Feb 5 (Mon), 2018 / Last updated : Feb 5 (Mon), 2018 melanie Posts by Members, , ,

“We’ve Arrived in Brighton!” by Eri Uchida

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We have arrived in Brighton, UK, where we will give the first performance of “Kodo One Earth Tour 2018: Evolution”on our European tour.

Photo: Eri Uchida
Brighton is a port town in the south-east of the UK. It looks out to sea just like Sado Island, but unlike the fierce winter on Sado, this town has a calm shoreline thanks to the warm currents of the Atlantic Ocean.

Photo: Eri Uchida

The shops in Brighton aren’t large chain stores. The streets are filled with unique restaurants, variety stores, clothing shops, and antique dealers. I even saw a bonsai shop!

Photo: Eri UchidaThe shops have colorful pictures painted on their walls and the whole town has an artistic vibe. It was exciting just strolling around Brighton.

Photo: Eri UchidaAt night, the town is lit by warm street lamps, which are spaced out along the streets. The brick buildings make the town look so picturesque.

I saw a picture framer’s that had a sign reading:
“Let’s make this town full of artists.”
Perhaps it’s each person’s mindset that makes this town feel exciting to me.

Photo: Eri Uchida

I’ll looking forward to an exciting two-month tour!

“Kodo One Earth Tour 2018: Evolution” Europe Tour
https://www.kodo.or.jp/en/performance_en/performance_kodo_en/4522

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Jan 1 (Mon), 2018 / Last updated : Jan 10 (Wed), 2018 melanie Kodo Blog

Happy New Year!

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Happy New Year!

 

It’s the start of a brand new year: 2018. Kodo spent about half of 2017 touring in the USA and Japan with “DADAN” and throughout the year we presented “Interactive Performances” for school children and the public all over Japan. Last year, our varied lineup also included “Yugen,” our second major collaboration with Tamasaburo Bando, and special events on Sado Island such as “Earth Celebration” and “Kodo Sado Performances in Shukunegi.” Looking back, it was a whirlwind with so many different programmes, but it made for a very fulfilling year. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to everyone for their support throughout 2017.
In autumn last year, I had the opportunity to talk with Ryutaro Kaneko, a former senior Kodo member who we regularly invite to teach at Kodo Apprentice Centre. He told me that, “In any village or community, the fourth generation will start to question its true worth.”
In my official greeting at the beginning of 2017, I talked about two Japanese words that sound the same but have different meanings: shinka (evolve) and shinka (deepen). With Ryutaro’s words in mind, I would like to add a third word to that list: shinka (true worth). Kodo is entering an important era, just like the one Ryutaro described, and recently I have noticed the great weight of this new era.
A group such as ours is based on the wealth of ideas and skills that the senior members share with every new member. That precious asset makes all of our activities possible. By upholding the teachings of those before us, and enjoying the present, we can then hand that asset down to the next generation. This year we will continue to push ourselves to discover more of the endless possibilities of taiko performing arts. In 2018, our wide-ranging activities start with an extensive tour in Europe with “Kodo One Earth Tour 2018: Evolution.” We will dedicate ourselves to our work throughout the year with three things in mind: evolve, deepen, and consider Kodo’s true worth.

I sincerely hope that this year will be another good year for all of you. I kindly ask for your steadfast support and guidance throughout 2018.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Yuichiro Funabashi
Kodo Ensemble Leader
Jan. 1, 2018

Jan 20 (Mon), 2020 / Last updated : Jan 20 (Mon), 2020 melanie Posts by Members, , , , ,

Happy New Year!

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Jan. 1, 2020 

New Year’s Greeting from Kodo Ensemble Leader Yuichiro Funabashi

I wish you all a very happy new year!

I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who supported and appreciated our group’s work last year. It’s thanks to all of you that we were able to have a fulfilling year of activities. I would also like to offer my sincere condolences to the people recovering from the typhoons, flooding and other natural disasters that hit Japan and other parts of the world last year.

Looking back over 2019, Kodo kicked off the year with our “Evolution” North America tour. We also took this production to China, where we held our first tour there in 19 years. In Japan, we toured nationwide with “Michi” and our Interactive Performances.

In the summer, we returned to Tokyo’s Asakusa with “Iki,” a special program dedicated to the people of Asakusa. The locals helped us surprise the audience by bringing a slice of Asakusa’s annual festival to the performance. They joined us on stage carrying a portable shrine (mikoshi). It was a dream come true for us to share a taste of their traditional festival with our audience.

