Exploring the limitless possibilities of the traditional Japanese drum, the taiko, Kodo is forging new directions for a vibrant living art-form.
Today marks seven years since the Tohoku Pacific Earthquake & Tsunami.
I would like to offer my sincere sympathy once more to all the people who were affected by this disaster.
While this day will remind them of many things, I pray that they will also find peace.
It’s a quiet Sunday at the Kodo Village rehearsal hall.
I will take a moment of silence at 2:46pm to remember Tohoku.
March 11, 2019
Today marks eight years since the Tohoku Pacific Earthquake and Tsunami.
On behalf of Kodo, I would like to express our heartfelt condolences to everyone who was affected by this disaster.
We continue to pray for the recovery of the affected regions and hope the people there find peace.
We will not forget this day.
We continue to care.
We are traveling performers who still ask ourselves
What we felt and what we were able to do at that time.
We will continue to drum and share the sound of taiko.
Today, we will take a moment of silence at 2:46pm.
Jan. 1, 2020 
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
January 1, 2020
Photo: Takashi Okamoto
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. 1, 2022
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
