenta Nakagome
Before we set off on tour, the Workshop Performance cast worked together to make sasara (split bamboo rods) for a traditional deer dance called Shishi Odori, which is featured in LION on the upcoming tour. It took us two weeks to complete them, working between rehearsals and at night, too.
Left: The finished sasara. Right: We cut down bamboo, cut each length to size, split each rod into whisk-like slats, and took off the nodes.
Then we filed the bamboo and pasted pieces of Japanese paper on to them to complete them!
We are now using these props to perform “LION,” for the first time in ages on tour! We hope everyone will enjoy it!
Please come along to see one of our public performances listed below.
Kodo | Workshop Performances
http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20141200koryu_en.html
- Dec. 7 (Sun), 2014Kyoto Performing Arts Center Shunjuza, Kyoto City
- Dec. 20 (Sat), 2014 Kunitachi Geijutsu Sho-Hall, Kunitachi, Tokyo
We made this “Bamboo Man” from one of the offcuts. We stand on him to massage the soles of our feet.
“Bon Voyage, Workshop Performance Tour!” by Maya Minowa
The Kodo Workshop Performance tour, directed by performer Eri Uchida, left Kodo Village ahead of the One Earth Tour members. We played taiko as we saw them off, without giving in to the rain.
Bon voyage! All the best with your month-long tour as you share the sound of taiko with children around Japan!
Kodo School Workshop Performances
http://www.kodo.or.jp/koryu/index_en.html
Workshop Performance Schedules
http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20141200koryu_en.html
- Dec. 7 (Sun), 2014 Kyoto Performing Arts Center Shunjuza, Kyoto City
- Dec. 20 (Sat), 2014 Kunitachi Geijutsu Sho-Hall, Kunitachi, Tokyo
▼Check out this video about the upcoming performance at Kyoto Performing Arts Center Shunjuza, which includes a message from Kenta Nakagome.
▼Watch on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWtN5r5BQKo&feature=youtu.be
“Opening Night of ‘Eternity'” by Mitsuru Ishizuka
Nov. 20 Opening Night of “Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Eternity”
It took about a year to create our latest production, “Eternity,” and we celebrated its premiere on Sado Island.
Katarai (Composed by Tsuyoshi Maeda, arranged by Tamasaburo Bando)
Sunrise, light, wind, waves, the presence of flora and fauna, rain, clouds, the dark of night, stars, the moon, and then it’s morning again…
The perpetual working of nature. Every single phenomenon in this world continues on and on in endless spirals. Amidst those workings, people are allowed to exist, to live. Every piece in this programme depicts scenes incorporating these elements, all newly composed especially for this production.
When I first heard the title “Eternity,” I was surprised that we had been given such an enormous theme to work with, but as we delved into it with our artistic director, Tamasaburo Bando, we arrived at the realization that what we most wanted to portray was “human beings.” It really felt right, and we could all start creating pieces for it without any great strain.
Michiru (Composed & choreographed by Mitsuru Ishizuka)
By using all new pieces to create a completely new stage production, we have taken a big step away from our artistic director’s productions to date. So for us, the performers, it was a year spent wondering how it was going to unfold on stage and not really knowing without an audience to perform before. So, when the opening night finally arrived, the mood backstage was rather different than usual. There was a heavy feeling of tension in the air.
At last, it was time for the curtain to rise. On stage, we could feel the audience’s nervousness and expectation as they wondered what was going to happen. So, what did happen…?!
Well, to find out, please come and experience the performance live for yourself!
Our “Eternity” tour is ready to go!
Photos: Takashi Okamoto
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
“Performance at Shinon Kansha Nihon Taiko Matsuri” by Maya Minowa
Performance at Shinon Kansha Nihon Taiko Matsuri on Nov. 8 & 9
A small Kodo ensemble appeared at “12th Shinon Kansha Nihon Taiko Matsuri” for the first time in Ise in Mie Prefecture. We performed at Okage Yokocho taiko turret and on the Isuzu River banks near Ise Grand Shrine, giving performances on both days at both places. Twelve taiko teams took part in the festival and it was a great opportunity for us to see them all in action. I learned so much! 
At the Okage Yokocho taiko turret, we were surrounded by spectators on all four sides, and they were within arms reach from us, so it felt very different from playing in the halls where we usually perform. They were able to see our facial expressions up-close as well as our backs, which they usually can’t see when we are far away on stage. It was a dedicatory performance, so before we performed each time we prayed to the shrine, then played taiko with gratitude and respect.
We visited the inner shrine of Ise Grand Shrine, absorbed the pure atmosphere there, and then made our way back to Sado Island.
“Gin-iro no Kaze (Silver Wind) Song & Bamboo Flute Concert” by Kosuke Urushikubo
Hello everyone!
On Sado Island, it is getting colder and it’s the harvest season now.
Next month on Dec. 18, Kunitachi Geijutsu Sho-Hall in Tokyo will host “Gin-iro no Kaze (Silver Wind) Song & Bamboo Flute Concert,” a special performance featuring two of Kodo’s distinguished members: Yoko Fujimoto performing songs from her second album “Yamazu Megurumo” and Motofumi Yamaguchi performing songs under his solo project banner, “Ikkan Fugetsu.”
I will make a small appearance in the second half during “Ikkan Fugetsu.” I am looking forward to performing with Motofumi, who I have admired since I was a school student. I hope you can come along!
Gin-iro no Kaze (Silver Wind) Song & Bamboo Flute Concert
Dec. 18 (Thu), 2014 Kunitachi Geijutsu Sho-Hall, Kunitachi, Tokyo
http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20141218kodo3days_en.html
“Kodo Workshop Performance at Kyoto’s Shunjuza” by Kenta Nakagome
During our tour, I made a detour to Kyoto to do some publicity for the upcoming Kodo Workshop Performance with the staff from our host venue, Shunjuza at Kyoto University of Art and Design.
Some members of the Kodo group are alumni of this university. I met the theater staff and felt their passion towards our performance. We have a special connection to this venue, which makes me very happy to perform there.
Please come along to watch the special Shunjuza version of our performance!
Dec. 7 (Sun), 2014 Kyoto Performing Arts Center Shunjuza, Kyoto City
http://www.kodo.or.jp/news/20141207koryu_en.html
Kyoto Performing Arts Center Shunjuza Official Website (In Japanese)
http://www.k-pac.org/performance/20141207.html
“Miwaku Dancers in ‘Eternity'” by Jun Jidai
Nov. 15, 2014
Our brand new production, “Kodo One Earth Tour: Eternity,” premieres on Nov. 20! Right now we are at the climax of our rehearsals!
In this performance, Koki, Shogo, Mariko, and I will dance in a new piece called Miwaku. It is a unique dance, like some kind of magical ceremony. Please come and watch us in action.
Spiraling sounds will lure you to another dimension.
Once the curtain rises, another world will be revealed.
Please join us for “Eternity.”
Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Eternity
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