Later in the year, we had two wonderful opportunities to share the sound of Kodo with enormous audiences: the opening ceremony of the Rugby World Cup and the opening event for Japan National Stadium, home to the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.

The grand finale of our 2019 activities was Kodo “Sen no Mai,” a performance celebrating the 40th anniversary of Chieko Kojima‘s performance career. The work featured Chieko along with a cast of Kodo’s next generation. Under Chieko’s direction, they conjured a grand, beautiful realm on stage that enveloped the entire audience. It was a truly joyous production.

This year, first up for us is our “Kodo One Earth Tour: Legacy” tour in Europe. Back at home, we will visit schools and communities throughout Japan with our Interactive Performances. In May, we will premiere our long-awaited new work directed by Robert Le Page: NOVA.

Following our celebrations of Yoshikazu Fujimoto and Chieko Kojima’s performance careers, we are planning further commemoratives works to mark the milestones of other senior Kodo members who forged the foundations of our current activities.

Of course, we look forward to welcoming you all to our homeland, Sado Island, in 2020. We’ll be hosting our springtime Kodo Sado Island Performances in Shukunegi, and summer festival Earth Celebration. We’re working hard to make these events better than ever. Wherever we go, we share the sound of Kodo that was inspired by this wonderful island, and created at Kodo Village. We look forward to sharing the spirit of Sado Island with you, at home and on tour.

I sincerely hope this year is a great year for all of you. I kindly ask for your continued support and encouragement.


Yuichiro Funabashi
Leader
Kodo Taiko Performing Arts Ensemble

Jan 11 (Mon), 2021 / Last updated : Jan 11 (Mon), 2021 melanie Posts by Members, ,

Happy New Year

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January 1, 2020

Photo: Takashi Okamoto

New Year’s Greeting from Kodo Ensemble Leader
Yuichiro Funabashi

I wish you all a joyous new year.

I’m sure last year was a difficult one for everyone due to the effects of COVID-19.
For Kodo, the harsh circumstances caused by the pandemic are ongoing. While we were able to resume our touring in Japan, with meticulous measures in place to prevent the virus from spreading, we were forced to put our international tours and other plans on hold until the global pandemic situation improves.

It’s been a very challenging situation, which has led Kodo to search for a range of forms of expression. We have developed the strength to tackle new challenges and rediscovered the charms of Sado Island, the power of taiko, and the joy of being able to perform in front of audiences. Throughout the past unprecedented year, we received aid and encouragement from many people. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all of you for cheering us on.

This year, it’s Kodo’s 40th anniversary. Our history is a force that keeps us together and drives us forward. We will strive harness the power of the past four decades, using it to share the resounding sound of taiko from our home, Sado Island, for the next fifty years, century, and beyond.
I pray that the COVID-19 pandemic will end very soon, and that 2021 will be a great year for all of you.

I kindly ask for your ongoing guidance and encouragement throughout the year ahead.


Yuichiro Funabashi
Leader
Kodo Taiko Performing Arts Ensemble

 

Jan 11 (Tue), 2022 / Last updated : Jan 11 (Tue), 2022 melanie Posts by Members, ,

Happy New Year

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Jan. 1, 2022

New Year’s Greeting from Kodo Ensemble Leader Yuichiro Funabashi

I wish you all a very happy new year!

We celebrated Kodo’s 40th anniversary last year. We were really pleased to be able to hold commemorative tours and school tours, along with special events including “Inochi” with Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, and concerts at Bunkamura Orchard Hall.

Being able to share our sound with audiences in person again made 2021 a joyous year for us, despite the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Your support and encouragement gave us strength, and I want to sincerely thank all of you for cheering us on.

Last year we released new albums and DVDs, and shared our sound and spirit with the world through a range of offerings online including Kodo Taiko School, digital streaming, and our Heartbeat Radio series. While travel was restricted, we were so happy to connect with people far and wide in through these projects.

2021 was a milestone year, marking four decades of history for Kodo. We felt the immense power of that history throughout the year. It will drive us forward as we step into the next decade, heading towards Kodo’s 50th and 100th anniversaries. In 2022, we will continue to broaden the possibilities of taiko expression as we tackle new challenges head on.

We look forward to sharing time and space with you all this year. We also look forward to learning more here on Sado Island, and bringing the sound of Kodo to people all over Japan and around the world.

I sincerely hope that 2022 is a great year for each and every one of you.
I kindly ask for your continued guidance and encouragement.

 

Yuichiro Funabashi
Leader
Kodo Taiko Performing Arts Ensemble

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