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KASA/MIX TOUR 2003

In September, 2003 Kodo Arts Sphere America (KASA) and RhythMix Cultural Works teamed up to bring a group of 23 North Americans on a "KASAMIX" cultural tour of Japan.


RhythMix member and tour leader Janet Koike reports.
Photos by Buntaro Tanaka, Mark Rooney, and Dean MacNeil
September 1 - Narita Airport, Tokyo Staff members, Chie Otsuka, Mark Rooney and I anxiously await the arrival of our tour group members who have travelled from Toronto, Chicago, Connecticut, Utah, Hawaii, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco - all over North America. To reach this point, months of preparation have been required by everyone involved. We call Daniel Rosen (KASA) and Atsushi Sugano (Kodo Cultural Foundation) to confirm that each traveller has arrived safely. From different places for different reasons all are brought together by taiko to embark on a journey.
September 2 - Tokyo In Asakusa, we visit the Miyamoto Taiko Museum, and do lots of shopping. Later, at Miyamoto Studios, Kiyonari Toshasensei gives us a workshop in the fundamentals of 'Oedo Sukeroku' style.

September 3 - Travel to Sado We cross the countryside by bullet train and the water aboard the Sado ferry. A hilltop view of Ogi Port and the healing powers of Ogi no Yu(hot springs) rejuvenate travel weary spirits so that we can enjoy an elegant stay and feast at the Hana no Kiinn.

September 4-9 - Apprentice Centre A bus takes us to Kodo Village for a tour of the rehearsal hall and staff workplace. Then to the Apprentice Centre, where we are greeted with an enchanting 'Welcome Performance' by Kodo's workshop staff and apprentices.
The next 5 days are filled with taiko, song, dance, jogging and chores. We are infused with a commitment to art, community and heart. Eiichi Saito's workshops teach us how to play with the boundless energy of 'one spirit'.
Chieko Kojima shows Eiichi Saito's taiko workshop us the joy of dance through the grace of intentional movements. Yoko Fujimoto leads us to explore the depth of heart that can be reached with the human voice. The intent of their teaching is met with our enthusiasm to learn and we acquire a deeper respect for these artists and the information they impart.

Who could ask for more? But there is so much more. We are able to visit a local village that is preparing for a matsuri (festival) by practicing Ondeko (Demon taiko and dance) to dispel evil and bring good fortune. We are given talks by Michiko Chida and Chie Otsuka that open doors of understanding to the history, origins and context of taiko and Japanese folk culture.

And then there are the kenshusei (apprentices) who cooked for us and shared their way of life. My personal joy was teaching them Cuban song and rhythms that we arrange into a piece to perform at the Kodo farewell party, an event filled with high spirits, food, drink and drums for all, playing, dancing, and singing together into the night.

September 9 - Final day with Kodo We are instructed by Ueno-san, a local master of 'Yamada Hanya Bushi'. By combining dance, music and song our understanding of taiko becomes more complete. Next we are whisked off to watch a Kodo rehearsal.

In a splendid daze we return to Hana no Ki for a lesson in pottery making from its owner Watanabe-sensei, and another meal fit for a king shared with Kodo Staff members.

September 10 - Travel back to Tokyo It is heart breaking to say good bye to our Kodo escorts at the ferry terminal. We travel back to Tokyo rich with experience.

September 11 - Tokyo The final part of our journey takes us on a full moon 9/11 night to pray for world peace at Kamegaoka Hachimangu Shrinein Ichigaya, and to witness an offering of Gagakumusic played by Suenobu Togi-sensei and his students.

September 12 Strangers, now friends, it is time to part ways. Eiichi talks about taiko bringing people together. Coming together as individuals makes our KASA/MIX tour group unique. Playing taiko, dance and singing together we embrace the strength of community that extends beyond the limits of this short journey. As each person takes that experience home to share with their own North American taiko group, the journey will continue to grow.
In the words of fellow participant, Stan Shikuma of Seattle Kokon Taiko:

"The tour was wonderful in so many ways, yet I find it hard to convey that to other people in my group. At first I thought it was the way I presented it, but now I think perhaps they are asking the wrong questions, or perhaps it's just something that must be experienced firsthand. Most people want to know what songs? which teachers? what dances? They are impressed by the names. I can describe the time and date, the names, but will they really understand the utter luxury of soaking in an outdoor onsen under a full moon with Mars rising, in a floating world surrounded by friends after a hot, humid, sweaty day of workshops and bus rides?"