KODO (the Japanese taiko drum group)

The acclaimed and ever popular Japanese taiko drum group, Kodo, is bringing its engaging rhythm to IU Auditorium this season! The group will perform its newest work, Warabe, as part of its 2025 North American Tour showcasing the ensemble’s continued exploration of new and old traditions from Sado Island.

The taiko is a traditional Japanese drum with limitless rhythmic possibilities and Kodo’s mission is to explore those possibilities, and in the process forge new directions for a vibrant living artform. In Japanese, the word “Kodo” holds a double meaning. It can be translated as “heartbeat,” the primal source of all rhythm, but it can also mean “drum” and “child.” This reflects Kodo’s desire to play the drums with the simple heart of a child. In Warabe, Kodo looks to its classic repertoire and aesthetics from the ensemble’s early days. This production blends simple forms of Taiko expression that celebrate the unique sound, resonance, and physicality synonymous with Kodo—forever children of the drum at heart.