It was published at the “Jounal Kyoto” May 2009 issue.
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About Petit Kodou

Tsuzumi has been played from the Heian period as Japanese classical music and people show sense of 'tradition' and 'formality' towards tsuzumi. That is why I hope this website will help you enjoy the sound and feel the loveliness of tsuzumi naturally and purely. You acquire beautiful gentle gestures and behavior by playing tsuzumi. This gentleness is exactly what Japanese cultures is. Please feel tsuzumi and enjoy.

About Naoyasu Sowa

Born in 1973, Sowa studied under his grandfather, Hiroshi Sowa who is a Ningen Kokuho (living national treasure) and his father Masahiro Sowa.Naoyasu Sowabegan to play the kotsuzumi at the age of 6, his first performance was at the age of 10 and his first Noh performance at the age of 13.Sowa inherited the rare talent and with diligence of practice, mastered his instrument and developed a delicate but daring sound. Sowa already has the reputation of a musician with a keen sense.Sowa teaches all over Japan from Hokkaido to Shikoku and is enthusiastic in rearing players for the next generation. He belongs to several groups whose mission is to popularize Noh through various activities, including those in the traditional Noh theater and in more accessible, non-traditional venues like workshops. He is a very energetic player, having participated in the International Music Festival of Pollensa in Majorca, and also organizing a concert series called 'Hayashido' which is devoted to the beauty of Noh music.

About Noh Musical Theater

Noh, or Nohgaku is a major form of classical Japanese musical drama that has been performed since the 14th century and is recognized as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
Nohgaku performance is a multidisciplinary art form consisting of dance in gliding fashion, story telling chorus and music. The music, absorbing various influences and genres has been refined over 600 years of tradition and is the origin of Japanese classical music.
The music of Noh is called Hayashi. The Hayashi music itself is fine art and enjoyable to listen to on its own.

Hayashi Instruments

There are four instruments for Hayashi; fue (flute), kotsuzumi (small drum), otsuzumi (mid-sized drum) and taiko (large drum). For performance, four performers, one per instrument makes a full Hiyashi orchestra, but there are also irregular performances in which some instruments are absent. There is no conductor and no scores to follow during performance.
[ Fue ]
The fue is a flute made of bamboo with strips of cherry bark fixed by lacquer. The fue is the only Hiyashi instrument that can play a melody.
[ Kotsuzumi ]
The kotsuzumi is a shoulder hand drum that is made of cherry wood and horse skin and tied up with linen rope. The tone can be changed by pulling the rope. It requires moisture to produce a good sound and sometimes the player has to apply saliva to the skin during performance. The kotsuzumi is very unusual in that the player can not see the instrument while playing and also it is played against gravity. The sound is rather soft.
[ Otsuzumi ]
This drum is played on the knee. The structure is similar to the kotsuzumi, but unlike the kotsuzumi, it is very sensitive to moisture. The otsuzumi has to be prepared for performance with flame. It produces a high and strong sound.
[ Taiko ]
The taiko is made of zelkova wood and oxhide and tied up with linen rope. It is placed on a stand and played with two sticks. It is used to express supernatural creatures, demons and spirits of the dead. It creates 2 atmospheres; lively and thunderous and silence.