For two performances only: Saturday, January 25 and Sunday, January 26, 2026, Cal Performances hosts internationally acclaimed taiko troupe Kodo’s One Earth Tour 2025: Warabe.
In their latest creation, Warabe (an archaic Japanese word meaning “child”), Kodo explores the most basic and authentic of musical impulses, the “desire to play the drums with the simple heart of a child.” The living bearers of a centuries-old Japanese folk tradition, the ensemble’s athletic drummers create a universe of sound and emotion through thunderous percussion and polished theatricality. “Their sound stretches from the lightest of rainfall to cataclysmic thunderclaps” (The Guardian).
The Program Book will be available online approximately one week before the performance.
“The taiko: a traditional Japanese drum with limitless rhythmic possibilities. Kodo’s mission is to explore these possibilities, and in the process forge new directions for a vibrant living art-form.”
– Kodo
About Kodo
Kodo is a taiko ensemble based in Sado Island (Niigata Prefecture, Japan). They use various musical instruments in their performances, but their work focuses primarily on taiko drumming. Kodo made their debut at the 1981 Berliner Festspiele and has since performed all over the world. Since 1984, they have been continually touring under the banner “One Earth Tour.” This theme embodies Kodo’s desire to transcend language and cultural boundaries and remind people of the common bond we all share as human beings. In Japanese, the word “Kodo” holds a double meaning. It can be translated as “heartbeat,” the primal source of all rhythm. If read in a different context however, Kodo can also mean “children of the drum,” which reflects the group’s desire to play the drums with the simple heart of a child. In addition to their international touring schedule, they engage in school tour performances across Japan, headline at major international festivals, contribute to movie soundtracks, and partner with a diverse array of top global performing artists. Read more about them here.
(Photo credits: Kodo | Cal Performances.)
Event details
Hosted by: Cal Performances
Type of event: taiko performance
Featured performers: Kodo
Dates & times:
- Saturday, January 25 @ 8:00 PM PT
- Sunday, January 26 @ 3:00 PM PT
Duration: 2.5 hours (intermission TBA)
Cost: US$37.00 – $116.00
Please note: There is a $15 per order service charge on single ticket purchases that partially underwrites the cost of providing services online and by phone, as well as programs needed for digital order delivery. To avoid this fee, tickets can be purchased in person at their Ticket Office during their regular office hours. There is a $20 service charge for all subscription orders.
Location: Zellerbach Hall, 101 Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley, CA, 94720
Trailer: Watch the tour trailer.
Booking links:
- Book general public tickets here.
- Book UCB student tickets here. All UC Berkeley student tickets require authentication with a current UC Berkeley student ID. Until you authenticate, you will not see your 50% off discounted ticket price.
Contact details: Cal Performances, 101 Zellerbach Hall, #4800, Berkeley, CA 94720-4800, USA; Box office: 510-642-9988, tickets@calperformances.org, calperformances.org
Accessibility: Info here.
Refund policy: All ticket sales are final. No refunds or returns are permitted. See info here.