In the early 1970s, a small group of young people in Japan yearned for a new way to live. Disappointed with the direction of modern Japanese society and eager to rediscover traditional roots and values, they left their busy urban cultures behind and traveled north to remote Sado Island in the Sea of Japan. They found a home in an abandoned schoolhouse by the sea and began to play the world’s oldest instrument, the drum (taiko). Surrounded by Sado Island’s rich performing arts traditions, they began to study other instruments as well—the shamisen, koto, and shakuhachi.

They explored dance, song, and stagecraft along with the taiko’s limitless depth and range. Years passed and the group’s numbers grew. In time, Sado Island’s unique culture, its four powerful seasons, and great natural beauty found expression in their art. There was a primal fierceness and determination to their work, and a playful, childlike curiosity. They called themselves Kodo, which means “heartbeat” and “children of the drum.” They discovered that upon hearing the sounds of the great drum (o-daiko), carved from a single, massive tree trunk, babies fell fast asleep in their mothers’ arms, lulled by the great heartbeat sound. In ancient Japan, the taiko played a central role in most communities. It was said that the physical boundaries of a village could be defined by the farthest distance at which the taiko could be heard. When Kodo began touring the world nearly three decades ago, they discovered that the sound of the taiko had a similar effect. Wherever people heard the taiko, there was an instant sense of community, of one-ness. So the name “One Earth Tour” was born. Carried by the sound of the taiko, it has traveled the world with its message of shared humanity, environmental awareness, and peace ever since.

I became aquainted with taïko drumming at EPCOT in the late 1990s with the parks' resident troupe (Matsurita) and in Cirque du Soleil's Las Vegas production, Mystère. Witnessing both uses of the powerful drums turned me on to a completely new genre of music and took me down a path of discovery unmatched since. Discovering that KODO helped Cirque du Soleil for Mystère clued me into their presentations, which I drunk in like water. A couple of short years after my discovery of KODO I experienced them live right in my home state of Florda of all placed. It took years later, but I caught them again early 2009 in Michgian. Zoku, an original creation of theirs, is my all-time favorite.

Many of Kodo's tracks are a delight to listen to. Not only do they amaze with their rhythm, but they surround you in a heartbeat. Those tracks that are my favorite are:

• "Zoku" - From "Live at Acropolis" & "Ibuki"
• "Miyake" - From "Live at Acropolis"
• "Akabanar" - From "Live at Acropolis"
• "Nanafushi" - From "Ibuki"
• "Nobi" - From "Ibuki"
• "Akabanah" - From "Ibuki"
• "Jang-Gwara" - From "Ibuki"
• "Strobe's Nanafushi" - From "Sai-So"
• "Shake" - From "Tataku"
• "Bird Island" - From "Tataku"
• "Lion" - From "Irodori"
• "Irodori" - From "Irodori"

You can visit Kodo's official web site at:
www.kodo.or.jp/