# Kodo Drummers of Japan **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 20, 2009, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kodo-drummers-of-japan/490117 "2009-03-20T03:23:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kodo-drummers-of-japan/490117/1 "2009-03-20T03:23:05Z")
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhaaa yeeeeeeeaaaaaaaahhhhh… Have tickets for tomorrow night’s performance of the [Kodo Drummers of Japan](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOUi5fDm0KE)[sup]\*[/sup] at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. I’ve caught them once before years ago at DAR in DC so I know what I’m in for — this will be Mrs. Dvl’s first time seeing them. I’ve been playing African percussion for years, and there is a fair amount of precision involved in maintaining polyrhythms, and a lot of athleticism on the dancer’s part. I’ve had the good fortune to play and learn from Baba Olatunji and Mamady Keita. Nothing. Hands down _nothing_ comes close to the Kodo Drummers. The downside is that I’ll be up until around three this morning clearing the decks to get out of here but it will be sooooo worth it. If anyone has yet to see them — check out their upcoming [tour](http://www.kodo.or.jp/oet/oet2009c_en.html) (US and Europe) to find dates **and go**. I don’t care if you’re a flutist, violinist, kazooist, or all you can do is turn on an iPod: if you have ears, you must go. Has anyone in Doperland seen them this year? Sqeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! Rhythm [sup]\*YouTube link[/sup] ---
**Author:** ![Stealth\_Potato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Stealth\_Potato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stealth_Potato)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kodo-drummers-of-japan/490117/2 "2009-03-20T05:45:00Z")
Oooh, nice. I love taiko drumming; I’ve only gotten around to seeing it live a few times (and never Kodo yet, unfortunately), but every time so far it’s just blown me away. It’s one of the few musical experiences that also feels like a high-intensity chest massage. Getting close seats is imperative. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![nikonikosuru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f8ce5/32.png) [@nikonikosuru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nikonikosuru)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kodo-drummers-of-japan/490117/3 "2009-03-20T05:47:40Z")
I was in my school’s taiko club for two years and I was able to see them back in 2004 at Western Michigan University. It was totally worth the money and you will be amazed at the songs, movements, and the sheer physical power of the drummers. It was amazing! ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kodo-drummers-of-japan/490117/4 "2009-03-20T06:27:48Z")
> [@nikonikosuru](#): > > It was totally worth the money and you will be amazed at the songs, movements, and \*\*the sheer physical power \*\*of the drummers. It was amazing! What puts them over the top isn’t the massive sized drums they face (I really need to learn the names), but the smaller (hah), well, oversized dununba-like drums. About four or five feet in diameter, played with their legs flat on the ground, but _their upper body in a half-situp and arms making full movements_. Maintaining such a level of physical stamina _and_ playing to precision is awe-inspiring. ---
**Author:** ![nikonikosuru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f8ce5/32.png) [@nikonikosuru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nikonikosuru)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kodo-drummers-of-japan/490117/5 "2009-03-20T06:42:33Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > What puts them over the top isn’t the massive sized drums they face (I really need to learn the names), but the smaller (hah), well, oversized dununba-like drums. About four or five feet in diameter, played with their legs flat on the ground, but _their upper body in a half-situp and arms making full movements_. Maintaining such a level of physical stamina _and_ playing to precision is awe-inspiring. Yep, that’s exactly what I meant. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kodo-drummers-of-japan/490117/6 "2009-03-20T06:55:06Z")
The Ondekoza troupe (the original group that Kodo split off from) is also impressive and worth checking out if you get a chance. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kodo-drummers-of-japan/490117/7 "2009-03-20T07:02:44Z")
> [@Hunter\_Hawk](#): > > The Ondekoza troupe (the original group that Kodo split off from) is also impressive and worth checking out if you get a chance. Wow, thanks – [Bookmarked](http://www.ondekoza.com/en/ondekoza.html) and watched until a NA performance! Work-a-night’s about over… I gotta nap, but have no idea how I’m going to sleep. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kodo-drummers-of-japan/490117/8 "2009-03-20T10:15:40Z")
they are awesome. i try to see them anytime they get into town. you leave the show humming. i find the fellow using the “louisville slugger” on the odaiko amusing. he swings it around his head and then BAM and you feel that bam in every bit of your body. there is the added bonus of the drummers not wearing much. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kodo-drummers-of-japan/490117/9 "2009-03-20T12:24:55Z")
I remember seeing [this documentary](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0298959/) a few years ago. The passages while they’re in training on the island were fascinating - the whole thing about eating with the ‘wrong’ hand to even out their strokes just astonished me. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kodo-drummers-of-japan/490117/10 "2009-03-20T14:00:17Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > I remember seeing [this documentary](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0298959/) a few years ago. The passages while they’re in training on the island were fascinating - the whole thing about eating with the ‘wrong’ hand to even out their strokes just astonished me. I saw that same video while vacationing in Camden, Maine, at their public library. Just recently, in the thread [Best Beats in Music – with audio](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=510277) at [Post #16](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10938780&postcount=16) I included [this YouTube link to several clips featuring the group.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hNZBXFaSFE&feature=related) Except for the Chinese drummers at the Olympics, I can’t recall a more impressive group of drummers. I’m jealous of your opportunity to see them live! ---
**Author:** ![Gulo\_gulo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bcef8e/32.png) [@Gulo\_gulo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gulo_gulo)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kodo-drummers-of-japan/490117/11 "2009-03-20T20:40:35Z")
They put on an amazing show. I saw them in Seattle in January. I’ve seen them before but this time I wanted to drag my husband along because I know he’d love it. We went with some friends who have their own taiko drumming group (and make their own drums!). We had to joke about how the bigger the drums got, the naked-er the drummer. There was also a speaker before the show who held a Q&A session about the group’s training & history. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kodo-drummers-of-japan/490117/12 "2009-03-20T22:30:01Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > What puts them over the top isn’t the massive sized drums they face (I really need to learn the names), but the smaller (hah), well, oversized dununba-like drums. About four or five feet in diameter, played with their legs flat on the ground, but _their upper body in a half-situp and arms making full movements_. Maintaining such a level of physical stamina _and_ playing to precision is awe-inspiring. when they to the sit up thing it is amazing. there is a martial arts look to a lot of the drumming moves and poses. the half- situp one has “ready, set” moves that look very much like a martial art set, then full out drumming. you see every muscle group and really understand the training and stamina they have. some of the pieces are 5-20 minutes long! ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Mama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5ac83/32.png) [@Atomic\_Mama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Mama)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kodo-drummers-of-japan/490117/13 "2009-03-20T23:00:21Z")
TAIKO is some of the coolest drumming in the WORLD. We have a Japanese immersion school here in Anchorage and they teach taiko to adults. I tried, and failed. I may try again! There have been two taiko troupes through Anchorage in the last 11 years, I think. The first was Ondekoza and they were beyond awesome … ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2009, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kodo-drummers-of-japan/490117/14 "2009-03-21T06:47:21Z")
I’ve never seen this particular group, but there was a Taiko drum group here this summer at our local arts festival. It is, indeed, very impressive, and the strokes are, indeed, based on martial arts moves.