Exploring the limitless possibilities of the traditional Japanese drum, the taiko, Kodo is forging new directions for a vibrant, living art form. In Japanese, the name “Kodo” conveys two meanings: firstly, “heartbeat,” the primal source of all rhythm; and, secondly, “children of the drum,” a reflection of Kodo’s desire to play the drums simply, with the heart of a child.
Since the group’s debut at the Berlin Festival in 1981, Kodo has given more than 3,700 performances across five continents, spending about a third of the year overseas, a third touring in Japan and a third rehearsing and preparing new material on Sado Island.
“Not only did their performance display a keen sense of technical ability as the 13 performers took to their taiko drums and various instruments, but the show also expressed the troupe’s desire . . . ‘to find a harmonious balance between people and the natural world,’ a notion that permeated each piece and echoed in the audience’s own heartbeats alike.”
— The Santa Barbara Independent
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