Tatakokan Special Event “Fun Saturday with Sammy”

Aug. 17 (Sat) 9:30–15:30

Morning Session

10:00 – 10:45 Activities

11:00 – 11:45 Concert

Afternoon Session

13:00 – 13:45 Activities

14:00 – 14:45 Concert

Sado Island Taiko Centre (Tatakokan)

Adult 2,000 yen, Ages 6-11 1,000 yen

Preschoolers (ages 5 & under) receive free admission

*A Tatakokan Saturday Pass is required to enter Tatakokan (Sado Island Taiko Centre) on Saturday Aug. 17.

*There are also other events happening at Tatakokan during EC:

On Friday Aug. 16, Tatakokan is open to visitors between 9:00–12:00 (free admission, no reservations required).

*On Sunday Aug. 18, Tatakokan will hold EC-Affiliated Event “Taiko Experience with Sammy” (ticketed event, reservations required).

“C’s Kitchen” will be open on Aug. 17 (Sat) and Aug. 18 (Sun) at the Sado Island Taiko Centre (Tatakokan) !

You can enjoy seasonal fruits and vegetables as well as shaved ice with flavoured sweet syrup while looking out of the view of mountains and the sea.

There are also delicious lunch menus including sumer vegetable & miso minced meat noodles.

* Only those with the Saturday Pass can access the cafe on Aug. 17 (Sat) , however anyone can come and enjoy the cafe on Aug. 18 (Sun)

■Sate/Time: Aug. 17 (Sat), 18 (Sun) 10:00—15:00
■Location:  Sado Island Taiko Centre (Tatakokan)
■Menu (planned)
・Frozen fruits and vegetables
・Drinks: Shakes, Sodas, Sangaria etc
・Other food menus!

Tomo Yamaguchi

Tomo Yamaguchi first became involved in the music world as an assistant to Hiro Tsunoda. He debuted in 1980 as a member of Japan’s first rock orchestra,  “Hiro Tsunoda and JAP’S GAP’S.” After the group disbanded, Yamaguchi played percussion with Miho Nakayama, Miki Imai, Ken Hirai, and Tatsuya Ishii Circus. He has performed on tours and recordings with numerous artists including Kyogen actor Motonari Okura and singer Sayuri Ishikawa.
In 1995, Yamaguchi’s work in musical play Night on the Galactic Railroad led him to create a range of original instruments from discarded objects. The word “music” in Japanese literally translates as “sound + enjoy.” In recent years, “Enjoying sound” has become Yamaguchi’s motto. He delights audiences of all ages with his performances using found-object percussion instruments. By incorporating recycling into his performance activities, the possibilities are vast: Yamaguchi gives audiences a chance to think about ecology while enjoying craft and music.

Yamaguchi is often recognized for his co-host role on Japan’s NHK TV program “Do Re Mi no TV” from 2003. Nicknamed Tomotomo, he played an unforgettable character that became an audience favorite. Yamaguchi has also made appearances on numerous other programs.

Tomo Yamaguchi is a percussionist who breathes life into odds and ends.

Tomo Yamaguchi Official Website 

Kensaku Tanikawa

Born in 1960, Kensaku Tanigawa studied jazz piano under Masahiko Satoh. He has performed throughout Japan with “DiVa,” a trio that sings contemporary poems; “Palhaco” a duo with harmonica player Chikara Tsuzuki; and in collaborations combining poetry reading and music with his father, poet Shuntaro Tanikawa.

Kensaku Tanigawa began composing and arranging music in the mid-eighties. He created music for movies such as “47 RONIN” (1994), “Ryoma’s Wife, Her Husband, and Her Lover” (2002), and the theme for well-known NHK documentary “The Moment History Was Made.” Tanigawa won Japan Academy Awards for his work in 1988, 1995, and 1997.

In 2006, he was music director of Biwako Hall’s production “The Village Where Lightning Never Strikes.” He composed “Sketch of Jazz” in 2013, a suite dedicated to pianist Izumi Tateno. Tanigawa served as music producer for a wide range of projects such as “Jazzing,” a picture and essay book by illustrator Yoko Yamamoto; Hyogo Performing Arts Center’s rendition of “Anne of Green Gables”; and NHK animation “The Animal Conference on the Environment.”

His commissioned works include “Waking Wings, Flapping Seasons–A Symphony for Boys and Girls” (lyrics by Wakako Kaku) for Toyama Prefectural Culture Foundation (2009) and “Early. Spring” (lyrics by Kiyoko Nagase) for Akaiwa City in Okayama (2010). Tanigawa’s discography continues to grow with new releases ranging from piano solo albums to movie soundtracks

Kensaku Tanagawa Official Website

Masami Miyazaki (Kodo)

Masami Miyazaki, a.k.a. Sammy, became a Kodo member in 2001. Through many years of domestic and international concert tours, school tours and workshops, she gained a broad range of experience as a performer, instructor, and director.

In April 2014, Miyazaki joined the Kodo Cultural Foundation team as a workshop instructor. Based at Sado Island Taiko Centre (Tatakokan), her work centered on leading taiko workshops and facilitating new programs such as “Exadon,” a health promotion and nursing care prevention initiative, and corporate workshops to foster team building and invigorate groups and organizations.

In 2017 and 2018, Miyazaki featured in “Futatsu no Kodo II” (Two Heartbeats II), a musical collaboration combining pipe organ and taiko music. Her solo projects also led her to perform with unique artists like found-object musician Tomo Yamaguchi and pianist Kensaku Tanikawa.

In April 2019, Miyazaki returned to Kodo Taiko Performing Arts Ensemble, where she will focus her efforts on initiatives that harness the power of taiko to impact communities.

Kodo Official Website/Masami Miyazaki (Profile)

Sado Island Taiko Centre (Tatakokan) Official Website

Jun Jidai (Kodo)

Jun Jidai was a member of a taiko club during his high school years, and then entered the Kodo Apprentice Centre in 2011. In 2013, he was chosen to perform in some of the main pieces in the “Amaterasu” production despite being a junior member. He became a member of Kodo in 2014. On stage, he is featured mainly on taiko drums and in dance pieces. In the “Mystery” production, he was selected to perform one of the main roles in the climactic piece, Yatai-bayashi, while in “Eternity,” he rose to a new challenge: contemporary dance. He is a captivating taiko player who performs with both precision and ease.

Kodo Official Website/Jun Jidai (Profile)

Tatakokan Saturday Passes go on sale on May 15 (Wed) at 9:30 am (JST). See here for details