Chieko Kojima first encountered Japanese folk dancing when she moved to Sado to join Sado no Kuni Ondekoza in 1976 and went on to become one of Kodo's founding members in 1981.  Kojima seeks out new encounters and collaborations with artists in Japan and throughout the world.  Kojima is known for her original dancing style during Kodo's taiko-based performances.  She became a Kodo Distinguished Member in 2012 and was program director for the annual Sado-based concert series.