Kodo at Earth Celebration 2018 – Day 3
Check out these photos and posts featuring Kodo on Day 3 of Earth Celebration 2018 (Aug. 17–19)
Earth Celebration Official Website
Kodo at Earth Celebration 2018 – Day 2
Check out these photos and posts featuring Kodo on Day 2 of Earth Celebration 2018 (Aug. 17–19)
Earth Celebration Official Website
Save the dates for EC 2019: Aug. 16–18!
Kodo at Earth Celebration 2018 – Day 1
Check out these photos and posts featuring Kodo on Day 1 of Earth Celebration 2018 (Aug. 17–19)
Earth Celebration Official Website
Save the dates for EC 2019: Aug. 16–18!
“A Change of Scene for the Kodo Apprentices” by Eri Uchida
July 26, 2018
After their regular training session yesterday afternoon, Kodo Apprentice Centre manager Gan (Yasuhiko Ishihara) took the apprentices to Sobama Beach.
That may sound like fun, but it wasn’t for leisure.
First, the apprentices ran along the sandy beach… and then they ran some more.
Running on sand slowed them down but it gave them a change of scene, with a different view to their training every morning. It feels different for them, too, running barefoot with gentle waves lapping at their feet.
After that, they all danced Onikenbai together, a demon sword dance. You’d expect dancing on sand to also be harder than usual, but dancing on the beach together looked liberating and enjoyable for them.
They had some free time after their workout and they all took this chance to leap into the sea.
At the Apprentice Centre, they may experience a lot of difficult challenges and tough times. I guess when you have fun times and happy experiences after such lows, the highs feel even higher.
Seeing them have as much fun as they could during this short break made me think about the spectrum of emotions they experience during the programme.
Maybe this setting created that sense of liberation I noted.
Sado truly is an island filled with nature.
I’m glad Kodo is based on Sado. This island helps us grow everyday.
Seeking Apprentices for the Kodo Ensemble Performer Development Course
Applications are now open for the 2019 intake!
[Application Period] July 6 (Fri)–Nov. 9 (Fri), 2018 *Note: Applications must be received by Nov. 9
[Application Procedure] https://www.kodo.or.jp/en/apr_en/research_students
*Please note that all apprentices require advanced Japanese-language skills.
“Michi – The End and the Beginning” by Kodai Yoshida
One productions ends, and we head right into the next one. That’s the life of a Kodo member. It’s one endless challenge.
Someone once said to me, “Don’t feel secure. There’s someone better than you out there.”
I realized that every time one event finished, I felt a sense of relief.
Somehow, I got really angry when I heard those words.
Angry at myself for knowing that I felt secure and just carried on like that anyway.
I strongly felt the truth in those words when I was on tour with “Michi.”
You can’t afford to rest on your laurels, because the moment you think “I nailed it,” you’ll find another obstacle right in front of you.
The next obstacle is often like a big wall that you can’t see past. So you never know how big the following obstacle will be; all you can do is face the one right in front of you.
Lately, I’ve been spurred on by this kind of insecurity, as I tried to climb up and over each new wall.
Sometimes I’ve had to go back to the start line, sometimes I got knocked down.
One thing is for sure: I’ll keep climbing. I wonder how far I’ll go.
That’s up to me, right?
Bring on the next challenge!
Thank you for supporting our two-month “Michi” 2018 Japan Tour!
