Although the main focus of the performance is taiko drumming, other traditional Japanese musical instruments such as fue and shamisen make an appearance on stage as do traditional dance and vocal performance. Kodō’s performance include pieces based on the traditional rhythms of regional Japan, pieces composed for Kodō by contemporary songwriters, and pieces written by Kodō members themselves. The numbers that Kodō performs can change from concert to concert. Kodō’s performance normally lasts about one hour and forty minutes.
In Japanese the word “Kodō” conveys two meanings: “heartbeat” the primal source of all rhythm and, read in a different way, the word can mean “children of the drum,” a reflection of Kodō’s desire to play their drums simply, with the heart of a child.
Kodō strives to both preserve and re-interpret traditional Japanese performing arts. From worldwide tours and research trips, Kodō brings back to Sado world music and experiences which now exert a strong influence on the group’s performances and compositions. They also collaborate with other artists and composers.
Since their debut at the Berlin Festival in 1981, Kodō have given over 2800 performances on all five continents, spending about a third of the year overseas, a third touring in Japan and a third resting and preparing new material on Sado Island.
Irodori
Kodo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
いくつもの夢を包んで願いこめた
あの日見た暖かな景色を
この先も２人で見つめていたい
見えない不安 曇る心
さりげない優しさで
今大きく輝く
あの光をつかみに行こう
たくさんの希望をのせて
繋がるこの手のひらから
広がってく ありがとうの輪
走り出した小さな夢
見守っていてね
寄り道や回り道も
新しい色の未来へ続いているんだ
穏やかに寄り添う幸せは
すぐ側にあるほど 気づけないの
「またあした」と 言えなくても
いつまでも 変わらずに
ずっと結ばわている心
何よりも大事な場所
守り続けたい
くじけそうになる時も
きっと２人なら...
ほらあの空めざして
風にのって駆け抜けよう
加速する希望を胸に
ひとつの 優しい言葉で
染まっていく ありがとうの輪
鳴り止まないこのときめき
届けに行くよ
届けに行くよ
見守っていてね
The lyrics of Kodo's song Irodori speaks about various themes of hope, gratitude, and perseverance. The song talks about holding onto the warm memories of the past and looking forward to the future with someone special. The lines "柔らかな手のぬくもり" (the warmth of soft hands) and "あの日見た暖かな景色を、この先も２人で見つめていたい" (I want to keep looking at the warm scenery we saw that day, just the two of us) highlight the importance of cherishing the company of loved ones and treasuring the happy moments shared with them.
The song also tackles the theme of facing obstacles and overcoming them with the help of support from others. The lyrics "見えない不安 曇る心、さりげない優しさで背中押してくれた笑顔" (invisible anxiety and cloudy heart, pushed forward by a gentle smile) emphasize the power of kind gestures and support in pulling through difficult times. The lines "ずっと結ばわている心、何よりも大事な場所、守り続けたい" (our tied hearts, the most important place of all, I want to continue to protect) communicate the importance of staying true to oneself and supporting each other against all odds.
Overall, Irodori serves as a tribute to the enduring resilience of human beings in the face of adversity, the joy of cherishing precious moments, and the power of kindness and support.
Line by Line Meaning
柔らかな手のぬくもり
The warmth of your gentle touch
いくつもの夢を包んで願いこめた
Enclosing many dreams and wishes
あの日見た暖かな景色を
The warm scenery we saw that day
この先も２人で見つめていたい
I want to keep gazing at it with you from here on
見えない不安 曇る心
Invisible anxiety and a clouded heart
さりげない優しさで
With your casual kindness
背中押してくれた笑顔
That smiling face pushing me forward
今大きく輝く
Now it shines so brightly
あの光をつかみに行こう
Let's reach out and grab that light
たくさんの希望をのせて
With plenty of hope on board
繋がるこの手のひらから
From the palm of these connected hands
広がってく ありがとうの輪
The circle of 'thank you' spreads out
走り出した小さな夢
The small dream that took off running
見守っていてね
Please watch over it
寄り道や回り道も
Even if there are detours and deviations
新しい色の未来へ続いているんだ
It continues towards a future of new colors
穏やかに寄り添う幸せは
The happiness of gentle intimacy
すぐ側にあるほど 気づけないの
We may not even notice it's right beside us
「またあした」と 言えなくても
Even if we can't say 'see you tomorrow'
いつまでも 変わらずに
It will remain unchanged forever
ずっと結ばわている心
Our hearts are always tied together
何よりも大事な場所
The most important place of all
守り続けたい
I want to keep protecting it
くじけそうになる時も
Even when we feel like giving up
きっと２人なら...
Surely, if we're together...
ほらあの空めざして
Look, let's aim for that sky
風にのって駆け抜けよう
Let's ride the wind and run through it
加速する希望を胸に
With hope accelerating in our chests
ひとつの 優しい言葉で
With one kind word
染まっていく ありがとうの輪
The 'thank you' circle begins to color us
鳴り止まないこのときめき
This excitement that won't stop ringing out
届けに行くよ
I'll go deliver it
届けに行くよ
I'll go deliver it
見守っていてね
Please watch over it
Writer(s): Leonard Eto
Contributed by Mila M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@user-en6dt6ws7e
一人の、太鼓うちの端くれとして、絶対に避けては通れない曲。っていうか、日本で、太鼓やってて、『彩』を目標にしないヤツなんているのか？
ぶっちゃけ、この仲間に入りたいと何度思ったことか。
レナード衛藤さんと、金子竜太郎さんと、斎藤栄一さんと同じ空間で叩いてみたい…
1992年の鼓童に、いつまで経っても追い付けない悔しさと幸せ。ありえない感情が同居してます。
ちきしょう。何度聞いてもワクワクしやがる。
@nyautantan
初めてこれを見たのが17年前？！
全く飽きない、素敵すぎる！
@tony_woo
Still sound so good after so many years.
@user-kq8yi7jd9t
この時の鼓童は良い意味で
荒さとかがあってクセになる
この時が鼓童全盛期だと思う
@mia6385
彩…この曲が大好きでたまりません！
20年ほど前に職場の方に誘われてコンサートに行きました。腹に響きわたる音が未だ忘れられない！何度聞いてもあきません。
そんな私も思わぬ事をきっかけに今、お囃子に参加してます！しかも、こどもの学校の太鼓部で彩を演奏してます。感動の嵐です💖
@mahokawasaki74
やるのも楽しいけどやっぱり鼓童の演奏は素晴らしいです！
鳥肌がたつものばかり！！
何回も聴いてしまうー！
@rhboomer
I was able to see Kodo when I was very young, and to this day it was one of the best shows that I have ever seen.
@user-hs8lf2yo6p
聴いててとても気持ちいい最高だ。演奏者もすごい楽しんでいるのが分かる。こんなにのりにのって演奏してみたい。
@tgrunau
I saw them in person in Denver about 12 years ago. The power of the drums is something you have to experience live to really appreciate.
@kamechan7081
単純なリフレインに高揚を感じる、とてもいい楽曲だと思います。