Profile - Members
Exploring the limitless possibilities of the traditional Japanese drum, the taiko, Kodo are forging new directions for a vibrant living art-form. In Japanese the word "Kodo" conveys two meanings: Firstly, "heartbeat" the primal source of all rhythm. The sound of the great taiko is said to resemble a mother's heartbeat as felt in the womb, and it is no myth that babies are often lulled asleep by its thunderous vibrations. Secondly, read in a different way, the word can mean "children of the drum," a reflection of Kodo's desire to play their drums simply, with the heart of a child. Since their debut at the Berlin Festival in 1981, Kodo have given over 2500 performances on all five continents, spending about a third of the year overseas, a third touring in Japan and a third resting and preparing new material on Sado Island. Kodo strives to both preserve and re-interpret traditional Japanese performing arts. Beyond this, members on tours and research trips all over the globe have brought back to Sado a kaleidoscope of world music and experiences which now exerts a strong influence on the group's performances and compositions. Collaborations with other artists and composers extend right across the musical spectrum and Kodo's lack of preconceptions about its music continues to produce startling new fusion and forms.
Kodo Village
After more than a decade of living in a converted schoolhouse, Kodo finally obtained 25 acres of thickly-forested land on the Ogi peninsula in the southern part of the island, and in 1988 the opening ceremony of the village was held. In keeping with Kodo's dedication to preserving traditional arts, the first structure, the main office building, was reassembled from the rimbers of a 200 year-old farmhouse that was scheduled for demolition. It has now been extended and includes communal cooking and dining areas as well as a library devoted to world music and dance. Since then, a reception building (also a reassembled farmhouse), a dormitory building, a studio and most recently a magnificent new rehearsal hall have been added. In addition to these main communal buildings, married members of the group have been building family homes on surrounding land.
Frequently Asked Questions ...
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Sado Taiko Centre
We are pleased to announce that the Sado Taiko Centre, located right next to the Kodo Village, has been completed. Designed to provide learning materials and hands-on experience in the ancient art of taiko, this facility was made possible by the Sado municipal government working in cooperation with the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
In addition to providing a venue for practicing taiko and other traditional performing arts, the facility also includes classrooms for cooking classes, an exhibition space, a library and meeting rooms. The two-story wooden building was made from all local materials from Sado Island, and uses "Earth Furniture" made from Sado timber.
Junior high school and high school students from both on and off the island will be invited for workshops and gatherings at the centre. It is hoped that this facility will be a place to experience the rich performing-art culture of Sado Island, as well as a place to place to pass on a 'culture of creation' to future generations. Kodo also looks forward to using this facility as avenue for exchange with people from Sado and all over the world. We hope that we can share some the knowledge and experience we have gained through our activities on the island and through our travels over the past 25 years.