JAPAN 2001
August 31st - September 12th.

Kodo drummers

This is an incredible opportunity to study the folkloric drumming, song and dance of Japan. Japan 2001 will take you to the Kodo Apprentice Center on Sado Island to study with the internationally renowned Kodo drummers and folkloric ensemble, Hanayui.

Experience life at the Kodo Apprentice Center, located in a beautiful mountainous area near the Japan Sea, where Kodo's apprentices are in training, and local people will be preparing for demon taiko for festival performances.

Japan 2001 will start by taking you to "Nihon no Taiko" concert in Tokyo. Nihon no Taiko is an annual concert of more then 20 years featuring a mix of traditional and contemporary groups from different areas of Japan. Groups like Osuwa daiko, Sukeroku-daiko, Eitetsu Hayashi, Samul Nori, Ondekoza and Miyarabi have performed there. (This year's program has not been announced yet).

Also included on the trip is a visit to the Miyamoto Taiko Museum, a Bunya performance, and a workshop with local artisians. One night stay will be at the Hananoki hotel located in the classic Japanese village Shukunegi. The hotel owned by a famous potter and is walking distance from the ocean at sunset. An additional night on Sado will be at Tokaen, which has a Japanese hot spring, and serves organic food.

Hanayui is trio of artists whose performances focus on song and dance with taiko accompaniment. The group is made up of Kodo members, Chieko Kojima and Yoko Fujimoto, and Okinawan dance expert, Mitsue Kinjo. Finding themselves together on Sado, they decided to pool their talents to create Hanayui.

The Japanese word hana means flower and symbolizes the youthful energy that Hanayui puts into their performances. The word yui recalls a relationship indicative of villages in rural Japan. When it came time for a family to plant rice or thatch a roof, the Yui was the group of friends and neighbors who gathered together to help. What bound the villagers together was the spirit of yui. Several twists of fate brought the members of Hanayui together on Sado island, and the spirit of Yui is the driving force behind their song and dance. Those who sing and dance with them become part of their Yui/ Community.

The workshops will focus on traditional Japanese song and dance, Okinawan dance, and give participants an opportunity to interact with the instructors. Hanayui's performances and workshops are guaranteed to enliven both body and soul.

Eiichi Saito

Kodo's Eiichi Saito has emerged as not only a central performer on stage but as the group's primary workshop leader. Eiichi's workshops focus on developing a passionate approach to playing taiko. His workshops mix hard work, hard play and the high-energy style that has become Eiichi's trademark. The workshops are aimed at promoting expression through physical awareness, not only for drummers but for anybody who wants to know about the approach to drumming that is central to Kodo's life....

Born in Ofune, Tochigi-prefecture, Chieko Kojima joined Ondekoza in 1976 and thus began her encounter with folk dancing. After the formation of Kodo, Chieko made a niche for herself as a female and for her original style of dancing in the taiko-based Kodo performance. Since then, she has incorporated elements of Japanese folk dance, such as Tsugaru Te-odori, and Balinese dance into her routine.

Chieko Kojima

Yoko Fujimoto

Born in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Yoko Fujimoto graduated from the NHK School for the Development of Skill in Japanese Music. In 1976, Yoko became a member of the Ondekoza. After singing, dancing and playing koto with the group, Yoko started to edit the newsletter of the newly-formed Kodo. Since a 1988 concert appearance with another Kodo member, Motofumi Yamaguch, Kodo has started singing once again -- to all of our delight.

Okinawa-native Mitsue Kinjo entered the Okinawan dance troupe "Hana no Kai" in 1979 and was trained by Takako Sato. It was through her activities in Okinawan dance that Mitsue first encountered Kodo. Later, after receiving the Okinawa Times Highest Award for Achievement in the Performing Arts, Mitsue married a Kodo member and moved to Sado Island. Mitsue first participated in the Kodo Village Festival as a member of Hanayui, and has continued in to participate as a dancer in other capacities since then.

Mitsue Kinjo

	The price of the trip includes workshop, airfare, accommodations, transportation (bus, train, ferry), two meals per day while on Sado (8 days), concert, museum, and bunya performance. Only $2,550.

We are encouraging taiko players, and professional musicians and dancers to join us on this trip. Because it is a special privilege to study with Kodo an application is required. If you are interested receiving an application, or have questions send your email to Rhythmixxx@aol.com.

JAPAN 2001 ITINERARY

DATE	DAY	AM	PM	STAY
August 31	Friday		Depart San Francisco 1:00PM
September 1	Saturday		Arrive Tokyo 3:35PM	Kojimachi Kaikan, Tokyo
September 2	Sunday	Taiko Museum & Miyamoto Shop	Nihon no Taiko Concert	Kojimachi Kaikan, Tokyo
September 3	Monday	Depart from Tokyo	Arrive on Sado	Hanaoki, Sado
September 4	Tuesday	Welcome performance by Hanayui and Orientation	Hanayui Workshop Chieko Kojima	Kodo Apprentice Center, Sado
September 5	Wednesday	Hanayui Workshop Mitsue Kinjo	Hanayui Workshop Yoko Fujimoto	Kodo Apprentice Center, Sado
September 6	Thursday	Hanayui Workshop	Taiko Workshop Eiichi Saito	Kodo Apprentice Center, Sado
September 7	Friday	Taiko Workshop Eiichi Saito	Taiko Workshop Eiichi Saito	Kodo Apprentice Center, Sado
September 8	Saturday	Closing Workshop	Depart Kodo	Tokaen, Sado
September 9	Sunday	Bunya Puppet Show & Workshop	Free Time	Tokaen, Sado
September 10	Monday	Local Artisian visit & Workhshop	Free Time	Hanaoki, Sado
September 11	Tuesday	Depart from Sado	Arrive in Tokyo	Kojimachi Kaikan, Tokyo
September 12	Wednesday	Free Time	Depart Tokyo 6:00PM	Arrive San Francisco 11:00AM

DAILY SCHEDULE AT KODO APPRENTICE CENTER

FROM	TO	ACTIVITY
6:30AM		Wake up
6:40AM		Exercise and jogging
7:15 AM		Breakfast
8:00AM		Cleaning
9:00AM	12:00PM	Workshop
12:30PM	1:30PM	Lunch
2:00PM	5:00PM	Workshop
6:30PM	7:30PM	Dinner
7:30PM	9:00PM	Free
9:00PM	10:00PM	Apprentice practice (observation possible)
11:30PM		Lights Out

Kodo Apprentice Center Policies

Kodo does not usually have the general public stay at the Apprentice Center. It is a special opportunity to experience daily life at the Center. Kodo would like participants of the workshop to be aware of the following.

Sleeping accommodations will be communal style, men and women separately. You will be sleeping on tatami mats.
Bath and shower will be Japanese style.
There is no flush toilet
Cellular phones are out of range
There is no alcohol consumption during meals
Smoking is allowed only in designated areas

JAPAN 2001 August 31st - September 12th.

The price of the trip includes workshop, airfare, accommodations, transportation (bus, train, ferry), two meals per day while on Sado (8 days), concert, museum, and bunya performance. Only $2,550.

We are encouraging taiko players, and professional musicians and dancers to join us on this trip. Because it is a special privilege to study with Kodo an application is required. If you are interested receiving an application, or have questions send your email to Rhythmixxx@aol.com.

JAPAN 2001
August 31st - September 12th.