Posts by Kodo Members
“Road to Dadan” by Kenta Nakagome
Today it is cold and snowing on Sado Island… and we had a run-through rehearsal of “Dadan” at Kodo Village.
We are beating the drums with all our might with the new junior members.
“O-daiko Ura-uchi” by Jun Jidai
“Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Legend” O-daiko Ura-uchi
In the second act of the performance, there are three O-daiko soloists who perform one after the other, and the third one is Yosuke Oda.
Wild, free, like he is beating the drum instinctively: he plays that kind of “O-daiko.” On this tour, I am playing the back of the drum, which is the bass rhythm part called “ura-uchi.”*
There is something great about standing on either side of the odaiko, the atmosphere and the air of tension. At first, the harder I tried, the more I’d lose the plot, or collide, or get ahead of where I was meant to be, and I couldn’t get my energy to accompany Yosuke’s energy properly. It was frustrating and it troubled me for ages.
n Milan, I was rehearsing with Yosuke before the performance and he said, “Relax, and be calm.” So I made a clean break and tried to play really calmly.
And when I did that, Yosuke said “Yes, that’s the way! When you play calmly, you could see all kinds of things, right? You need to face me with the exact opposite to my energy. Then our energy will meet in just the right spot.”
I felt like new things had popped up in my senses for sure. “So that’s what he meant!,” I thought to myself. I learned how good it feels when the two of us are in sync.
Playing the back of the odaiko teaches you a lot.
I’ll do my best behind the big drum again today!
*”Ura-uchi” is the person who plays the bass rhythm on the back of the odaiko (big drum), with their body and soul in unity with the soloist on the front of the drum.
“My Onna-uchi (Women’s Style Taiko) Workshop: Winter” by Chieko Kojima
Jan. 26, 2014
Spring, summer, fall and winter… the seeds I brought from Sado Island from the four seasons have bloomed in the taiko playing of each participant.
For the workshops at Taiko no Sato Kyowakan, we had introductory sessions and step-up sessions so everyone could take the time to master “Hana Hachijo.” The goal was “to elegantly play taiko in a kimono.”
We had the final day of the year’s workshops today. Women in their kimono faced the taiko with pure courage, and I was in “full bloom” with joy like a bouquet of colorful flowers.
Takahito Nishino joined me as an assistant for the workshops.
Instead of certificates, I made sashes and gave them to the
graduates, which they can use to tuck back the sleeves of their kimono.
All of them told me that they want to continue with this taiko style, and I am all for it! “Hana Hachijo” means “Flower Hachijo,” so let’s make lots of Hachijo flowers bloom together!
“Winter on Sado” by Eri Uchida
Jan. 30, 2014
Today, we have wonderful weather, which is rarely seen on Sado at this time of year. How beautiful the morning sea is! I saw a stairway to heaven.
The sky over Kodo Village is so blue! This is very unusual!
I wish it was warm like today everyday, but it is still in January. I don’t think I can be that optimistic.
I convinced myself this year that winter is meant to be cold, so I should warm myself up! So, I run when it’s chilly, play “Yatai-bayashi” when it’s freezing and battle on against the winter weather. Now, I really miss springtime. I think it’s important to look forward to the next season coming, especially in such modern times.
Many of us are pleased with this mild winter, but the only person who is sulking and saying ” I want to play in the snow!” like a kid is .. this guy in dressed in yellow.
“A Stroll in Paris” by Tetsumi Hanaoka
After our performances in Rome and Milan in Italy, we have arrived in Paris, France.
I went out for a walk and was looking about in a shop and couldn’t believe I found Mano Tsuru sake from the Obata Shuzo sake brewery on Sado Island!
I asked the shop assistant and they said they had ordered it in especailly because it’s delicious…
Japanese stores Book Off and Uniqlo have also made their way onto the streets of Paris.
It’s only been 2 weeks since I left Japan, but this stroll in Paris made me feel a bit homesick.
“We’re off to Europe” by Tetsumi Hanaoka
The “Kodo One Earth Tour: Legend” Europe tour group has left Kodo Village. It will be a long trip of over 2 months, and I’ll do my best, cheered on by so many people seeing us off!
I’m on my way!
Farewell Taiko
“Bidding a Bon Voyage to the One Earth Tour” by Tomohiro Mitome
The “Legend” Europe tour cast and staff just left Kodo Village to the beat of a taiko farewell by those staying behind.
Please take care on your two-month journey and give good performances, everyone!
“O-daiko Rehearsals for ‘Legend'” by Yosuke Kusa
We’re packing in the rehearsals for “One Earth Tour: Legend” that begins at the end of January.
Today Masayuki is making minor adjustments to his “O-daiko” solo, working hard in preparation for opening night.
“Kodo Village Dondo-yaki” by Mariko Omi
We had our village “Dondo-yaki” today, which we always have on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunisolar year, January. “Dondo-yaki” is a New Year’s bonfire when we burn New Year’s decorations.
In the early evening we started to gather around, we sang a “Dondo-yaki” song, and set the fire alight.
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Happy New Year!
Thank you in advance for your continued support in 2014.
From the Kodo ensemble
… at snowy Kodo Village