One of the most beloved and influential taiko drum ensembles in the world, Kodo, has returned to Beijing. Two decades after their last performance in the Chinese capital, Kodo returns with a breathtaking retrospective tracing the group’s history. 
The past, present and future of Kodo and taiko come together in one compelling performance. Entitled "Evolution," the 120-minute-long drum show displays the mesmerizing precision and endurance of taiko, an age-old Japanese art form. 
The show is produced under the artistic direction of Japanese Kabuki actor Tamasaburo Bando, who's greatly influenced by Chinese Peking opera master Mei Lanfang. Performers have infused the production with fresh lyrical rhythms that will move both body and soul.

For Japanese-American drummer Ryotaro Leo Ikenaga, joining the group helps him better connect with his cultural roots. 
"It was definitely a challenge, in a sense that I grew up in the States... There were some differences that I had to talk it out and kind of overcome with the people in Japan. But in the end I did find out that we're not all that different, and we all love taiko, so through that I was able to do what I want, do what they want and be able to communicate," Ikenaga said. 
The pulse of the human heart is at the core of Kodo – in name, energy and sound. Both male and female drummers present delicate sounds and pounding fury from a whole family of drums, including the gigantic o-daiko, weighing in at 300 kilograms. 
"When I play the drums, I don’t think anything in particular. It’s as if the movements have become a part of me. I’m simply letting it flow naturally," female drummer Tomoe Miura shared with CGTN.

Evolution is part of Kodo’s "One Earth Tour," to express its wishes of crossing the barriers of language and culture. 
"After watching our taiko performance, you kind of instinctively feel that we are different but we are the same, at the same time," Ikenaga said. 
The group made its debut in 1981 in Berlin and has given over 6,000 performances in over 50 countries across the world.