Kodo

Based on Sado Island, Kodō is a taiko drumming group that seeks to spread the Japanese dramatic art of taiko around the world. Formed in 1981, Kodō literally translates to 'heartbeat' because the taiko drumming style is said to mimic the heartbeat of a mother when a child is inside her womb. While the troupe's main goal is to preserve this art, it also is open to reinterpretations of it and absorbs modern influences that it has picked up on from its tours around the world. The sheer dedication Kodō members have to their art alone makes the troupe well worth seeing live.