Sado Island Taiko Centre instructor Shin’ichi Sogo a.k.a. Shinchan-sensei is going to hold Taiko Experience workshops on all three days of Earth Celebration! Elementary school students and preschoolers (when accompanied by an adult) are also welcome to join in the fun at these workshops for beginners. You can reserve your place in advance or sign up on the day if spaces are still available. There will be a special shuttle bus operating from Marine Plaza Ogi for the workshop starting at 13:30 for all three days. Please join the workshop and enjoy the vibrations of the taiko with your whole body.

Application Details

Dates & Times

(Each workshop is 1 hour long)
Aug. 23 (Fri) 10:00 – 11:00, 13:30 – 14:30, 15:00 – 16:00
Aug. 24 (Sat) 10:00 – 11:00, 13:30 – 14:30, 15:00 – 16:00
Aug. 25 (Sun) 10:00 – 11:00, 13:30 – 14:30

Venue

Sado Island Taiko Centre (Tatakokan)

Access to the venue

13:30 session … Shuttle bus for participants available from the EC Info Centre.

One way fee for adults: 500 yen, children ages 6-11: 250 yen, preschoolers free

Dep. EC Info. Centre 13:00, Arr. Tatakokan 13:10 / Dep. Tatakokan 14:40, Arr. EC Info Centre 14:50

*No bus service available. for the 10:00 and 15:00 sessions. Please arrange your own transportation to the venue.

Fee

Adults 1,500 yen, Children ages 6-11 800 yen

*Each preschooler must be accompanied by an adult. The adult and child will use one taiko drum together and one adult fee will be charged.

Capacity

25 people per session

Instructor

Shin’ichi Sogo (Shinchan-sensei)

Notes

This program is aimed at beginners. Workshop conducted in Japanese only.

Application Method

(1) From July 27 (Sat) until 13:00 on Aug. 22 (Thu), please apply directly to Sado Island Taiko Centre by telephone, fax or email.

(2) From 13:00 on Aug. 22 (Thu), please apply in person at the EC Info Centre (Marine Plaza Ogi). *Applications will close when each workshop reaches its capacity.

Inquiries & Bookings

Sado Island Taiko Centre (Tatakokan)

Tel. 0259-86-2320 Fax. 0259-86-2385

Email: info@sadotaiken.jp (English assistance available by fax or email)

Due to a problem with the air conditioning system at Ayusu Kaikan, the workshops and live events that were scheduled to be held at this venue have been moved to Ogi Gym. We thank all participants in related events for their understanding.

*Participants of the events concerned will receive an official notification of venue change under separate cover.

■Events that will be moved from Ayusu Kaikan to Ogi Gym
1. Workshops　8/23 (Fri) 10:00 12:00 Taiko – Sound Catch
　　　　　　　8/23 (Fri) 13:30 15:30 Taiko – O-daiko Workshop
8/25 (Sun) 10:00 12:00 Taiko – Miyake Taiko (Miyake Island)
8/25 (Sun) 13:30 15:30 Taiko – Hachijo Daiko (Hachijo Island)

2. Live Events 8/24 (Sat) 10:00 11:30 Leave it to Chieko!
8/24 (Sat) 13:30 15:00 Life of a Taikoist

Workshop Application Second Intake starts on Monday, July 22nd! Second intake is only available for workshops with space available after the first intake. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you wish to be on the waiting list for the workshop which has already reached its capacity, please contact Kodo Ticket Service (ticket@kodo.or.jp) by e-mail after July 22nd.

A group of “KasaMix alumni” and “North American Kodo Concert goers” are getting together to attend Earth Celebration, Ogi Matsuri and explore Sado Island! If anyone is interested in joining us on this “Sizzling Summer Reunion Tour”, please contact Toni Yagami (taikotoni@yahoo.com) via email for fees and trip details.

10 day trip highlights include:

• pre-EC Noh Concert
• all three Earth Celebration Shiroyama Concerts (Aug. 23-24-25)
• Earth Celebration Harbour Market, and Fringe Concerts (EC workshops and lectures not included you will have to sign up for those separately)
• tour of Sado Island
• two days of celebrating at Ogi Matsuri
• transportation back to Tokyo
• lodging included from Aug. 21 thru Aug. 31
• meals included after EC

We would love to include you on this fantastic taiko adventure! I look forward to hearing from you!

Thanks!

Toni Yagami

Music Together

Music Together is a music and movement experience for children aged 0-5 and their parents or caregivers. It’s designed to develop musical ability in all children, young and young at heart! Come and join us for a musically rich activity aimed at the growing number of families at Earth Celebration who bring their kids along. It is our hope that by participating in this workshop you can add a hands-on fun and musical family activity to your experience at Earth Celebration!

For further details about this early childhood music and movement program, please visit the Music Together website. Music Together Continue Reading →

The Former Takarazuka Revue Male Role Star, Harei Aine will appear on the final Shiroyama concert as a Special Guest. She also plays a role of the Dancer, Ameno-uzume for “Amaterasu” with Tamasaburo Bando and Kodo.

Harei Aine

Harei Aine joined the Takarazuka Revue in 1997. She stood out right from her debut as a good-looking Hanagumi male role performer, appearing and flourishing in numerous works including “Maihime,” “Side Story: The Rose of Versailles,” “Gubijin,” and “Phantom.” Ms. Aine was the male role star of the highly appraised operetta company, embodying both the tradition and refinement of the Takarazuka Revue. She has brilliant expressiveness and outstanding acting abilities. In October 2012, she retired from the Revue, to the regret of many, and just as she set off on a new path, she encountered the production of “Amaterasu.”

Master of the Tsugaru Shimisen, Hiromitsu Agatsuma shared the stage with Kodo for the first time at last year’s EC. Visiting Sado in April for rehearsals designed to take this year’s collaborations to new heights, Agatsuma spared some time to speak with us about the new songs he plans to debut at EC 2013 and the art of expressing Japanese sounds and rhythms. Continue Reading →

In order to promote this year’s Earth Celebration, Tamasaburo Bando, the Artistic Director of Kodo has made a courtesy call to the Niigata prefectural government office yesterday. Both the governor Izumida and the vice governor Hanazumi welcomed the Director. At the press conference, the Director mentioned highlights of Shiroyama Concert for which we will share with you later!

If you plan to come to Sado Island for EC from Toyama, Ishikawa and Naoetsu areas, there are travel packages offered by travel agencies which include tickets for Shiroyama concert, hotels and visiting touristic sites on Sado Island. We will post more news when additional plans are available.

Aug. 24 Saturday Concert Tour: travel plan from Toyama prefecture (2 days and 1 night)
“World renowned Taiko Performing Arts – Kodo”
A bus tour to Sado from Tonami, Takaoka, Toyama, Uotsu etc., incl. ticket for Aug. 24 Saturday Shiroyama concert, visiting Sado Gold Mine, Toki-no-mori Koen Park and others.
Fare: 33,800 Yen
Hotel: Shikishima-so (Aikawa)
Contact: Tomy’s Tour reservation center / Tel. 076-429-8585

Aug. 25 Sunday Concert Tour: travel plan from Naoetsu (Day Trip)
“Earth Celebration KODO day-trip pack”
(1) <Free Course> Adult Fare: 8,400 Yen (incl. 2nd class return ferry tickets and Aug. 25 Sunday Shiroyama concert ticket) arriving at Ogi port 9:40 am or 4:20 pm; enjoy strolling harbor market etc in EC site in Ogi area.