Come with us to see KODO from Japan for their “One Earth Tour 2013: Legend” show – this is one magical event not to miss. If you missed them during your time in Japan, then NOW is the time to take advantage. If you caught the annual “Earth Festival” in August on Sado-shima in Niigata-ken, you are one lucky JET Alum!

Testimonial from Drago Flores, current CIR on JET in Ehime-ken:

I see that the JETAA is planning a trip to see KODO for their “One Earth Tour 2013” and I would like to take a moment to testify to just how amazing this group really is. They came to the nearby town of Yawatahama last fall and just blew me away. A spectacular performance by a very dedicated group. Trust me, you will not see a better taiko performance than this one for a long time. Even in Japan they were sold out for weeks in advance.

When: Sunday, February 17th
What Time: 7 pm
Where: The Auditorium at the Minneapolis Convention Center / 1301 2nd Ave South / Minneapolis, MN 55403

From Kodo’s homepage:

Exploring the limitless possibilities of the traditional Japanese drum, the taiko, Kodo is forging new directions for a vibrant living art-form. In Japanese the word “Kodo” conveys two meanings: Firstly, “heartbeat” 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, and it is no myth that babies are often lulled asleep by its thunderous vibrations. Secondly, read in a different way, the word can mean “children of the drum,” a reflection of Kodo’s desire to play the drums simply, with the heart of a child. Since the group’s debut at the Berlin Festival in 1981, Kodo has given over 3500 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.

Kodo strives to both preserve and re-interpret traditional Japanese performing arts. Beyond this, members on tours and research trips all over the globe have brought back to Sado a kaleidoscope of world music and experiences which now exerts a strong influence on the group’s performances and compositions. Collaborations with other artists and composers extend right across the musical spectrum and Kodo’s lack of preconceptions about its music continues to produce startling new fusion and forms.

Please register for your ticket and pay in advance to reserve your spot:

1. Register on this form – https://docs.google.com/a/jetaamn.org/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEhBMk13R182NU1OUXBCd1ZCZDJPcEE6MQ#gid=0

2. Pay by PayPal – if you do not have a PayPal account, please email president@jetaamn.org for other arrangements.