Kodo, a taiko drumming group that is one of the most famous percussion-based musical ensembles in the world, will perform at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia on March 25 as one of the stops on its current “One Earth Tour 2013: Legend.”

“This tour -- ‘Legend’ -- is a new production,” said Kodo company manager Jun Akimoto during a recent phone interview. “It was premiered in Tokyo in 2012 in May. It has new compositions and a lot of new performers. The first half is more theatrical and the second half is more typical powerful Kodo style.”

In Japanese the word “Kodo” conveys two meanings. The “heartbeat” is said to be 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. The second meaning of “Kodo” is “children of the drum” – a meaning that is invoked as a reflection of Kodo’s desire to play their drums simply and with the heart of a child.

“Kodo has been in existence since 1981,” said Akimoto. “It was formed by musicians who had been members of the taiko group Ondekoza. There are still six musicians in the group who were original members.”

Kodo has its own village on Japan’s Sado Island.

“Sado Island is a place that is very isolated from mainland Japan,” said Akimoto. “There is a town there but it us very small. And, there are some other villages around the island. Every village has a unique style of culture, music and language. Kodo is originally from mainland Japan. It took us a long time to be accepted by the islanders.

“Our village has a large music hall, our business office and dormitories. Apprentices who want to become members of Kodo come and live here in the dormitories. Many young people apply for apprenticeship. It takes two years as an apprentice and one year as a provisional member to become a full member.”