Japanese-Style Drumming Rooted in Farming, Fishing
Kodo: masterfully committed to tradition

Members of the Japanese drumming group Kodo had a rough start to their 30th anniversary One Earth Tour through North America.

The ensemble made it to the States safely, but its drums weren't so lucky.

A shipping issue delayed the arrival of the 25 drums -one in excess of 900 pounds - by three weeks, forcing Kodo to cancel its first show in Spokane, Wash.

"It was the first time we have ever had to cancel a performance," Jun Akimoto, Kodo member and company manager, said in a phone interview last week from Berkeley, Calif. "We were very disappointed."

The drums eventually made it safe and sound, and will be on hand when Kodo takes the stage at Centennial Hall on Sunday, but it was a tense few weeks.

Akimoto likened the group's not having its handcrafted instruments to a classical violinist's not being able to play his Stradivarius. Kodo could have sought out similar drums from any one of the numerous taiko groups in the United States, but it wouldn't have been the same.

Kodo members are disciplined players and masters at their craft. The 25 drummers, 12 of whom are coming to Tucson, live on the secluded Sado Island in the Sea of Japan, where they spend every waking hour keeping up with the ins and outs of traditional Japanese drumming.

Kodo hopefuls live two years on the island as apprentices before officially becoming members of the group. Many don't make the cut.

"We have people who drop out during their first year," Akimoto said. "Younger people these days have weaker physiques. This is an art form that is rooted in rice cropping, fishing and farming. The new generation is accustomed to a Western way of life."

Those who do pass muster must commit themselves fully to Kodo. That includes helping out with the farming, tending the surrounding forest and keeping up Kodo Village, Kodo's 25-acre home, built by members in 1988.

"They have to learn how to be less individualistic," Akimoto said. "This goes beyond what is learned on the drums. This applies to every aspect of Kodo life."

When the group first started, Kodo was made up of young, idealistic students, looking for a way to immerse themselves in their cultural roots through drumming.

Today, Kodo's ranks span several generations. The eldest is 60 and the youngest, 21. Several of Kodo's newest recruits will be in Tucson this Sunday.

The group will perform 10 pieces: classic Kodo works that Tucson fans might be familiar with, as well as a few new projects, from Kodo's most recent album "Akatsuki."

The evening will open with a new solo work, "Sakaki," composed by member Masaru Tsuji, then move directly into a full ensemble piece, dubbed "Stride," designed to demonstrate the raw power of the drum.

The third new piece, Shogo Yoshii's "Sora," appears in the second half of the two-hour production, with elements that are not usually found in traditional taiko.

"Shogo has collaborated with many different groups from many different countries," Akimoto said. "His experiences have led him to experiment with many different melody styles. People can hear Brazilian rhythms and Irish melodies in 'Sora.' Some people can hear music from the Punjab region. It blends naturally, and at the same time, is still deeply rooted in Japanese traditional music."

Akimoto said experimentation is all part of Kodo's evolution as it looks toward its next 30 years.

"It is good to balance new directions with tradition," he added. "The traditional aspects will always be inside of us. We can't lose it, no matter how hard we try."

IF YOU GO

Kodo in concert

• When: 6 p.m. Sunday

• Where: Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd

• Tickets: $29-$59 through the Centennial Hall box office, 621-3341 or through uapresents.org

Gerald M. Gay, a former Star reporter, is a Tucson-based freelance writer.